“Well, Tom,” said he at last, “you see, when you and I came to school there were none of these sort of notions.  You may be right—­I dare say you are.  Only what one has always felt about the masters is, that it’s a fair trial of skill and last between us and them—­like a match at football or a battle.  We’re natural enemies in school—­that’s the fact.  We’ve got to learn so much Latin and Greek, and do so many verses, and they’ve got to see that we do it.  If we can slip the collar and do so much less without getting caught, that’s one to us.  If they can get more out of us, or catch us shirking, that’s one to them.  All’s fair in war but lying.  If I run my luck against theirs, and go into school without looking at my lessons, and don’t get called up, why am I a snob or a sneak?  I don’t tell the master I’ve learnt it.  He’s got to find out whether I have or not.  What’s he paid for?  If he calls me up and I get floored, he makes me write it out in Greek and English.  Very good.  He’s caught me, and I don’t grumble.  I grant you, if I go and snivel to him, and tell him I’ve really tried to learn it, but found it so hard without a translation, or say I’ve had a toothache, or any humbug of that kind, I’m a snob.  That’s my school morality; it’s served me, and you too, Tom, for the matter of that, these five years.  And it’s all clear and fair, no mistake about it.  We understand it, and they understand it, and I don’t know what we’re to come to with any other.”

Tom looked at him pleased and a little puzzled.  He had never heard East speak his mind seriously before, and couldn’t help feeling how completely he had hit his own theory and practice up to that time.

“Thank you, old fellow,” said he.  “You’re a good old brick to be serious, and not put out with me.  I said more than I meant, I dare say, only you see I know I’m right.  Whatever you and Gower and the rest do, I shall hold on.  I must.  And as it’s all new and an uphill game, you see, one must hit hard and hold on tight at first.”

“Very good,” said East; “hold on and hit away, only don’t hit under the line.”

“But I must bring you over, Harry, or I shan’t be comfortable.  Now, I’ll allow all you’ve said.  We’ve always been honourable enemies with the masters.  We found a state of war when we came, and went into it of course.  Only don’t you think things are altered a good deal?  I don’t feel as I used to the masters.  They seem to me to treat one quite differently.”

“Yes, perhaps they do,” said East; “there’s a new set you see, mostly, who don’t feel sure of themselves yet.  They don’t want to fight till they know the ground.”

“I don’t think it’s only that,” said Tom.  “And then the Doctor, he does treat one so openly, and like a gentleman, and as if one was working with him.”

“Well, so he does,” said East; “he’s a splendid fellow, and when I get into the sixth I shall act accordingly.  Only you know he has nothing to do with our lessons now, except examining us.  I say, though,” looking at his watch, “it’s just the quarter.  Come along.”