human
What shall we say to Ashford?
gpt
Say? What do you mean?
human
He's sure to ask us what has happened.
gpt
Well, we shall tell him, I suppose.
human
There'll be an awful row.
gpt
Of course there will.
human
We shall get licked.
gpt
Of course we shall. What of it?
human
Only, said Heathcote, with a little hesitation,
gpt
I suppose there's no way of getting out of it?
human
Not unless you tell lies. You and Coote can tell some if you like--I shan't.
gpt
I'm not going to tell any, said Coote,
human
I've told quite enough in my exam. papers.
gpt
Oh, of course, I don't mean telling crams, said Heathcote, who really didn't exactly know what he did mean.
human
I'll back you up, old man.
gpt
Thanks. I say, as we are in a row, mightn't we just as well take it out of this beastly horse? If Coote led him you and I could take cock shots at him from behind.
human
Oh, yes, said Coote,
gpt
We might aim at Coote, suggested Heathcote, by way of solving the difficulty,
human
Perhaps it would be rather low, said Dick.
gpt
I don't see, though, why she shouldn't carry us. She's a long back; plenty of room for all three of us.
human
The middle for me,
gpt
Think she'd kick up?
human
Not she, she couldn't lift with all of us on her. Come on. Whoa! you beast. Give us a leg up, somebody. Whoa! Hold her head, Coote, and keep her from going round and round. Now then. By Jove! what a way up it is!