Read "A Prefect's Uncle" by P. G. Wodehouse online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
On the following day, at nine o'clock, the term formally began. There is nothing of Black Monday about the first day of term at a public school. Black Monday is essentially a private school institution.
At Beckford the first day of every term was a half holiday. During the morning a feeble pretence of work was kept up, but after lunch the school was free, to do as it pleased and to go where it liked. The nets were put up for the first time, and the School professional emerged at last from his winter retirement with his, "Coom right out to 'em, sir, right forward," which had helped so many Beckford cricketers to do their duty by the School in the field. There was one net for the elect, the remnants of last year's Eleven and the "probables" for this season, and half a dozen more for lesser lights.