He smoked it very
slowly, but very conscientiously. After each whiff he removed the
pipe from his mouth and fanned away the smoke with his cap.
"Feeling bad?" I asked from behind a tree, at the same time making
ready for a run, big boys' answers to small boys' impertinences
being usually of the nature of things best avoided.
To my surprise and relief--for at second glance I perceived I had
under-estimated the length of his legs--he appeared to regard the
question as a natural and proper one, replying with unaffected
candour, "Not yet."
My desire became to comfort him--a sentiment I think he understood
and was grateful for. Advancing into the open, I sat down over
against him, and watched him for a while in silence. Presently he
said:-
"Have you ever tried drinking beer?"
I admitted I had not.
"Oh, it is beastly stuff," he rejoined with an involuntary shudder.
Rendered forgetful of present trouble by bitter recollection of the
past, he puffed away at his pipe carelessly and without judgment.
"Do you often drink it?" I inquired.
"Yes," he replied gloomily; "all we fellows in the fifth form drink
beer and smoke pipes.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153