"Can give you half an hour, Jim."

"We won't be able to screw up enough for Merishall in that time, old
man."

"Then you'll have to do the rest yourself, Jim. I'm not going to piffle
about any more."

"Oh, don't be an ass, Gus! I've heard that footle before," said Cotton,
with his heavy selfishness.

"Not quite, for this time I mean what I say."

"Oh no, you don't!"

"Oh yes, I do!"

"You wouldn't leave a fellow in the lurch like this, after all I--"

"I was left in the lurch last term, Jim, dear, and I'd rather you had a
taste of it this go. Do you remember when old Corker was savaging me
before all the school!"

The ghost of a smile flitted over Cotton's lips as he said--

"Rather!"

"The entire school, from the meanest fag up to Carr, was laughing at me,
and, by Jove! Jim, your laugh was the loudest and longest."