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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19855-h.zip b/19855-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf51289 --- /dev/null +++ b/19855-h.zip diff --git a/19855-h/19855-h.htm b/19855-h/19855-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..481fa01 --- /dev/null +++ b/19855-h/19855-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11950 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"> +<html lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Louis' School Days, by E. J. May.</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {} + div {margin: 0% 10% 0% 10%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4em; text-align: justify; } + div.ads1 {margin: 0% 20% 0% 20%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: justify;} + div.ads2 {margin: 0% 20% 0% 20%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: center;} + p {} + pre {font-size: .7em; text-align: left;} + .ad-head {margin: 0% 5% 0% 5%; font-size: 1.1em; font-weight: 700; font-variant: small-caps; text-align: center;} + .author {font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1em; text-align: center;} + .cen {text-align: center;} + .chapter-head {font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: 700; font-variant: small-caps; text-align: center;} + .chapter-sub {margin: 0% 5% 0% 5%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: justify;} + .chapter-sub-cen {margin: 0% 5% 0% 5%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: center;} + .img {text-align: center;} + .poem1 {margin: 0% 15% 0% 3%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4em; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin: 0% 15% 0% 6%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4em; text-align: left;} + .poem3 {margin: 0% 15% 0% 9%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4em; text-align: left;} + .pubdate {font-size: 1.3em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1em; text-align: center;} + .quote {margin: 1% 15% 1% 3%; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4em; text-align: justify;} + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + .title {font-size: 2em; font-weight: 700; line-height: .5em; text-align: center;} + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 {text-align: center;} + hr.full {width: 100%; text-align: center;} + hr.large {width: 80%; text-align: center;} + hr.medium {width: 50%; text-align: center;} + hr.small {width: 30%; text-align: center;} + hr.exsmall {width: 10%; text-align: center;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Louis' School Days, by E. J. May + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Louis' School Days + A Story for Boys + +Author: E. J. May + +Release Date: November 17, 2006 [EBook #19855] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOUIS' SCHOOL DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Justin Gillbank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The University of Florida, The Internet +Archive/Children's Library) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class="full"> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="454" height="578" src="images/lsd01.png" id="lsd01.png" + title="Louis' School Days" + alt="Book title made in gold foil. Four boys studying."> +</p> + +<p class="title">Louis' School Days,</p> +<p class="title">a story for boys.</p> + +<p class="author">By E. J. May</p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> +<p class="pubdate">NEW-YORK:<br /> +D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 200 BROADWAY.<br /> +1852.</p> + +<hr class="medium"> + +<div> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="PREFACE">Preface.</p> + + +<p>It was originally my intention to leave the child of my imagination +to make its way where it would, without any letter of introduction in +the form of the usual prefatory address to the reader; but having been +assured that a preface is indispensable, I am laid under the necessity +of formally giving a little insight into the character of the possible +inmate of many a happy home.</p> + +<p>Reader, the following pages claim no interest on the score of +authenticity. They are no fiction <em>founded on facts</em>. They profess +to be nothing but fiction, used as a vehicle for illustrating certain +broad and fundamental truths in our holy religion.</p> + +<p>It has often struck me, in recalling religious stories (to which I +acknowledge myself much indebted), that many of them fell into an error +which might have the effect of confusing the mind of a thinking child, +namely, that of drawing a perfect character as soon as the soul has +laid hold of Christ, without any mention of those struggles through +which the Christian must pass, in order to preserve a holy consistency +before men. This would seem to exclude the necessity of maintaining +a <em>warfare</em>.