Tales of St. Austins | Page 9

come in. Well, Scott
came in. I had made about sixty then, and was fairly well set--and he
started simply mopping up the bowling. He gave a chance every over as
regular as clockwork, and it was always missed, and then he would
make up for it with two or three tremendous whangs--a safe four every
time. It wasn't batting. It was more like golf. Well, this went on for
some time, and we began to get hopeful again, having got a hundred
and eighty odd. I just kept up my wicket, while Scott hit. Then he got
caught, and the last man, a fellow called Moore, came in. I'd put him in
the team as a bowler, but he could bat a little, too, on occasions, and
luckily this was one of them. There were only eleven to win, and I had
the bowling. I was feeling awfully fit, and put their slow man clean
over the screen twice running, which left us only three to get. Then it
was over, and Moore played the fast man in grand style, though he
didn't score. Well, I got the bowling again, and half-way through the
over I carted a half-volley into the Pav., and that gave us the match.
Moore hung on for a bit and made about ten, and then got bowled. We
made 223 altogether, of which I had managed to get seventy-eight, not
out. It pulls my average up a good bit. Rather decent, isn't it? The
fellows rotted about a good deal, and chaired me into the Pav., but it
was Scott who won us the match, I think. He made ninety-four. But
Uncle John nearly did for us with his beastly walking-stick. On a good
wicket we might have made any number. I don't know how the affair
will end. Keep me posted up in the governor's symptoms, and write

again soon.--Your affectionate brother, Dick PS.--On looking over this
letter, I find I have taken it for granted that you know all about the
Uncle John affair. Probably you do, but, in case you don't, it was this
way. You see, I was going, etc., etc.

VI
From Archibald Venables, of King's College, Cambridge, to Richard
Venables, of St Austin's:
Dear Dick--Just a line to thank you for your letter, and to tell you that
since I got it I have had a visit from the great Uncle John, too. He is an
outsider, if you like. I gave him the best lunch I could in my rooms, and
the man started a long lecture on extravagance. He doesn't seem to
understand the difference between the 'Varsity and a private school. He
kept on asking leading questions about pocket-money and holidays, and
wanted to know if my master allowed me to walk in the streets in that
waistcoat--a remark which cut me to the quick, 'that waistcoat' being
quite the most posh thing of the sort in Cambridge. He then enquired
after my studies; and, finally, when I saw him off at the station, said
that he had decided not to tip me, because he was afraid that I was
inclined to be extravagant. I was quite kind to him, however, in spite of
everything; but I was glad you had spoken to him like a father. The
recollection of it soothed me, though it seemed to worry him. He talked
a good deal about it. Glad you came off against Rugborough.--Yours
ever, _A. Venables_

VII
From Mr John Dalgliesh to Mr Philip Mortimer, of Penge:
Dear Sir--In reply to your letter of the 18th inst., I shall be happy to
recommend your son, Reginald, for the vacant post in the firm of
Messrs Van Nugget, Diomonde, and Mynes, African merchants. I have
written them to that effect, and you will, doubtless, receive a
communication from them shortly.--I am, my dear sir, yours faithfully,
_J. Dalgliesh_

VIII
From Richard Venables, of St Austin's, to his father Major-General Sir

Everard Venables, V.C., K.C.M.G.:
Dear Father--Uncle John writes, in answer to my apology, to say that
no apologies will meet the case; and that he has given his nomination in
that rotten City firm of his to a fellow called Mortimer. But rather a
decent thing has happened. There is a chap here I know pretty well,
who is the son of Lord Marmaduke Twistleton, and it appears that the
dook himself was down watching the Rugborough match, and liked my
batting. He came and talked to me after the match, and asked me what I
was going to do when I left, and I said I wasn't certain, and he said that,
if I hadn't anything better on, he could give me a place on his estate up
in Scotland, as a sort of land-agent,