“There are things to see, I believe,” said Jack, “churches and houses, if you like that sort of thing—­I don’t; but we might get up some expeditions—­they are rather fun.  I think you won’t mind my sister.  She isn’t bad for a woman.  But women don’t understand men.  They are always sympathising with you or praising you.  They think that is what men like, but it only means that it is what they would like.  Men like to be left alone—­but I daresay she thinks I don’t understand her.  Then there’s my father!  He is quite a good sort, really; but by George, how he does talk!  I often think I’d like to turn him loose in the Combination Room.  No one would have a chance.  Redmayne simply wouldn’t be in it with my father.  I’ve invented rather a good game when he gets off.  I try to see how many I can count before I am expected to make a remark.  I have never quite got up to a thousand, but once I nearly let the cat out by saying nine hundred and fifty, nine hundred and fifty-one, when my father stopped for breath.  He gave me a look, I can tell you, but I don’t think he saw what I was after.  Maud was seized with hysterics.  But he isn’t a bad sort of parent, as they go; he fusses, but he lets one do as one wants.  I suppose I oughtn’t to give my people away; but I never can see why one shouldn’t talk about one’s people just as if they were anybody else.  I don’t think I hold things sacred, as the Dean says:  ’Reticence, reticence, the true characteristic of the English gentleman and the sincere Christian!’” and Jack delivered himself of some paragraphs of the Dean’s famous annual sermon to freshmen.

“It’s abominable, the way you talk,” said Howard; “you will corrupt my ingenuous mind.  How shall I meet your father if you talk like this about him?”

“You’ll have to join in my game,” said Jack.  “By George, what sport; we shall sit there counting away alternately, and we will have some money on the run.  You have got to say all the figures quite distinctly to yourself, you know!”

Presently Jack said, “Why shouldn’t we go down together?  No, I suppose you would want to go first?  I can’t run to that.  But you must come as soon as you can, and stay as long as you can.  I had half promised to go and stay a week with Travers.  But now I won’t.  By George, there isn’t another don I would pay that compliment to!  It would simply freeze my blood if the Master turned up there.  I shouldn’t dare to show my face outside the house; that man does make me sweat!  The very smell of his silk gown makes me feel faint.”

“I’ll tell you what I will do,” said Howard, “I’ll give you some coaching in the mornings.  If anyone ever wanted coaching, it is you!”

Jack looked rather blue at this, but he said, “It will have to be gratis, though!  I haven’t a cent.  Besides, I am going to do better.  I have a growing sense of duty!”

“It’s not growing very fast!” said Howard, “and it’s a feeble motive at best, you will find; you will have to get a better reason than that—­it won’t carry you far.  Why not do it to please me?”