Charteris should play only before prep. was rigidly observed, except when Merevale was over at the Hall, and the Sixth had no work. On such occasions Charteris felt justified in breaking through the rule. He had a gramophone, a banjo, a penny whistle, and a mouth organ. The banjo, which he played really well, was the most in request, but the gramophone was also popular.     

       'Turn on "Whistling Rufus",' observed Thomson.     

       'Whistling Rufus' was duly turned on, giving way after an encore to       'Bluebells'.     

       'I always weep when I hear this,' said Tony.     

       'It is beautiful, isn't it?' said Charteris.     

     I'll be your sweetheart, if you—will be—mine, All my life, I'll be your valentine. Bluebells I've gathered—grrhhrh. 

       The needle of the gramophone, after the manner of its kind, slipped raspingly over the surface of the wax, and the rest of the ballad was lost.     

       'That,' said Charteris, 'is how I feel with regard to the Old Man. I'd be his sweetheart, if he'd be mine. But he makes no advances, and the stain on my scutcheon is not yet wiped out. I must say I haven't tried gathering bluebells for him yet, nor have I offered my services as a perpetual valentine, but I've been very kind to him in other ways.'     

       'Is he still down on you?' asked the Babe.     

       'He hasn't done much lately. We're in a state of truce at present. Did I tell you how I scored about Stapleton?'     

       'You've only told us about a hundred times,' said the Babe brutally. 'I tell you what, though, he'll score off you if he finds you going to Rutton.'     

       'Let's hope he won't.'     

       'He won't,' said Welch suddenly.     

       'Why?'     

       'Because you won't go. I'll bet you anything you like that you won't go.'     

 Prev. P 73/141 next