"English subjects," cried Mr. Wriford. "Latin, mathematics. I can do it if you want it." Mr. Pennyquick glanced over his shoulder at his dejected-looking boys, then stared back again at Mr. Wriford and began to speak with more consideration and less fierceness. "I'm not saying," said Mr. Pennyquick, "that I don't want temmo--temmer--PLAY UP! Tem-po-rary assistance. I do. I'm very ill. I'm shaken all to bits. I ought to be in bed. What I'm saying is I don't want you. I don't know anything about you. I've got the reputation of my school to consider. That's what I'm saying to you." Dizziness began to overtake Mr. Wriford--the field to rock in long swells, Mr. Pennyquick by turns to recede and advance, swell and diminish. He felt himself upon the verge of breaking down, wringing his hands in his extremity and staggering away. But where? Where? "Temporarily," he pleaded. "Temporarily." "You might drink for all I know," said Mr. Pennyquick, pronouncing this possibility as if consumed with an unnatural horror of it. "I don't drink." "How do I know that?" Mr. Wriford cried frantically: "It's only temporarily! If I drink, if I'm not suitable, you can stop it in a moment." "No notice?" said Mr. Pennyquick. "No--no notice. Temporarily--it's only temporarily. That'll be understood." "Well, if no notice is understood I'll take the risk--for a week, while I'm getting a man. I'll give you fifteen shillings. No, I won't. I'll give you twelve. I'll give you twelve shillings, and if I have to sack you before the week's out--well, you just go. That's understood?" "Thank you," Mr. Wriford said. The field was spinning now. He could think of nothing else to say. "Thank you." "Be here at nine to-morrow," said Mr. Pennyquick. "Just before nine," and he turned away and shouted to his boys: "Stop now! Come in now!" "But--" said Mr. Wriford. "But--but--" He was trying for words to frame his difficulty. "But--do I live in?" "Live in!" cried Mr. Pennyquick. "I'm taking risks enough having you at all! Live in! Stop now. Come in now!" and he walked away towards the house. CHAPTER II IN A PARLOUR I