Army, he was certain to fall on his feet; but his house-master held that after a more or less stormy schooling the peace (with cricket) of the University would have replenished the man without impairing the eventual squatter. The immediate man was Mr. Heriot's chief concern; but when the thing had been decided against him, after a brief correspondence with the Revd. Canon Ambrose, he saw the best side of a settled future, and took an extra interest from his own point of view.
"What are your sheep going to get out of your Public School?" said Heriot. "Will you herd them any better for having floundered through the verbs in μι? Don't you think a lot that you have learnt here will be wasted?"
"I hope not, sir," replied Jan, with the solemn face due to the occasion, though there was an independent twinkle behind Heriot's glasses.
"So do I, indeed," said he. "But I shall be interested; you're a bit of a test case—you see—and you may help us all."
"I only know I'm jolly glad I came here," said Jan devoutly. "I wasn't once, but I am now, and have been long enough."
"But what have you gained?" asked Heriot. "That's what I always want to know—for certain. A bit of Latin and a lot of cricket, no doubt; but how far are they coming in? If you get up a match at the back of beyond, you'll spoil it with your bowling. On the other hand, of course, you'll be able to measure your paddocks in parasangs and call your buggy-horses Dactyl and Spondee—or Hex and Pen if you like if better!"
Jan guffawed, but there was an unsatisfied sound about Heriot's chuckle.
"I want a fellow like you, Rutter, to get as nearly as possible 100 per cent, out of himself in life; and I should
