" Pyrrhus, sir? Pyrrhus, a pier. All laughed. Mirthless
high malicious laughter. Armstrong looked round at his classmates, silly
glee in profile. In a moment they will laugh more loudly, aware of my
lack of rule and of the fees their papas pay."
" Tell me now, Stephen said, poking the boy's shoulder with the book,
what is a pier. A pier, sir, Armstrong said. A thing out in the waves. A
kind of bridge. Kingstown pier, sir."
