There is only one thing to be said in favour of detention on a finesummer's afternoon, and that is that it is very pleasant to come outof. The sun never seems so bright or the turf so green as during thefirst five minutes after one has come out of the detention-room. Onefeels as if one were entering a new and very delightful world. Thereis also a touch of the Rip van Winkle feeling. Everything seems tohave gone on and left one behind. Mike, as he walked to the cricketfield, felt very much behind the times.

　　Arriving on the field he found the Old Boys batting. He stopped andwatched an over of Adair's. The fifth ball bowled a man. Mike made hisway towards the pavilion.

　　Before he got there he heard his name called, and turning, foundPsmith seated under a tree with the bright-blazered Dunster.

　　"Return of the exile," said Psmith. "A joyful occasion tinged withmelancholy. Have a cherry?--take one or two. These little acts ofunremembered kindness are what one needs after a couple of hours inextra pupil-room. Restore your tissues, Comrade Jackson, and when youhave finished those, apply again.

　　"Is your name Jackson?" inquired Dunster, "because Jellicoe wants tosee you.""Alas, poor Jellicoe!" said Psmith. "He is now prone on his bed in thedormitory--there a sheer hulk lies poor Tom Jellicoe, the darling ofthe crew, faithful below he did his duty, but Comrade Dunster hasbroached him to. I have just been hearing the melancholy details.""Old Smith and I," said Dunster, "were at a private school together.

　　I'd no idea I should find him here.""It was a wonderfully stirring sight when we met," said Psmith; "notunlike the meeting of Ulysses and the hound Argos, of whom you havedoubtless read in the course of your dabblings in the classics. I wasUlysses; Dunster gave a life-like representation of the faithfuldawg.""You still jaw as much as ever, I notice," said the animal delineator,fondling the beginnings of his moustache.

　　"More," sighed Psmith, "more. Is anything irritating you?" he added,eyeing the other's manoeuvres with interest.

　　"You needn't be a funny ass, man," said Dunster, pained; "heaps ofpeople tell me I ought to have it waxed.""What it really wants is top-dressing with guano. Hullo! another manout. Adair's bowling better to-day than he did yesterday.""I heard about yesterday," said Dunster. "It must have been a rag!

　　Couldn't we work off some other rag on somebody before I go? I shallbe stopping here till Monday in the village. Well hit, sir--Adair'sbowling is perfectly simple if you go out to it.""Comrade Dunster went out to it first ball," said Psmith to Mike.

　　"Oh! chuck it, man; the sun was in my eyes. I hear Adair's got a matchon with the M.C.C. at last.""Has he?" said Psmith; "I hadn't heard. Archaeology claims somuch of my time that I have little leisure for listening to cricketchit-chat.""What was it Jellicoe wanted?" asked Mike; "was it anythingimportant?""He seemed to think so--he kept telling me to tell you to go and seehim.""I fear Comrade Jellicoe is a bit of a weak-minded blitherer----""Did you ever hear of a rag we worked off on Jellicoe once?" askedDunster. "The man has absolutely no sense of humour--can't see whenhe's being rotted. Well it was like this--Hullo! We're all out--Ishall have to be going out to field again, I suppose, dash it! I'lltell you when I see you again.""I shall count the minutes," said Psmith.

　　Mike stretched himself; the sun was very soothing after his two hoursin the detention-room; he felt disinclined for exertion.

　　"I don't suppose it's anything special about Jellicoe, do you?" hesaid. "I mean, it'll keep till tea-time; it's no catch having to sweatacross to the house now.""Don't dream of moving," said Psmith. "I have several rather profoundobservations on life to make and I can't make them without anaudience. Soliloquy is a knack. Hamlet had got it, but probably onlyafter years of patient practice. Personally, I need some one to listenwhen I talk. I like to feel that I am doing good. You stay where youare--don't interrupt too much."Mike tilted his hat over his eyes and abandoned Jellicoe.

　　It was not until the lock-up bell rang that he remembered him. He ............