"I thought you said fifty-two pounds a year-a pound a week."

"A monstrous impression. Adjust it. Four pounds a quarter is the sum.
You will have no needs. It errs upon the side of liberality--I desire
to be liberal."

George twisted his legs into a yet firmer knot: "But two failures
would wipe it bang out."

"Look you to that," Mr. Marrapit told him. "The matter is settled."

But it was further pursued by George when outside the door.

"Simply to spite that stingy brute," vowed he, "I'll pass all my
exams, with such a rush that I'll be hooking sixteen quid a quarter
out of him before he knows where he is. I swear I will."

It was a rash oath. When Youth selects as weapon against Authority
some implement that requires sweat in the forging Authority may go
unarmed. The task of contriving such weapons is early abandoned. In
three months George's hot resolve was cooled; in six it was forgotten;
at the end of three years, after considerable fluctuation, his
allowance stood at minus two pounds for the ensuing quarter.

Mr. Marrapit, appealed to for advance, had raved about his study with
waving arms.

"The continued strain of renewing examination fees consequent on your
callous failures," he had said, "terrifies me. I am haunted by the
spectre of ruin. The Bank of England could not stand it."