“David was writing five hundred lines as usual,” he said, “with Bags helping. I think I must tell you why.” Adams made no attempt at gravity and shook with laughter. “But it can’t go on,” he said. “David’s becoming a nuisance, and gating him and giving him lines to write is no earthly good. What he wants is a good licking and plenty of exercise. There’s not an ounce of harm in him.” “Oh, he’s the straightest chap in the world,” said Maddox. “Well, you might warn him. Tell him next time he’s reported to me, I shall send him to the Head with a request that he shall be swished. And how’s the rest of the house?” “Oh, pretty slack, sir. It’s rotten weather, you see. Weather makes a lot of difference to us.” “I know. There’s always more trouble this half than any. Try to keep them up to the mark, Frank.” “I’ll do my best sir. But I’ve got an awful lot of work with this Trinity scholarship exam. coming or in a fortnight. I’m as rusty as nails over my history.” Adams smoked his pipe for a little in silence. “By the way, you pull all right with Cruikshank now, don’t you?” he asked. “Rather. I used to bar him awfully, but we—well, we had a talk after Hughes was sent away, and decided to get on better together. Crookles is a good chap.” “Glad you’ve found that out,” said Adams. “You never would believe me when I told you so. Well, tell David that the wooden eye of Nemesis is on him, and see if you can’t make him less obstreperous. He thinks more of what you say than of what any one else says. He simply jumped down my throat the other day in your defence.” “What about, sir?” “Because I ventured to criticise your play in that house-racquet tie, when we were nearly beaten by Thomas’s. I said I thought we should have won more easily if you had served with more care and less force. David turned quite purple, and said, ‘I shouldn’t wonder if he knew what he was about.’” “Frightful cheek,” said Maddox. “Well, I don’t know. He only reminded me that you know more about racquets than I do, which is perfectly true. Well, are you off? Tell David not to make himself so conspicuous.”