There were twelve Præfects in Commoners, who had the right of fagging all the rest except those in the class immediately below them, (called senior part the fifth,) who were exempt; when they required the services of a Fag, they did not call “Junior!” but “Here!” They also had an officer whose duties and privileges were somewhat similar to those of Senior Candlekeeper and Deputy in College; his office, however, was conferred by election among the Præfects. It was necessary that he should be in either middle or junior part the fifth, of reasonable bodily strength, and have been at least three years in commoners. This dignitary was called “the Coursekeeper;” should he be promoted into senior part the fifth, he retained the privileges of the office without its responsibilities, and was called “Ex-coursekeeper.” The College boys and Commoners rose at the same hour, attended chapel, used the school, and went on to Hill’s together; but the latter took their meals and slept in Commoners’, and had not the use of meads, having a field about half a mile distant, to which they went from twelve to one on whole school days, and again, in the afternoon, on holidays. The rule of seniority, as regarded fagging, was different from that established in College. Commoner Inferiors took precedence according to their standing in the school, not according to the length of time they had been there. It will be seen, from what has been said, that the College juniors had a much harder time of it than the Commoners, as the former were in the proportion of forty-four Fags to eighteen Præfects and seven Candlekeepers, whereas in the latter (supposing the number of the boys to be one hundred and twenty, and twenty to be in senior part the fifth, and exempt from fagging) the proportion would be eighty-seven fags to twelve Præfects and one Coursekeeper. I will, therefore, devote my attention principally to the illustration of the life of the College Fag, which, in fact, combines all the trials and amusements of both. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER III. TREATS OF SOME MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. A Fag’s Duties—His Respect for Præfects—Præfects’ Responsibilities—Code of Honour—Lying Scouted—Exceptional Anecdote—Certain Things considered Common Property—Slang—Nicknames of Officials and Under-Porter—Whole Holidays—Remedies—Half Holidays—Sundays—Hills. The duties of a Fag, in the days of which I write, may be more easily described by informing the reader what he had not to do, than by endeavouring to make out a list of his positive duties. I believe when I say that he had not to make the beds, nor to clean shoes, I have exhausted the negative catalogue.