You Tommy Goskin, come here, sir.
Tommy Goskin put down his book, and came up to his master with a good deal of doubt in his countenance.
Tommy Goskin, you didnt say your lesson well to-day.
Yes I did, Mr OGallagher, replied Tommy, you said I did yourself.
Well then, sir, you didnt say it well yesterday, continued Mr OGallagher.
Yes I did, sir, replied the boy, whimpering.
And is it you who dares to contradict me? cried Mr OGallagher; at all events, you wont say it well to-morrow, so hold out your right hand.
Poor Tommy held it out, and roared lustily at the first blow, wringing his fingers with the smart.
Now your left hand, sir; fair play is a jewel; always carry the dish even.
Tommy received a blow on his left hand, which was followed up with similar demonstrations of suffering.
There sir you may go now, said Mr OGallagher, and mind you dont do it again; or else therell be a blow-up. And now Master Keene, we come to the third and last, which is the birch for the tailhere it ishave you ever had a taste?
No, sir, replied I.
Well, then, you have that pleasure to come, and come it will, I dont doubt, if you and I are a few days longer acquainted. Let me see
Here Mr OGallagher looked round the school, as if to find a culprit; but the boys, aware of what was going on, kept their eyes so attentively to their books, that he could not discover one; at last he singled out a fat chubby lad.
Walter Puddock, come here, sir.
Walter Puddock came accordingly; evidently he gave himself up for lost.
Walter Puddock, I just have been telling Master Keene that youre the best Latin scholar in the whole school. Now, sir, dont make me out to be a liardo me credit,or, by the blood of the OGallaghers, Ill flog ye till youre as thin as a herring. Whats the Latin for a cocked hat, as the Roman gentlemen wore with their togeys?
Walter Puddock hesitated a few seconds, and then, without venturing a word of remonstrance, let down his trousers.
See now the guilty tief, he knows whats coming. Shame upon you, Walter Puddock, to disgrace your preceptor so, and make him tell a lie to young Master Keene. Wheres Phil Mooney? Come along, sir, and hoist Walter Puddock: its no larning that I can drive into you, Phil, but its sartain sure that by your manes I drive a little into the other boys.
Walter Puddock, as soon as he was on the back of Phil Mooney, received a dozen cuts with the rod, well laid on. He bore it without flinching, although the tears rolled down his cheeks.
There, Walter Puddock, I told you it would end in a blow-up; go to your dictionary, you dirty blackguard, and do more credit to your education and superior instruction from a certain person who shall be nameless.
Mr OGallagher laid the rod on one side, and then continued
Now, Master Keene, Ive just shown you the three roads to larning, and also the three implements to persuade little boys to larn; if you dont travel very fast by the three first, why you will be followed up very smartly by the three lasta nods as good as a wink to a blind horse, any day; and one thing more, you little spalpeen, mind that theres more mustard to the sandwiches to-morrow, or else it will end in a blow-up. Now youve got the whole theory of the art of tuition, Master Keene; please the pigs, well commence with the practice to-morrow.
My worthy pedagogue did not address me any more during that day; the school broke up at five, and I made haste home, thinking over all that had passed in the school-room.
My granny and mother were both anxious to know what had passed; the first hoped that I had been flogged, the second that I had not, but I refused to communicate. I assumed a haughty, indifferent air, for I was angry with my mother, and as for my grandmother, I hated her. Aunt Milly, however, when we were alone, did not question me in vain. I told her all that had passed; she bade me be of good heart, and that I should not be ill-treated if she could help it.
I replied, that if I were ill-treated, I would have my revenge somehow or another. I then went down to the barracks, to the rooms of Captain Bridgeman, and told him what had occurred. He advised me to laugh at the ruler, the ferrule, and the rod. He pointed out to me the necessity of my going to school and learning to read and write, at the same time was very indignant at the conduct of Mr OGallagher, and told me to resist in every way any injustice or tyranny, and that I should be sure of his support and assistance, provided that I did pay attention to my studies.
Fortified by the advice and protection of my two great friends, I made up my mind that I would learn as fast as I could, but if treated ill, that I would die a martyr, rather than yield to oppression; at all events, I would, if possible, play Mr OGallagher a trick for every flogging or punishment I received; and with this laudable resolution I was soon fast asleep, too fast even to dream.
