Glyn Severn's Schooldays Part 25

"Yes, my boy. You had yours at eight o'clock, I suppose. What time were you up? Seven o'clock, I suppose."

"No, father," said Glyn, laughing. "It must have been about four."

"Four o'clock! What made you get up so soon as that?" cried the Colonel, as he looked from one to the other.

"We were called, father, and obliged to get up." And between them the boys narrated their early morning adventure.

"Tut, tut, tut, tut!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the Colonel. "Then you have had no breakfast at all?"

Singh shook his head.

"Come along with me, then," cried the Colonel. "I'll soon put that right."

"Can't, father. We haven't got leave. We shall be punished for breaking out of school."

"Nonsense!" cried his father. "You didn't break out of school. You were carried off. Here, I'll put that right with the Doctor; but there must be no more of this. You lads don't want elephants till you go back to Dour, and that won't be for years to come."

Very shortly afterwards the boys were once more seated at the Colonel's table, to partake of a leisurely breakfast, before he, as he termed it, marched them back like a couple of deserters to the Doctor's establishment.

Wrench looked at them at first wonderingly, and then shook his head as he announced that the boys were all in their cla.s.ses, and that the Doctor was going round the grounds with the gardener to see what damage was done by the second visit of the elephant; when the Colonel proposed that they should follow and give the boys' version of their adventure.

They came upon him they sought almost directly after, for he had inspected the damaged hedge, and was gazing very ruefully at the broken-down palisade and the torn and trampled flower-beds.

He was busy pointing out the mischief to his companion, for Morris was with him, looking very sympathetic, as he borrowed the Doctor's walking-cane and carried his mathematical studies into daily life and utility by bending down and taking the dimensions of the elephant's great circular foot-prints.

The Doctor frowned as he turned and saw who were approaching; but explanations followed as he rather ponderously led the way into his study, where everything connected with the discipline of his school was always discussed.

"Oh, of course, Colonel Severn," he said, as his visitor took leave. "I hold your ward and son perfectly blameless, and have nothing to say about their absence from my establishment this morning.--But I hope, young gentlemen, that this is the last of these adventures; and I am glad, Colonel, that you met them and made them your guests."

"Unintentionally, my dear sir--unintentionally," said the Colonel stiffly. "I did mean to ask your permission for them to dine with me once more; but after this morning's meeting I shall not do so. We mustn't interfere with the discipline of the school boys," he said.

"To-morrow morning I return to town, and probably I shall not see you again for a couple of months. Good-morning, Doctor; good-morning.--You will see me to the door, boys?"

The Doctor smiled and bowed, and the two lads walked past Wrench and then down with the Colonel to the Doctor's gate, where he stood for a few minutes talking.

"That fellow civil and attentive?" he said, giving his Malacca cane a wave in the direction of Wrench.

"Yes, father; very nice and obliging."

"Give him that," said the Colonel, slipping a crown-piece into his son's hand; "and, let's see; you get your month's allowance regularly. Not overrunning the constable, I hope--not getting into debt?"

The boys shook their heads, and after a few words more the Colonel marched off, erect and soldierly, while the boys rather slowly and unwillingly returned to their room to give a finishing touch or two to their rather hasty morning toilet.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THE PROFESSOR MAKES A REQUEST.

Morris, being off duty, as he termed it, walked down the road to clear his head a little of mathematical calculations, as well as to devise an examination paper intended for the improvement of his pupils; not that he looked upon it in that light, for as soon as he had mentally got it into shape, ready for committing to paper, he laughed to himself and rubbed his white hands over and over again in his intense satisfaction.

"That will puzzle their brains," he said maliciously. "That will give some of them a headache;" and as he spoke, on his way back, he suddenly awakened to the fact that he was just coming to the damaged hedge, where a couple of men were for the second time, by Ramball's orders, restaking, half-cutting through, and bending down for interlacing purposes st.u.r.dy old growths of hawthorn.

The next moment he was conscious of the fact that Professor Barclay, who looked particularly neat, refined, and clean, was coming up to him with a most friendly smile and with extended hand.

The Professor was clean-shaven, wore his hair cut very short, and from his hat to his boots he was spotless; but somehow or other there was a suggestion that the profession of Sanskrit did not result in the possession of wealth, for the Professor's hat was not so new as it had been once, one of his well-polished boots had a smile in its upper leather just where the little toe pressed outwards, there was a suggestion about his very stiff shirt-collar of the growth of saw-like teeth that might be very unpleasant if they came in contact with his ears, while his tightly b.u.t.toned-up frock-coat, which looked very nice in front, had grown extremely shiny in two places at the back where the wearer's blade-bones were prominent.

Morris took the extended hand and shook it, but not half so affectionately as the Professor shook his, while agreeing very simply that the day was remarkably fine; and then, oddly enough, Morris, though the Professor gave him no reason for his thoughts in words, began thinking of a quiet little place in the town where modest dinners were provided, one of which Morris did not require in the least, inasmuch as a repast would be provided for him gratuitously in the Doctor's establishment. Item, he began thinking, too, of half-crowns. But his thoughts were turned in another direction by the Professor.

"So this is the spot," he said, "where the elephant broke through?"

"Yes," said Morris eagerly; "great mischievous beast! It will be a good thing when it's out of the town."

"Exactly," said the Professor, "unless the proprietor had some one to manage it who understood its ways. Is it true, as I have heard, that the young Prince and his friend and fellow-pupil controlled the huge beast by giving it orders in Hindustani?"

"Oh yes," said Morris, smiling now, as he ridded himself of thoughts of cheap dinners and half-crowns.

"Well, I am not surprised," continued the Professor; "but it was a pity I was not there."

"Pity you were not there?" said Morris, making a suggestion with his hand preparatory to saying "good-bye--can't stop," and then telling something very much like a fib; for it was in his mind to say, "So glad to have met you."

"Yes," said the Professor nonchalantly, "you see, I know Hindustani thoroughly; and though I suppose my p.r.o.nunciation would be faulty in the ears of a native, I could very well make myself understood."

"Ah, yes," said Morris hastily; "so I should suppose; but--er--you will excuse me?" And he glanced at his watch. "I am afraid I must be back at the college. It is close upon dinner-time."

The Professor sighed and inadvertently sniffed as poor boys sniff who are pa.s.sing cookshops.

"In a moment, my dear friend. I will not detain you; but I will walk with you as far as the college. It will be in my way. You see, just when one wants them most, important letters--important pecuniary letters--have such a bad habit of being delayed."

Morris coughed.

"Now, nothing could have happened better for me than that I should have met you, a brother-student; though we follow divergent lines, you for the attainment of mathematical precision, I for the diffusion of Eastern lore, you of all men seem to have extended towards me a kindly interest."

"Oh, well, that was perfectly natural," said Morris feebly, as, inadvertently he thrust his right hand into his pocket, started, coloured, and withdrew it quickly.

"Now," continued the Professor, "I want you to give me your advice about seeing the Doctor again."

Morris shook his head.

"Ah, I see what you are thinking; but that was for a permanent post.

Now, don't you think he might accept my services, say, for a non-resident and three days a week?"

"No," said Morris, "I am sure he wouldn't. Your coming made Rampson dreadfully jealous, and he told me afterwards that the Doctor a.s.sured him that he should make no change."

"Well, say one day a week."

Morris shook his head again and looked down the road, as if hoping that some one would come and rescue him from his position.

"Don't speak in haste," said the Professor, taking him with finger and thumb by the plaited guard of silk, as if he had intentions upon the watch--not to know the time.