“I’m sure you won’t thank that rascally cousin of mine for having taught you,” said Russell; “but seriously, isn’t it a very moping way of spending the afternoon, to go and lie down behind some hay-stack, or in some frowsy tumble-down barn, as you smokers do, instead of playing racquets or football?”

“O, it’s pleasant enough sometimes,” said Eric, speaking rather against his own convictions.

“As for me, I’ve nearly left it off,” said Montagu, “and I think Rose convinced me that it was a mistake.  Not that he knows that I ever did smoke; I should be precious sorry if he did, for I know how he despises it in boys.  Were you in school the other day when he caught Pietrie and Brooking?”

“No.”

“Well, when Brooking went up to have his exercise corrected, Rose smelt that he had been smoking, and charged him with it.  Brooking stoutly denied it, but after he had told the most robust lies, Rose made him empty his pockets, and there, sure enough, were a pipe and a cigar-case half full!  You should have heard how Rose thundered and lightened at him for his lying, and then sent him to the Doctor.  I never saw him so terrific before.”

“You don’t mean to say you were convinced it was wrong because Brooking was caught, and told lies—­do you? Non sequitur.”

“Stop—­not so fast.”  Very soon after Rose twigged Pietrie, who at once confessed, and was caned.  I happened to be in the library when Rose sent for him, and Pietrie said mildly that “he didn’t see the harm of it.”  Rose smiled in his kind way, and said, “Don’t see the harm of it!  Do you see any good in it?”

“No, sir.”

“Well, isn’t it forbidden?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And doesn’t it waste your money?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And tempt you to break rules, and tell lies to screen yourself?”

“Yes, sir,” said Pietrie, putting his tail between his legs.

“And don’t your parents disapprove it?  And doesn’t it throw you among some of the worst boys, and get you into great troubles?  Silly child,” he said, pulling Pietrie’s ear (as he sometimes does, you know), “don’t talk nonsense; and remember next time you’re caught I shall have you punished.”  So off went Pietrie, [Greek:  achreian idon] as our friend Homer says.  And your humble servant was convinced.”

“Well, well,” said Eric laughing, “I suppose you’re right.  At any rate, I give in.  Two to one ain’t fair; [Greek:  ards duo o Aerachlaes], since you’re in a quoting humor.”

Talking in this way they got to Rilby Head, where they found plenty to amuse them.  It was a splendid headland, rising bluff four hundred feet out of the sea, and presenting magnificent reaches of rock scenery on all sides.  The boys lay on the turf at the summit, and flung innocuous stones at the sea-gulls as they sailed far below them over the water, and every now and then pounced at some stray fish that came to the surface; or they watched the stately barks as they sailed by on the horizon, wondering at their cargo and destination; or chaffed the fishermen, whose boats heaved on the waves at the foot of the promontory.  When they were rested, they visited a copper-mine by the side of the head, and filled their pockets with bits of bright quartz or red shining spar, which they found in plenty among the rocks.