'Captain Grimes doesn't think so. He says I'm half-witted. I'm glad you're not like Captain Grimes. He's so common, don't you think?

'You mustn't talk about the other masters like that in front of me.

'Well that's what we all think about him, ariyway. What's more, he wears combinations. I saw it in his, washing‑book one day when I was fetching him his hat. I think combinations are rather awful, don't you?

There was a commotion at the end of the hall.

'I expect that's Clutterbuck being sick, said Beste Chetwynde. 'He's awfully sick when we have mutton.

The boy on Paul's other side now spoke for the first time.

'Mr Prendergast wears a wig, he said, and then be came very confused and subsided into a giggle.

'That's Briggs, said Beste‑Chetwynde, 'only everyone calls him Brolly, because of the shop, you know.

'They're silly rotters, said Briggs.

All this was a great deal easier than Paul had expected; it didn't seem so very hard to get on with boys, after all.

After a time they all stood up, and amid considerable noise Mr Prendergast said grace. Someone called out 'Prendy! very loudly just by Paul's ear.

… per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen, said Mr Prendergast. 'Betse‑Chetwynde, was that you who made that noise?

'Me, sir? No, sir.

'Pennyfeather, did Beste‑Chetwynde make that noise?

'No, I don't think so, said Paul, and Beste‑Chetwynde gave him a friendly look, because, as a matter of fact, he had.

Captain Grimes linked arms with him outside the dining‑hall.

'Filthy meal, isn't it, old boy? he said.

'Pretty bad, said Paul.

'Prendy's on duty to‑night. I'm off to the pub. How about you?

'All right, said Paul.

'Prendy's not so bad in his way, said Grimes, 'but he can't keep order.