of a slight passage-of-arms

"He's in the shooting eight. He's won the mile and half two yearsrunning. He would have boxed at Aldershot last term, only he sprainedhis wrist. And he plays fives jolly well!""Sort of little tin god," said Mike, taking a violent dislike to Adairfrom that moment. 　　Mike's actual acquaintance with this all-round man dated from thedinner-hour that day. Mike was walking to the house with Psmith. 　　Psmith was a little ruffled on account of a slight passage-of-arms hehad had with his form-master during morning school. 　　"'There's a P before the Smith,' I said to him. 'Ah, P. Smith, I see,' 　　replied the goat. 'Not Peasmith,' I replied, exercising wonderfulself-restraint, 'just Psmith.' It took me ten minutes to drive thething into the man's head; and when I _had_ driven it in, he sentme out of the room for looking at him through my eye-glass. ComradeJackson, I fear me we have fallen among bad men. I suspect that we aregoing to be much persecuted by scoundrels.""Both you chaps play cricket, I suppose?"They turned. It was Adair. Seeing him face to face, Mike was aware ofa pair of very bright blue eyes and a square jaw. In any other placeand mood he would have liked Adair at sight. His prejudice, however,against all things Sedleighan was too much for him. "I don't," he saidshortly. 　　"Haven't you _ever_ played?""My little sister and I sometimes play with a soft ball at home."Adair looked sharply at him. A temper was evidently one of hisnumerous qualities. 　　"Oh," he said. "Well, perhaps you wouldn't mind turning out thisafternoon and seeing what you can do with a hard ball--if you canmanage without your little sister.""I should think the form at this place would be about on a level withhers. But I don't happen to be playing cricket, as I think I toldyou."Adair's jaw grew squarer than ever. Mike was wearing a gloomy scowl. 　　Psmith joined suavely in the dialogue. 　　"My dear old comrades," he said, "don't let us brawl over this matter.