Louis' School Days Part 25

"Louis, Louis!--the bell, the bell."

He started up in great alarm, and discovered that he was sitting on his bed at school, listening to the sonorous clanging of the bell below.

Groans, shouts, and sleepy exclamations reverberated round him. Reginald, rather more accustomed to good early habits at home than some of his room-fellows, was busy rousing those who either did not, or pretended not to hear the summons. Among the latter was our friend Frank Digby, who stoutly resisted being awakened, and when obliged to yield to the determined efforts of his cousin, nearly overwhelmed him with a species of abuse.

"That bell's a complete bugbear," he groaned. "It ought to be indicted for a nuisance, waking people up o' mornings when they ought to be in the arms of Morpheus--I've a great mind to lie still. Half an hour's sleep is worth sixpence."

"It's much better laid out with 'Maister,' Frank," suggested Meredith.

"And then Fudge will be so black about it," said Reginald.

"Come, up with you, Frank."

"As for Fudge," said Frank, "I wouldn't give you twopence for him, nor his black looks neither. But you may be sure he'll be amiable enough this morning. He has been remarkably affectionate these few mornings--hasn't he, Meredith?"

"_To be sure_," replied the young gentleman addressed: "when did you know a master otherwise the first week? They all know there's danger of our cutting their acquaintance in a summary manner, and take good care to be bland enough till we're tamed down."

"For my part," said Frank, "I have been longing for an opportunity of putting Fudge in a pa.s.sion. If only he or Danby would box my ears for something, that I might fling a book at his head, and have a legitimate excuse for taking myself off--but, alas! they are all so dreadfully amiable, except old Garthorpe, and he's beneath all consideration."

Frank continued in this strain for some minutes, working himself into a more rebellious humor, stimulated by those among his companions who admired this demonstration of spirit. Confidentially I may remark, that though running away seems to be the desideratum of a discontented school-boy, it is far more interesting in theory than practice, and I doubt much whether any malcontent who availed himself of this as his only refuge from the miserable fate awaiting him in the dungeon to which he was consigned, ever considered in the end that his condition had been materially improved. Spangled canopies and soft turf couches do well to read of, but stiff limbs and anxious hearts are sterner realities, to say nothing of sundry woes inflicted on the culprit when discovered. But I am enlarging and must return from my digression.

Dr. Wilkinson was engaged the greater part of the morning in arranging the different cla.s.ses and examining his new pupils. Great surprise was felt among those interested, in the news that Charles Clifton was to take his place in the second cla.s.s. Even the doctor paused once or twice in his examination, and looked earnestly on the great forehead and small pale face of the child.

"Why, how old are you?" said he, at length.

"Twelve, sir," replied Charles, gravely.

"Very little of your age. Have you ever been at school before?"

Charles replied in the negative, and after another momentary scrutiny, Dr. Wilkinson asked a few concluding questions, and then unhesitatingly declared him a member of the second cla.s.s.

Louis had, this half-year, a far better chance of distinguishing himself than before, as his brother and Meredith, with one or two others, had mounted into the first cla.s.s, and John Salisbury had not returned. He was, however, not a little surprised when Hamilton informed him that he would have enough to do to keep pace with his new friend, whom he had looked upon as quite one of the lower school.

CHAPTER XIV.

The first long dreary week had pa.s.sed: quicker, however, in its peaceable monotony than many a gayer time has been known to do, and the young gentlemen of Ashfield House were beginning to settle down soberly and rationally to their inevitable fate. Louis' position was so altered this half-year, that he hardly understood himself the universal affection and consideration with which he was treated. He was indubitably a favorite with the doctor, but no one was jealous, for he bore his honors very meekly, and was always willing to share his favors with others, neither encroaching on nor abusing the kindness displayed towards him by his master, who seemed, in common with his pupils, to be exceedingly desirous of obliterating all remembrance of the misunderstanding of the last half-year. But the doctor's affection was much more sparingly exhibited than Hamilton's, who seemed at times to forget every thing for Louis. He was now made the companion of the seniors--he had free admission into all their parties. Hamilton seemed unable to walk into Bristol unless Louis were allowed to accompany him.

Louis' place in the evening was now by Hamilton, who did his utmost to make him steady, and to prevent him from yielding the first place to Clifton, who very soon proved himself to be a boy of considerable genius, united with much steadiness of purpose, and who had, evidently, been very carefully educated. One evening about this time, when most of the cla.s.s-room party were very busy, under the orderly supervision of Messrs.

Hamilton and Trevannion, the door was quietly opened and Ferrers entered with that doubtful air that expected an unfavorable reception. When I speak of business and quietude at Ashfield House it must, of course, be understood as comparative, for the quietest evening in that renowned academy would have furnished noise enough to have distracted half the quiet parlors in the kingdom--and on this particular evening there was quite enough to cover the bashful entrance of the former bully. Hamilton was writing, and doubly engaged in keeping Louis from listening to an interesting history, delivered by Salisbury, of a new boy who had arrived that half-year from a neighboring school. The boy in question was a cunning dunce, who had already discovered Louis' failing, and having partaken of the a.s.sistance Louis supplied as liberally as allowed, had come more especially under the ken of the seniors, and Hamilton had been administering a reproof to Louis for helping Ca.s.son before getting his own lessons ready.

Ferrers had nearly reached the upper end of the table before any one was aware of his vicinity, when Trevannion, looking up from his writing to dip his pen anew in the ink, caught sight of him, recognizing him so suddenly that even his equanimity was almost surprised into a start.

