Mike at Wrykyn by P.G. Wodehouse Read Free Book Online Page A

rotten
trouble starts.”
    “Why?”
    “Well,
what happens? He either lets the kid rip, in which case he may find himself any
morning in the pleasant position of having to explain to his people exactly why
it is that little Willie has just received the boot, and why he didn’t look
after him better: or he spends all his spare time shadowing him to see that he
doesn’t get into trouble. He feels that his reputation hangs on the kid’s
conduct, so he broods over him like a policeman, which is pretty rotten for him
and maddens the kid, who looks on him as no sportsman. Bob seems to be trying
the first way, which is what I should do myself. It’s all right, so far, but,
as I said, the term’s only just started.”
    “Young
Jackson seems all right. What’s wrong with him? He doesn’t stick on side
anyway, which he might easily do, considering his cricket.”
    “There’s
nothing wrong with him in that way. I’ve talked to him several times at the
nets, and he’s very decent. But his getting into trouble hasn’t anything to do
with us. It’s the masters you’ve got to consider.”
    “What’s
up? Does he rag?”
    “From
what I gather from fellows in his form he’s got a genius for ragging. Thinks of
things that don’t occur to anybody else, and does them, too.”
    “He
never seems to be in extra. One always sees him about on half-holidays.”
    “That’s
always the way with that sort of chap. He keeps on wriggling out of small rows
till he thinks he can do anything he likes without being dropped on, and then
all of a sudden he finds himself up to the eyebrows in a record smash. I don’t
say young Jackson will land himself Ike that. All I say is that he’s just the
sort who does. He’s asking for trouble. Besides, who do you see him about with
all the time?”
    “He’s
generally with Wyatt when I meet him.”
    “Yes.
Well, then!”
    “What’s
wrong with Wyatt? He’s one of the decentest chaps in the school.”
    “I
know. But he’s working up for a tremendous row one of these days, unless he
leaves before it comes off. The odds are, if Jackson’s so thick with him, that
he’ll be roped into it too. Wyatt wouldn’t land him if he could help it, but he
probably wouldn’t realize what he was letting the kid in for. For instance, I
happen to know that Wyatt breaks out of his dorm every other night. I don’t
know if he takes Jackson with him. I shouldn’t think so. But there’s nothing to
prevent Jackson following him on his own. And if you’re caught at that game,
it’s the boot every time.”
    Trevor
looked disturbed.
    “Somebody
ought to speak to Bob.”
    “What’s
the good? Why worry him? Bob couldn’t do anything. You’d only make him do the
policeman business, which he hasn’t time for, and which is bound to make rows
between them. Better leave him alone.”
    “I
don’t know. It would be a beastly thing for Bob if the kid did get into a
really bad row.”
    “If you
must tell anybody, tell the Gazeka. He’s head of Wain’s, and has got far more
chance of keeping an eye on Jackson than Bob has.”
    “The
Gazeka is a fool.”
    “All
front teeth and side. Still, he’s on the spot. But what’s the good of worrying.
It’s nothing to do with us, anyhow. Let’s stagger out, shall we?”
     
    Trevor’s conscientious
nature, however, made it impossible for him to drop the matter. It disturbed
him all the time that he and Clowes were on the river; and, walking back to the
house, he resolved to see Bob about it during preparation.
    He
found him in his study, oiling a bat.
    “I say,
Bob,” he said, “look here. Are you busy?”
    “No.
Why?”
    “It’s
this way. Clowes and I were talking—”
    “If
Clowes was there he was probably talking. Well?”
    “About
your brother.”
    “Oh, by
Jove,” said Bob, sitting up. “That reminds me. I forgot to get the evening
paper. Did he get his century all right?”
    “Who?”
asked Trevor, bewildered.
    “My
brother, J.W. He’d made