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The home life at the Rhodes's and Hamiltons' continued the emancipation started by the revolt against the removal of Morgan. These upheavals were probably symptoms of puberty rather than causes of the sense of freedom with which I and my contemporaries entered the Main School.
There was anxiety at being a new boy again. Rhodes fell on his feet by becoming fag to Frankie Lord and Spurgeon, two mature and friendly Sixth Formers. Rhodes had the push and drive which made him a capable fag. Because I was thought of as a friend of his – not through any shining merits of my own – I was chosen to be fag to an athletic Sixth Former called Morgan and his study mate Nickalls. Morgan had the merit of being no relation to the prep school pest and did not resemble him in any way; he was alert and efficient, and alas, expected me to be so. Nickalls had the reputation, deserved I think, of being brainy though too clumsy to be a good athlete. I was big, dreamy, unbelievably incompetent, and though I have spoken of having achieved my freedom I fell almost at once into the pains of adolescence. I struggled with my duties: to make toast – “burnt again, blast him!”; tend the fire – out? not always; and make tea. I also had to see that supplies were kept replenished. Lack of foresight meant that I had frequently to borrow a tin of Swiss Milk – as our tins of condensed or evaporated milk were called. My voice had become deep and somewhat uncontrolled. I became famous for saying “Have you any Swizz–milka?” in somewhat stereotyped and mournful tones. ‘Swizz–milka’ became my theme call. I tried to get rid of the ‘milka’ but could not; by the time I achieved ‘condenny’ it was too late. My nickname was ‘Swizz’ till I entered senior school; then the name was used only by my intimate, Dyer.