The Willoughby Captains Part 50

A MYSTERIOUS LETTER.

It was hardly to be expected that the political excitement of Willoughby would altogether disappear until the result of the election was made known. And for some reason or other a whole day had to elapse before the tidings found their way up to the school.

After what had happened no one had the hardihood to ask leave to go down into the town, and none of the butcher's or baker's boys that Parson and Telson intercepted in the grounds could give any information. The hopes of Willoughby centred on Brown, the town boy, whose arrival the next morning was awaited with as much excitement and impatience as if he had been a general returning home from a victorious campaign.

Fully aware of his importance, and feeling popularity to be too unusual a luxury to be lightly given up, he behaved himself at first with aggravating reserve.

"Who's in!" shouted Parson from the school gate, the moment Brown appeared about a quarter of a mile down the road.

Brown, of course, could not hear.

The question was repeated with greater vehemence as he approached, until at last he had no excuse for not hearing.

"Do you hear, you old badger, who's in?" yelled Parson and Telson.

"Look here, you kids," said Brown, loftily, "who are you calling a badger? I'll knock your cheeky heads together if you don't look out."

"Oh I say, who's in! can't you speak?" reiterated the youths, who at this moment possessed only one idea between them.

"Who is it? Who's got in?" repeated some Limpets, who were as eager every bit to hear as the juniors.

"In where?" replied the aggravating Brown, shouldering his way in at the gate and intoxicated with his own importance. "What are you talking about?"

"Why, who's been elected for Sh.e.l.lport? Is Pony in?" shouted the boys, impatiently.

"Pony!" rejoined Brown, half-contemptuously, "do you suppose they'd have an old stick like him!"

"What," exclaimed Merrison. "Is Cheeseman in after all, then?"

"Eh?"

"Is Cheeseman in, can't you hear?"

"I never said he was," replied Brown, majestically.

This was rather too much, and a simultaneous rush was made for the pompous town boy, and the secret forcibly extracted in double quick time.

"Now," cried one of the Limpets, giving his arm a premonitory screw, "out with it, or I'm sorry for you."

"Here, let go my arm, you cad, I say; oh! you hurt! let go, I--oh! oh!

Cheeseman's in!"

The arm was flung away in disgust as a simultaneous groan greeted the announcement.

"How much by?" demanded the inquisitors, once more preparing to apply the screw.

But Brown had had quite enough of it, and answered glibly, "Eight hundred and twenty-five majority!"

This was a terrible blow, and in the general dismay which followed, Brown was temporarily overlooked.

"Eight hundred and twenty-five!" exclaimed Merrison. "Why, it's an awful licking. Every one was sure Pony would be five hundred ahead."

"It's foul play and bribery, depend on it," said another.

"Or they've counted wrong."

"Or Brown is telling lies!"

Now, if Brown had been a wise boy he would have taken advantage of the excitement which immediately followed his announcement to retreat quietly and rapidly up to the school, and he reproached himself greatly that he had not. For the ill-temper of the a.s.sembly was only too ready to fix on some object upon which to vent itself, and this last suggestion, coupled with the suspicion that Brown's father had been one of the backers of the Radical candidate, brought the town boy once more into most uncomfortable notoriety.

He was hunted almost for his life round the playground and up to the school. It was no use for him to protest that he was out-and-out yellow, that his father had been on Pony's committee. He was far too valuable a scapegoat to be let off; and when at last he managed to bolt headlong into the school and seek shelter in the master's cloak-room, it is safe to say that though he himself felt rather the worse for the adventure, Willoughby on the whole felt rather better.

In due time the news was confirmed, and the school settled rather viciously down to its ordinary work. It was almost a relief when first school was over, and all those who had impositions to write were ordered to keep their places and begin their tasks.

What venom of wrath and disappointment could they not put into those unlucky lines! If the paper had only been the skin of the Radical Cheeseman, and the pens needles, _how_ they would have delighted in their penalty!

Scarcely had they begun work, however, when the school messenger came round unexpectedly to summon the whole school to a.s.semble in the Great Hall. What could it be? Was it another lecture? or had the doctor repented of letting them off so easy? Or was there to be another change in the captaincy? or what?

The hall soon filled, and every one waited impatiently for the doctor.

He arrived presently, with a letter in his hand and a somewhat important look on his face.

"The last time I spoke in this room," said he, "I had to discharge the painful duty of punishing the whole school for a serious and inexcusable act of insubordination."

"Why do they always call it a _painful_ duty?" inquired the artless Telson of his ally; "I'm sure it doesn't hurt _them_."

"Silence! whoever is speaking!" said the doctor, sternly. "I hope what was said then will not be forgotten. An act of that kind could not possibly be allowed to pa.s.s without punishment, and any repet.i.tion of it would entail the severest measures. However, I say no more of that at present. I have called you together to read to you a letter I have just received from the newly-elected Member for Sh.e.l.lport, Mr Cheeseman."

As the doctor p.r.o.nounced this unpopular name, one hardy junior, quite mistaking the gravity of the occasion, began a low hiss.

Before the infection could spread the doctor suddenly laid down the letter, and with a voice of thunder demanded, "Who is that? Stand up, sir, in your place!"

The luckless form of the youthful Lawkins, pale and scared, rose from a back bench.

"Leave the room, sir!" said the doctor, wrathfully, "and write out your imposition double, and come to me after third school!"

Poor Lawkins retired, and the a.s.sembly, being warned by his awful example, heard the doctor out without further interruption.

"Mr Cheeseman writes as follows:--

"`Dear Dr Patrick,--I hope I need no apology for writing to you on a matter affecting the boys under your charge. A large number of these young politicians, as you are aware, took a somewhat active part in the recent election, in which it was not my good fortune to be their favourite candidate. I understand that their crusade into the town was not only without your permission, but in direct opposition to your wishes; and I conclude, that being so, the offenders have merited the punishment due for such escapades. The election, as you know, is now decided, and I am anxious that one of my first acts in my new capacity should be one of intercession with you to take as lenient a view as you can of this schoolboy freak; and if you should find it consistent with your duty to remit any penalty that may have been inflicted, I shall be as grateful to you as no doubt your boys will be.'

"`I am, dear doctor,'

"`Yours faithfully,'

"`A. Cheeseman.'"

The doctor laid down the letter amidst ominous silence, which even the feeble cheers of Bosher, Brown, and a few others barely disturbed.