Louis' School Days Part 26

"Just as you choose to feel it, Trevannion," said Hamilton; "but I had better speak my mind, gentlemen,--I do not think we have, as a body, remembered the doctor's injunction."

"How could we?" "Is it likely?" "No, indeed." "I dare say!" "Very fine!"

sounded on all sides.

"Hear me to the end," said Hamilton; "I have not much to say."

"Two speeches in one night!" said Jones. "Never was such condescension."

Hamilton took no notice of the jeering remarks round him, but having obtained a little silence, continued--

"We have made enough of this business. It is cruel now to carry it on further. I confess myself to have felt as much repugnance as any one could feel, to renewing any thing beyond the barest possible intercourse with Ferrers; but let us consider, first, that it becomes us, while we are Dr. Wilkinson's pupils, to pay some respect to his wishes, whether they coincide with our feelings or not; and next, whether it is charitable to shut a school-fellow out of a chance of reformation.

Let us put ourselves in his place."

"A very desirable position; rather too much for imagination,"

remarked Trevannion.

"It is a miserable position," said Hamilton; "therefore we should do well to endeavor to help him out of it. I have no doubt if we had been once in so painful a situation, we should not have considered ourselves as hopeless or irremediable characters--nor is he; he is quite overcome to-night because all have not been quite such savages as he expected."

"As he would have been. He wouldn't have been merciful!"

exclaimed Meredith.

"That's nothing to the purpose," said Hamilton. "We have only to act rightly ourselves. Give him a chance. If he forfeit it by a similar offence, I will not say another word for him."

There was a dead silence when Hamilton had finished. His appeal had the more effect, that he was usually too indolent to trouble himself much about what did not immediately concern him or his, but took all as he found it.

"In giving what you call a chance, Hamilton," said Trevannion, who alone, in the indecision evident, remained entirely unmoved; "in giving what you call a chance, you forget that we implicate ourselves. As honorable individuals, as gentlemen, we cannot admit to fellowship one who has so degraded himself. To be 'hail-fellow-well-met' with him, were to lower ourselves. We do not prevent his improving himself. When he has done so, let us talk of receiving him among us again. In my opinion, Dr. Wilkinson's allowing him to return is as much, and a great deal more than he could expect."

"I shall say nothing more," said Hamilton. "I do not often make a request."

"I know what Louis would say," said Salisbury, who had been watching Louis' earnest, gratified gaze on Hamilton for the last few minutes; "I think we ought to be guided by him in this matter."

"I! oh, I wish just what Hamilton has said--you know I wished it long ago."

"What Louis says shall be the law," said Jones. "We won't refuse him any thing."

"Especially in this matter," said Salisbury. "He's a brick, and so is his majesty, after all. My best endeavors for your side, Louis."

"And mine," said Jones.

"I'll outwardly forgive the culprit, at any rate," said Frank. Several others expressed their desire to abide by the same resolution; Hamilton looked his satisfaction, Trevannion sulkily recommenced his work, and Louis stole out of the room to find Ca.s.son, that he might finish telling him his lesson, according to promise. When Dr. Wilkinson arrived, he narrowly watched the manners of his pupils towards Ferrers, and was satisfied with his scrutiny, though he was, of course, unconscious of the means by which the civility shown had been procured. It is to be hoped that we have not gone so far in the delineation of Dr. Wilkinson's school, without discovering that the spirit of honor and confidence was generally high among the young gentlemen, and, consequently, having promised to be friendly to Ferrers, each individual, in duty bound, did his utmost to fulfil that promise, and in a little while the stiffness attendant on the effort wore off, and Ferrers was, in appearance, in precisely the same position as before, to the great satisfaction of the doctor, who was much pleased with his pupils' conduct on the occasion.

CHAPTER XV.

"Where is Louis Mortimer?" asked Hamilton, the next Sat.u.r.day afternoon, about a quarter of an hour after dinner. "Does any one know where Louis Mortimer is?"

"Here I am, Hamilton, _pret a vous servir_, as Monsieur Gregoire would say!" cried Louis, starting from behind the school-room door.

"Are you engaged this afternoon?"

"Never, when you want me!" exclaimed Louis.

Hamilton looked gratified, but checked the expression as soon as he was aware of it.

"That is not right, Louis; I never wish, and never ought, to be an excuse for breaking an engagement."

"But suppose I make your possible requirements a condition of my engagements," said Louis, archly; "you have no objection to that, have you?"

"Only I cannot imagine such a case."

"Such is the case, however, this afternoon. I had the vanity to hope you would let me walk with you, and so only engaged myself conditionally."

"To whom were you engaged in default of my sufferance?"

"I was going to stay with Ca.s.son," replied Louis, hesitatingly. "He has a cold and headache, and he asked me if I would stay with him in the cla.s.s-room, where he is obliged to stay while we are out."

"Ca.s.son!" said Hamilton, contemptuously; "you were not talking to him just now?"

"No; I was only listening to Ferrers. He was telling me about a wager Frank had just laid with Salisbury."

"How is it you prefer Ca.s.son to your friend Clifton?"

"Oh, Hamilton, I don't much like Ca.s.son; but he asked me, poor fellow.

Charlie's engaged to West--our days are Sunday, Monday, and Thursday."

"Which of you is first now?"

"Charles is, to-day," said Louis; "he is so very clever, Hamilton."

"I know he is; but you are older, and not a dunce, if you were not idle, Louis. Louis, I shall repudiate you, if you don't get past him."

"That would be a terrible fate," said Louis, slipping his hand into Hamilton's. "I cannot tell you how I should miss your kind face and help. You have been such a very kind friend to me: but I have not been so very idle, Hamilton."

"Yes, you have," returned Hamilton; "I am vexed with you, Louis. If I did not watch over you as I do, you would be as bad as you were last half. Don't tell me you can't keep before Clifton if you choose."

Louis looked gravely in Hamilton's face, and put his other hand on that he held. Hamilton drew his own quickly away.

"Lady Louisa," he said, "these affectionate demonstrations may do well enough for us alone, but keep them for private service, and don't let us play _Damon_ and _Pythia_ in this touching manner, to so large an audience. It partakes slightly of the absurd."

Louis colored, and seemed a little hurt; but he replied, "I am afraid I am very girlish sometimes."

"Incontrovertibly," said Hamilton, kindly laying his hand heavily on Louis' shoulder. "But we have no desire that any one should laugh at you but our royal self."

"Are we going to the downs?" asked Louis.