should advise you to drop the embellishments in future."

"It ain't no use, Master Hargate, they will have 'bellishments,
and if they will have 'em, Jack Perkins isn't the man to disappint
'em; and, Lord bless you, sir, the stiffer I pitches it in the
more liberal they is with their tips. Thank ye kindly all round,
gentlemen. Yes, I do feel dry after the yarn."



CHAPTER IV: A RISING TIDE


The half year was drawing to its close, and it was generally
agreed at Dr. Parker's that it had been the jolliest ever known.
The boating episode and that of the tea at Oak Farm had been
events which had given a fillip to existence. The school had been
successful in the greater part of its cricket matches, and generally
every one was well satisfied with himself. On the Saturday preceding
the breaking up Frank, with Ruthven, Charlie Goodall and two of the
other naturalists, started along the seashore to look for anemones
and other marine creatures among the rocks and pools at the foot
of the South Foreland. Between Ruthven and Frank a strong feeling
of affection had grown up since the date of their boating adventure.
They were constantly together now; and as Ruthven was also intended
for the army, and would probably obtain his commission about the
same time as Frank, they often talked over their future, and indulged
in hopes that they might often meet, and that in their campaigns,
they might go through adventures together.