Chapter Six
When my aunt Milly called me in the morning, that I might be up and have my breakfast in time for school, I felt as if two years had passed over my head during the last twenty-four hours. I had never witnessed tyranny until the day before, and my blood was heated with indignation: I felt myself capable of anything and everything.
My anger was about as great towards my mother and grandmother for having sent me to such a place, as it was against Mr OGallagher. Instead of going up and kissing my mother, I paid no attention to either her or my grandmother, much to the mortification of the former and surprise of the latter, who said, in a very cross manner, Wheres your manners, child? why dont you say good morning?
Because I have not been long enough at school to learn manners, granny.
Come and kiss me before you go, my child, said my mother.
No, mother; you have sent me to school to be beat, and I never will kiss you again.
Naughty, good-for-nothing boy! exclaimed my granny; what a bad heart you must have.
No, that he has not, cried my aunt Milly. Sister should have inquired what sort of a school it was before she sent him.
I made every inquiry, replied my granny; he cant play tricks there.
Wont I? cried I, but I will; and not only there but here. Ill be even with you all; yes, Ill be even with you, granny, if I die for it.
Why, you audacious wretch, Ive great a mind to
I dare say you have, but recollect I can bite; youd better be quiet, granny, or, as the master says, it will end in a blow-up.
Only hear the little wretch, said my granny, lifting up her hands; I shall see you hanged yet, you ungrateful child.
Im not ungrateful, replied I, throwing my arms round Millys neck, and kissing her with fervour; I can love those who love me.
Then you dont love me? said my mother, reproachfully.
I did yesterday, but I dont now; but its time for me to go, aunt; is my basket ready? I dont want father to take me to school, I can do without him, and when I dont choose to go any more, I wont; recollect that, mother. So saying, I seized my basket and quitted the room. There was a long consultation, I found, after my departure: my mother, when my aunt had informed her of Mr OGallaghers conduct, wished to remove me instantly; my grandmother insisted upon it that there was not a word of truth in what I had said, and threatened that if I did not remain at that very school, she would leave Chatham, and take my aunt with her. As my mother could not part with aunt Milly, the consequence was, that my grandmother gained the day.
I arrived in good time, and took my seat near my master. I preferred doing this, as I had had a long conversation with Captain Bridgeman who told me that although Mr OGallagher had put the ruler down as punishment Number 1, the ferrule Number 2, and the birch as Number 3, and of course they were considered to be worse as the number rose, that he considered it to be the very contrary, as he had had them all well applied when he was at school; he ordered me, therefore, never to hold out my hand to the ferrule, by which refusal I should, of course, be flogged; but he assured me that the birch, especially when it is given often, was a mere nothing. Now I considered that the surest way to avoid the ruler was to sit close to my master, who could then have no pretence for sending it at my head; the fact was I had determined to save the more noble portions of my body, and leave Mr OGallagher to do what he pleased with the other: to do him justice, he lost no time.
Come here, Mr Keene, said he, wheres your manners? why dont you say good morning to your preceptor? Can you read at all?
No, sir.
Dye know your letters?
Some of themI think I do, sir.
Some of themI suppose about two out of six-and-twenty. Its particular attention thats been paid to your education, I perceive; youve nothing to unlearn anyhow, thats something. Now, sir, do you think that a classical scholar and a gentleman born, like me, is to demane myself by hearing you puzzle at the alphabet? Youre quite mistaken, Mr Keene, you must gain your first elements second-hand; so wheres Thimothy Ruddel? You, Timothy Ruddel, youll just teach this young Master Keene his whole alphabet, and take care, at the same time, that you know your own lessons, or it will end in a blow-up; and you, Master Keene, if you have not larnt your whole alphabet perfect by dinner time, why youll have a small taste of Number 2, just as a hint to whats coming next. Go along, you little ignorant blackguard; and you, Timothy Ruddel, look out for a taste of Number 3, if you dont larn him and yourself all at once, and at the same time.
I was very well pleased with this arrangement; I had resolved to learn, and I was doubly stimulated to learn now, to save poor Timothy Ruddel from an unjust punishment.
In the three hours I was quite perfect, and Timothy Ruddel, who was called up before me, was also able to say his lesson without a blunder very much to the disappointment of Mr OGallagher, who observed, So youve slipped through my fingers, have you, this time, Master Timothy? Never mind, Ill have you yet; and, moreover, theres Master Keene to go through the fiery furnace. Just before dinner time I was called up; with my memory of many of the letters, and the assistance I had received from Timothy Ruddel, I felt very confident.