He colored slightly, and coldly acknowledging his presence by a stiff bow and a muttered "How do you do," returned to his work, not, however, before his movement had attracted the attention of one or two others.

The intimation of his presence was conveyed almost talismanically round the room, and a silence ensued while the young gentlemen looked at one another for an example. These unfriendly symptoms added considerably to Ferrers' embarra.s.sment. Pale with anxiety, he affected to notice nothing, and looked for a place at one of the tables where he might lay the books he had brought in with him.

The silence, however, had made Hamilton now very conscious of what, till this moment, he had been in blissful ignorance--that his voice was raised to nearly a shouting pitch to make his admonitions sufficiently impressive to his protege--and the sonorous tones of his voice, delivering an emphatic oration on weakness and perseverance contrasted, were so remarkable that the attention was a little drawn from Ferrers by this unusual phenomenon.

"What a burst of eloquence!" exclaimed Frank, who, on the first sound of the kingly voice, had begun to att.i.tudinize; while Trevannion gazed on his friend with a quiet, gentlemanly air of inquiry, that was not to be put out of countenance by any circ.u.mstance how ludicrous soever, "His majesty's in an oratorical vein to-night. Such a flow of graceful language, earnest, mellifluous persuasives dropping like sugar-plums from his lips!"

"Three cheers for his majesty's speech," cried Salisbury.

These comments were hailed by a hearty laugh, mingled with clapping of hands, and an effort on the part of a few to raise a cheer. Hamilton joined in the laugh, though he had been so intent upon his lecture that at first he hardly comprehended the joke.

"Your majesty's been studying rhetoric since we had the pleasure of a speech," remarked Reginald, when a little lull had succeeded to the uproarious mirth. "Mercury himself couldn't have done better."

"Considering that the speeches of Edward the Great usually savor of Spartan brevity," said Smith, "we couldn't have hoped for such a masterpiece."

"You don't understand his most gracious majesty," said Frank; "depend upon it he's a veritable cameleon."

At this juncture, Louis, whose eyes had a sad habit of wandering when they should be otherwise employed, caught sight of Ferrers, and, starting up, he welcomed him with the utmost heartiness.

Hamilton looked round and colored furiously, but before Ferrers had time to make any answers to Louis' rapid questions, he rose, and, stepping forward, held out his hand--

"How are you, Ferrers?" he said, in a cheerful tone, "I neither saw nor heard you come in just now. You have not been here long, have you?"

Ferrers grasped Hamilton's hand and looked in his face, astonished and overcome with grat.i.tude for this unexpected welcome. The silence of the few minutes before was resumed, and every eye was riveted on Hamilton, who, perceiving from the tight grasp on his hand and the crimsoned countenance of Ferrers, his utter inability to speak, and being anxious to remove the insupportable feeling of awkwardness under which he felt sure he labored, continued, without waiting for an answer--

"You are very late this half. We have expected you every day."

He then sat down and went on telling Ferrers about the new-comers, and the present condition of the first cla.s.s, asking him some questions about his journey, and all so quickly and cleverly as neither to appear forced, nor to oblige Ferrers to speak more than he chose. While Hamilton spoke he only now and then glanced at him from his work, which he had apparently resumed as soon as he sat down.

"His majesty's taken Fudge's hint," said Frank, in a low, discontented tone.

"Hamilton can, of course, do as he likes, but I won't," said another, with a nod of determination. "We're not obliged to follow his lead."

"Trevannion won't, you'll see," muttered Peters.

"Be kind enough to lend me your lexicon, Salisbury," said Trevannion, who had, since Hamilton's notice of Ferrers, a.s.sumed an air of more than ordinary dignity, and now reached across Ferrers for the book, as if there were no one there. Ferrers made an effort to a.s.sist in the transition of the thick volume, but all his politeness obtained was a haughty, cold stare, and a determined rejection of a.s.sistance.

Louis was sure that Hamilton observed this action, from the expression of his face, but he made no remark, and continued to talk to Ferrers a little longer, when he laughingly pleaded his avocations as an excuse for being silent; but Louis was now disengaged, and Reginald had happily followed Hamilton's example, for though at first inclined to be on Trevannion's side, he could not help pitying his evident distress, and, touched by the emotion he exhibited, he exerted himself to smooth all down. Had all been as cold and repulsive as Trevannion and his advocates, Ferrers would have been dogged and proud, but now the sense of grat.i.tude and humility was predominant, and at last so overpowered him, that he was glad to get away in the playground by himself. As he closed the door, the buz was resumed, and an attack was made on Hamilton by those who had determinedly held back.

"Your royal clemency is most praiseworthy, most magnanimous Edward,"

said Frank Digby.

"Worthy of you, Hamilton," said Trevannion, sneeringly. "Ferrers is a fit companion and a.s.sociate for gentlemen."

"My manners not bearing any comparison with yours," replied Hamilton, coolly, "I am not so chary of contamination."

"That's a hit at your slip just now, Trevannion," said Smith.

"How could you commit such a what-do-you-call it? gooch--gaucherie."

"You had better take lessons of the old woman over the way,"

said Salisbury; "she only charges twopence _extra for them as learns manners_."

"A good suggestion," said Trevannion, laughing; "will you pay for me, Hamilton?"

"Willingly," replied Hamilton, in a low, deep tone, "if, on inquiry, I find her good manners are the result of good feeling."

"I am excessively indebted to you," replied Trevannion, coloring; "and feel exceedingly honored by the solicitude of Ferrers' friend."