human
How did you think old Jupiter got through levee?
gpt
Well, for those who wish him well,
human
Ah, he's an uphill job before him, and I fancy he knows it. If he ever is down in the mouth, I think he was so last night after it was all over.
gpt
I thought so too, said Freckleton;
human
He's staked high. No one else would have dared to challenge the whole school in the way he did,
gpt
It answered; it brought the right fellows to the front.
human
And shut the wrong fellows hopelessly out?
gpt
I hope not. Many of them are only fools. They think it's plucky to defy the powers that be, and quite forget it's pluckier to defy themselves.
human
That's a neat way of putting it, old man!
gpt
There's a big bite this time!
human
It's a pity every one can't be made to see he's his own worst enemy; it would simplify matters awfully. If a youngster got it into his head that it wanted more pluck to go against himself than all the Templeton rules put together, we should get some surprises!
gpt
No chance of that, I'm afraid, while there are fellows like Pledge, who make it a business to drag youngsters down.
human
You may say so. I should say there's not a youngster in Templeton in greater peril at this moment than Pledge's fag, and the worst of it is there is no one to help him.