What letters that, sir? said Mr OGallagher.
A B C D E.
You little blackguard, Ill dodge you; you think to escape, you?
V, X, P, O.
Much to Mr OGallaghers surprise I said them all without one mistake. Instead of commendation I received abuse. By all the powers, exclaimed my pedagogue, but everything seems to go wrong to-day; my hand has been completely idle; this will never do; didnt you tell me, Mr Keene, that you didnt know your letters?
I said I knew some of them, sir.
If my memory is correct, Mr Keene, you told me that you knew two out of twenty-six.
No, sir, you said that.
Thats just as much as to tell me, your preceptor, a classical scholar, and a Milesian gentleman to boot, that I lie, for which I intend to have satisfaction, Mr Keene, I assure you. Youre guilty in two counts, as they say at the Old Bailey, where youll be called up to some of these days, as sure as you stand there; one count is in telling me a lie, in saying you did not know your alphabet, when its quite clear that you did; and, secondly, in giving me the lie, by stating that I said what you said. You thought to escape me, but youre mistaken, Mr Keene; so now, if you please, we will just have a taste of Number 2. Hould out your hand, Mr Keene: dye hear me sir? hould out your hand.
But this I positively refused to do. You wont, wont you? Well, then, we must increase the punishment for our contempt of court, and at once commence with Number 3, which we intended to reserve till to-morrow. Come along, Phil Mooney, theres fresh mate for you to carry, and come out Number 3, heres fresh ground for you to travel over.
Phil Mooney and the birch soon made their appearance: I was hoisted by the one and scourged by the other.
The first taste of the birch is anything but agreeable; I could only compare it to the dropping of molten lead. I tried all I could to prevent crying out, but it was impossible, and at last I roared like a mad bull; and I was as mad as a bull, and as dangerous. Could I have picked up any weapon at the moment that I was dropped from the shoulders of Phil Mooney, it would have gone hard with Mr OGallagher. My rage was greater than my agony. I stood when I had been landed, my chest heaving, my teeth set fast, and my apparel still in disorder. The school was dismissed, and I was left alone with the savage pedagogue, who immediately took up my basket, and began to rummage the contents.
Make yourself decent, Mr Keene, and dont be shocking my modesty, and taking away my appetite. Did you mention the mustard, as I desired you? Upon my faith, but youre a nice boy and do justice to the representations of your grandmother, and when you see her you may tell her that I did not forget the promise she exacted from me. You forgot all about the mustard, you little blackguard. If Phil Mooney was here I would give you another taste to freshen your memory for to-morrow; however, to-morrow will do as well, if the mistakes not corrected. Here, take your victuals, and good appetite to you, you little monster of iniquity.
Mr OGallagher tossed me some bread but this time reserved the cheese for his own eating. I had adjusted my dress, and I therefore left the school-room. I could not sit down without pain, so I leant against a post: the bread remained in my hand untouched; had it been the greatest delicacy in the world I could not have tasted a morsel; I was giddy from excess of feeling, my thoughts were rapidly chasing each other when I heard a voice close to me; I looked round, it was Walter Puddock, who had been flogged the day before.
Never mind, Keene, said he, kindly; it hurts at first, but the more you get it the less you care for it; I dont mind it a bit now; I cries, because he goes on flogging till you do, and its no use having more than you can help.
I didnt deserve it, replied I.
Thats not necessary; youll get it, as we all do, whether you deserve it or not.
Well, Ill try to deserve it in future, replied I, clenching my fist; Ill be even with him.
Why, what can you do?
Wait a little, and youll see, said I, walking away, for an idea had come into my head which I wished to follow up.
Soon afterwards the bell rang, and we returned to the schoolroom. I was put under the tuition of another boy, and took care to learn my lesson. Whether it was that he was tired with the exercise, for he flogged and ferruled a dozen during that afternoon, or that he thought that my morning dose had been sufficient, I received no more punishment on that day.
Chapter Seven
As soon as school was dismissed, I went straight to the rooms of Captain Bridgeman, and told him how I had been treated. As soon as he heard it, he exclaimed, This is really too bad; I will go with you, and I will consult with your aunt Amelia.