to play a silly game, or to learn something?

"Because if it's only a game--we boys against the masters," continued
Dan, "then let's play according to rule. If we're here to
learn--well, you've been in the class four months and I've just come,
and I bet I know more Ovid than you do already." Which was true.

So I thanked Dan and shared with him his key; and all the Latin I
remember, for whatever good it may be to me, I take it I owe to him.

And knowledge of yet greater value do I owe to the good fortune that
his sound mother wit was ever at my disposal to correct my dreamy
unfeasibility; for from first to last he was my friend; and to have
been the chosen friend of Dan, shrewd judge of man and boy, I deem no
unimportant feather in my cap. He "took to" me, he said, because I
was so jolly green"--"such a rummy little mug." No other reason would
he ever give me, save only a sweet smile and a tumbling of my hair
with his great hand; but I think I understood. And I loved him
because he was big and strong and handsome and kind; no one but a
little boy knows how brutal or how kind a big boy can be. I was still
somewhat of an effeminate little chap, nervous and shy, with a pink
and white face, and hair that no amount of wetting would make
straight. I was growing too fast, which took what strength I had, and
my journey every day, added to school work and home work, maybe was
too much for my years. Every morning I had to be up at six, leaving
the house before seven to catch the seven fifteen from Poplar station;
and from Chalk Farm I had to walk yet another couple of miles. But
that I did not mind, for at Chalk Farm station Dan was always waiting
for me. In the afternoon we walked back together also; and when I was
tired and my back ached--just as if some one had cut a piece out of