Free Guy Renton by Alec Waugh Page A

But I don’t see him as a prefect. He’s never identified himself either with the house or school. It’s not as though he were unintelligent or poor at games. He might have got a scholarship, he’d certainly have got his cricket colours. He could have been as successful here as you were; and of course there’s no reason why he shouldn’t in the end prove a great credit to the school. We all hope he will. He leaves, of course, under no kind of cloud. I’d put it this way. Some boys grow up quicker than the rest, and your brother at seventeen is ready for a university.”
    He spoke in the confident assured manner of a chairman addressing the members of his board. Then he changed the subject. “I watched the last international at Twickenham. I hopeI’m not a mere
laudator temporis acti,
but in my opinion these new spoiling tactics of the winging forward are ruining the game.”
    It was, Guy felt, reasonably cheerful news that he was bringing home.
    To his relief he found there was no dinner guest; Margery was out, he had his parents to himself.
    â€œThere’s nothing to worry about,” he assured his mother.
    â€œI never thought there was; how’s Franklin taking it?”
    â€œHe seems quite glad to leave.”
    â€œGlad?” his father echoed.
    â€œHe’s had enough of school; he feels that he’s outgrown it.”
    â€œGlad—when he was on the brink of the Eleven!”
    â€œI know, Father, but I think they grow up quicker now than we did.”
    In actual fact he found his brother’s attitude as incomprehensible as his father did, but he did not want his mother to suspect that he and his father were in league. He wanted her to feel that he as well as she was on Franklin’s side.
    â€œGlad to be leaving before he’s got into the Eleven. Are you sure he wasn’t saying that out of bravado, to keep his own spirits up? He’s a great sense of pride, you know.”
    Guy shook his head. “I don’t think it’s that. He was genuinely looking forward to spending the summer in France and Spain.”
    â€œIn France and Spain?” his mother echoed.
    â€œHe thought it would be a good chance of brushing up his languages. He’ll need them when he comes into the firm.”
    â€œVery sensible of him too,” his father said. “In the long run we may come to look on this as a blessing in disguise.”
    His mother’s face had set however in an obstinate resolute expression that Guy knew well: she was about to dig her toes in.
    â€œWas this your idea?”
    Guy hesitated. Was it, or was it Franklin’s? They had been in such complete agreement, the solution had been so obvious, that he could not remember which had first brought it up. It was better probably not to let his mother think that the course had been forced on Franklin.
    â€œI think the idea was his.”
    She nodded her head, quickly.
    â€œAs I thought. The kind of idea that would appeal to him. He’s always trying to run away from his responsibilities, always trying to do things the easiest way. It would be fatal for him to go away at a time like this. Anything might happen to him.”
    â€œMy dear Mary, he’s seventeen. At that age a great many young men were commanding platoons in Flanders.”
    â€œI daresay they were. And if Franklin had been of military age, I’m sure he would have done very well. He does not lack courage. But he is unstable. It’s all very well for the headmaster to say that there’s nothing specific against him, but he doesn’t ask a parent to take a son away for no good reason.”
    It was the very argument that Rex had used, and how his mother had flared up when he had done so! His mother was not blind to Franklin’s weaknesses. But no one else must call attention to them.
    â€œNo,” she was saying, “it would be quite fatal to have him go abroad on his own at a