The code of a Public School boy's honour is very elastic. Masters are regarded as common enemies; and it is never necessary to tell them the truth. Expediency is the golden rule in all relations with the common room. And after a very few weeks even Congreve would have had to own that the timid new boy could spin quite as broad a yarn as he. The parents do not realise this. It is just as well. It is a stage in the development of youth. Everyone must pass through it. Yet sometimes it leads to quite a lot of misunderstanding. There were one or two incidents during this summer term that stood out very clearly in Gordon's memory as proofs of the way masters may fail to realise the boy's point of view. One morning just after breakfast Gordon discovered that he had done the wrong maths for Jenks. He rushed in search of Fletcher. "I say, Archie, look here, be a sport. I have done the wrong stuff for that ass Jenks. Let's have a look at yours." In ten minutes four tremendous howlers in as many sums had been reproduced on Gordon's paper. The work was collected that morning, and nothing more was heard of it till the next day. Gordon thought himself quite safe and had ceased to take any interest in the matter. The form was working out some riders more or less quietly. Suddenly Jenks's tired voice murmured: "Caruthers, did you copy your algebra off Fletcher?" "No, sir." Jenks was rather fond of asking such leading questions. Caruthers had got tired of it. The man was a fool; he must know by this time that he was bound to get the same answer. "Fletcher, did you copy off Caruthers?" "No, sir." "Caruthers, did you see Fletcher's paper?" "No, sir." How insistent the ass was getting. "Fletcher, did you see Caruther's paper?" "No, sir." "Oh, you silly fellows. Then I shall have to put both your papers before the Headmaster. I'm afraid you will both be expelled." Jenks had a strange notion of the offences that merited expulsion. Every time he reported a boy he expected to see him marching sadly to the station to catch the afternoon train. Once Collins had stuck a pin into a wonderful mercury apparatus and entirely ruined it. "Oh, Collins, you stupid boy. I shall have to report you to the Headmaster, and you know what that means. We sha'n't see you here any more." Gordon had, of course, not the slightest fear of getting "bunked." But still it was a nuisance. He would have to be more careful next time. "Now look here, you two," Jenks went on, after a bit. "If either of you cares to own up, I won't report you at all. I will deal with you myself." Slowly Gordon rose. It was obviously an occasion where it paid to own up. "I did, sir." "Oh I thought as much. You see yours was in pencil, and if possible a little worse than Fletcher's. Sit down."