Shelley. This brought him into open conflict with Roddles, the
History Master. Roddles had discovered these theological
controversies in some mysterious way, and he took upon himself to
talk at Benham and Prothero. He treated them to the common
misapplication of that fool who "hath said in his heart there is no
God." He did not perceive there was any difference between the fool
who says a thing in his heart and one who says it in the dormitory.
He revived that delectable anecdote of the Eton boy who professed
disbelief and was at once "soundly flogged" by his head master.
"Years afterwards that boy came back to thank ----"

"Gurr," said Prothero softly. "STEW--ard !"

"Your turn next, Benham," whispered an orthodox controversialist.

"Good Lord! I'd like to see him," said Benham with a forced
loudness that could scarcely be ignored.

The subsequent controversy led to an interview with the head. From
it Benham emerged more whitely strung up than ever. "He said he
would certainly swish me if I deserved it, and I said I would
certainly kill him if he did."

"And then?"

"He told me to go away and think it over. Said he would preach
about it next Sunday. . . . Well, a swishing isn't a likely thing
anyhow. But I would. . . . There isn't a master here I'd stand a
thrashing from--not one. . . . And because I choose to say what I
think! . . . I'd run amuck."