Bunter the Caravanner - Friardale

Mr. Jervis had already surprised him considerably. Now he was
surprising him still more. He really seemed bent on giving the
fat Owl surprises.
'It was what happened yesterday, sir, that put the idea into my
head,' explained Mr. Jervis, smoothly. 'It occurred to me how
very pleasant it would be to have young and cheerful company on
a caravan trip - especially, if I may say so, yours, sir.'
'Oh!' said Bunter.
'You remind me very much, sir, of a young gentleman I once
served in the capacity of valet,' said Mr. Jervis. 'That was
before I came into a legacy that made me independent. It would
remind me very happily of old times, sir, if I could serve you
in any way.'
'Oh!' repeated Bunter.
'If you cared for the idea, sir,' went on Mr. Jervis, watching
the fat face keenly over his horn-rimmed glasses, 'my caravan,
and my services, would be wholly at your disposal, of course
without any charge to you.'
'Oh!' gasped Bunter.
'You and a few of your friends from your school would be guests
in the van. There would be no expense for anyone.'
'Oh!' gasped Bunter, again.
He almost wondered whether he was dreaming this!
If the sleek man was in earnest, that handsome, expensivelooking
caravan was at his service for the Easter holidays,
costing nothing. It seemed a little too improbable to be true.
Yet the man seemed quite in earnest.
'A party of half a dozen or so would be very pleasant,'
continued Mr. Jervis. 'You could ask who you liked among your
many friends at school. Perhaps you will think it over, sir.'
Bunter blinked at him.
'I say, you're not pulling my leg?' he asked.
'Oh, sir!' said Mr. Jervis, with a gesture disclaiming any such
idea. 'I should not be so impertinent, sir. I know my place,
sir. I was trained as a man-servant, sir, and know my place.'
'Well, if you mean it—!' said Bunter. 'Certainly, sir.'
'I might think about it,' said Bunter. 'I suppose it must be a
bit lonely, caravanning on your own.'
'Very much so, sir.'
Billy Bunter blinked at the van, and blinked at the driver.
Certainly it was a very attractive idea - a caravan for the hols
at somebody else's expense. He could picture himself asking
astonished fellows in the Remove to join up for such a holiday.
For once in his fat career, Bunter would not be a fisher for
invitations: he would be handing them out, quite royally. That
was a very pleasant prospect. Remove fellows had a way of
dodging Bunter on the subject of the hols. They wouldn't want to
dodge a fellow who could stand a caravan holiday to anyone he
chose: free, gratis, and for nothing!
'Well, I might come along and bring a few friends,' said Bunter,
in quite a patronizing manner. If Mr. Jervis, or anyone else,