The Reason

Now why did Arthur Hoare pull out

A sovereign with a happy shout

And give it rashly to his scout,

Who almost had a fit?

Why of a sudden did he fling

A hard-boiled egg at Eustace Ling,

Forgetting how an egg can sting

The person who is hit?

Why after dinner did he turn

In fury on his room, and burn

His old oak chairs with unconcern?—

A stupid thing to do!

And why so harshly did he pelt

With forks a fresh and timorous Celt

Afraid to utter what he felt?

Arthur had got his Blue!