</p> + +<p>The doctrine I have endeavored to maintain in the following pages is, +that man being born in “sin, a child of wrath,” has, by nature, all his +affections estranged from God; that, when by grace, through faith in +Christ, a new life has been implanted within him, his affections are +restored to their rightful Lord, every thought and imagination is +brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and his whole being +longs to praise Him who has called him “out of darkness into light”—to +praise Him “not only with his lips, but in his life.” Then commences the +struggle between light and darkness, between the flesh and the spirit, +between the old and new man; and the results of this conflict are seen +in the outward conduct of the Christian soldier.</p> + +<p>The character of the child of God does not essentially alter, but a +new impulse is given him. Whatever good quality was in his natural +state conspicuous in him, will, in a state of grace and newness of +life, shine forth with double lustre; and he will find his besetting +sin his greatest hindrance in pressing forward to the attainment of +personal holiness. The great wide difference is, that he <em>desires</em> to +be holy, and the Lord, who gives him this desire, gives him also the +strength to overcome his natural mind; and the more closely he waits +on his heavenly Father for His promised aid, the more holily and +consistently he will walk; and when, through the deceits of his heart, +the allurements of the world, or the temptations of Satan, he relaxes +his vigilance, and draws less largely from the fountain of his strength, +a sad falling away is the inevitable consequence. This warfare, this +danger of backsliding, ends only with the life, when, and when <em>only</em>, +he will be perfect, for he shall be like his Saviour.</p> + +<p>As a writer for the young, I dare not plead even the humble pretensions +of my little volume in deprecation of the criticism which ought to be the +lot of every work professing to instruct others. In choosing the arena +of a boy's school for the scene of my hero's actions, I have necessarily +been compelled to introduce many incidents and phrases to which, perhaps, +some very scrupulous critics might object as out of place in a religious +work; but my readers will do well to recollect, that to be useful, a +story must be attractive, and to be attractive, it must be natural; and +I trust that they who candidly examine mine will find nothing therein +that can produce a wrong impression. It has not been without an anxious +sense of the great responsibility dependent on me in my present capacity, +that this little effort has been made. Should it be the instrument of +strengthening in one young one the best lessons he has received, it will, +indeed, not have been in vain. To the service of Him who is the strength +and help of all His people, it is dedicated.</p> + +<p class="poem2">“Be Thou alone exalted:</p> +<p class="poem1">If there's a thought of favor placed on me—</p> +<p class="poem2"><span class="sc">Thine</span> be it all!</p> +<p class="poem1">Forgive its evil and accept its good—</p> +<p class="poem1">I cast it at Thy feet.”</p> +<p class="poem3">—E. J. M.</p> + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_I">Chapter I.</p> + + +<p>Doleful were the accounts received from time to time of Louis Mortimer's +life with his tutor at Dashwood Rectory; and, if implicit credence might +be yielded to them, it would be supposed that no poor mortal was ever so +persecuted by Latin verses, early rising, and difficult problems, as our +hero. His eldest brother, to whom these pathetic relations were made, +failed not to stimulate him with exciting passages of school life—and +these, at last, had the desired effect, drawing from Louis the following +epistle:</p> + + +<p class="quote"> +“My dear Reginald, +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +“Your letter was as welcome as usual. You cannot imagine what +a treat it is to hear from you. Mr. Phillips is kind, but so +very different from dear Mr. Daunton. What I dislike most is, +that he says so often, ‘What <em>did</em> Mr. Daunton teach you? I +never saw a boy so ignorant in my life!’ I do not care how +much he says of me, but I cannot bear to hear him accuse dear +Mr. Daunton of not teaching me properly. I believe I am really +idle often, but sometimes, when I try most, it seems to give +least satisfaction. The other day I was busy two hours at +some Latin verses, and I took so much pains with them—I had +written an ‘Ode to the Rising Sun,’ and felt quite interested, +and thought Mr. Phillips would be pleased; but when I took it +to him, he just looked at it, and taking a pen dashed out word +after word, and said, so disagreeably, ‘Shocking! Shocking, +Louis! Disgraceful, after all that I said yesterday—the pains +that I took with you,’ ‘Indeed, sir,’ I said, ‘I tried a great +deal,’ ‘Fine ideas! fine ideas! no doubt,’ he said, ‘but I have +told you dozens of times that I do not want <em>ideas</em>—I want +<em>feet</em>.’ I wish those same feet would run away to Clifton with +me, Reginald; I hope I have not been saying any thing wrong +about Mr. Phillips—I should be very sorry to do so, for he +is very kind in his way: he tells me I do not know what I am +wishing for, and that school will not suit me, and a great deal +about my having to fag much harder and getting into disgrace; +but never mind, I should like to make the experiment, for I +shall be with you; and, dear as Dashwood is, it is <em>so</em> dull +without papa and mamma—I can hardly bear to go into the +Priory now they are away. I seem to want Freddy's baby-voice +in the nursery; and sober Neville and Mary are quite a part +of home—how long it seems since I saw them! Well, I hope I +shall come to you at Easter. Do you not wish it were here? +I had a nice letter from mamma yesterday—she was at Florence +when she wrote, and is getting quite strong, and so is little +Mary. I have now no more time; mamma said papa had written +to you, or I would have told you all the news. I wanted to +tell you very much how our pigeons are, and the rabbits, and +Mary's hen, which I shall give in Mrs. Colthrop's care when +I leave Dashwood. But good bye, in a great hurry. With much +love, I remain your very affectionate brother, +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +“<span class="sc">Louis Francis Mortimer</span>. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +“P.S. Do you remember cousin Vernon's laughing at +our embrace at Heronhurst? I wonder when I shall have +another—I am longing so to see you.” +</p> + + +<p>It would not concern my readers much were I to describe the precise +locality of the renowned Dr. Wilkinson's establishment for young +gentlemen—suffice it to say, that somewhere near Durdham Down, +within a short walk of Clifton, stood Ashfield House, a large +rambling building, part of which looked gray and timeworn when +compared with the modern school-room, and sundry dormitories, that +had been added at different periods as the school grew out of its +original domains. Attached to the house was a considerable extent +of park land, which was constituted the general play-ground.</p> + +<p>At the time of which I am writing, Dr. Wilkinson's school consisted +of nearly eighty pupils, all of whom were boarders, and who were +sent from different parts of the kingdom; for the doctor's fame, as +an excellent man, and what, in the eyes of some was even a greater +recommendation, as a first-rate classical scholar, was spread far and +wide. At the door of this house, one fine April day, Louis presented +himself; and, after descending from the vehicle which brought him from +Bristol, followed the servant into the doctor's dining-room, where we +will leave him in solitary grandeur, or, more correctly speaking, +in agitating expectation, while we take a peep at the room on the +opposite side of the hall. In this, Dr. Wilkinson was giving audience +to a gentleman who had brought back his little boy a few minutes before +Louis arrived. Having some private business to transact, the child was +sent to the school-room, and then Mr. Percy entered into a discussion +respecting the capabilities of his son, and many other particulars, +which, however interesting to himself, would fail of being so to us.</p> + +<p>At length these topics were exhausted, and it seemed nearly decided +how much was to be done or discontinued in Master Percy's education. +Mr. Percy paused to consider if any thing were left unsaid.</p> + +<p>“Oh! by the by, Dr. Wilkinson,” he said, letting fall the pencil with +which he had been tapping the table during his cogitations, “you have +one of Sir George Vernon's grandsons with you, I believe?”</p> + +<p>“Two of them,” replied the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Ah! indeed, I mean young Mortimer, son of Mr. Mortimer of Dashwood.”</p> + +<p>“I have his eldest son, and am expecting another to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Then it was your expected pupil that I saw this morning,” +said Mr. Percy.</p> + +<p>“May I ask where?” said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“At the White Lion. He came down by the London coach. I saw his trunk, +in the first place, addressed to you, and supposed him to be the young +gentleman who attained to some rather undesirable notoriety last year.”</p> + +<p>“How so?” asked the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Oh! he very ungenerously and artfully endeavored to retain for +himself the honor of writing a clever little essay, really the work +of his brother, and actually obtained a prize from his grandfather +for it.”</p> + +<p>“How came that about?” asked Dr. Wilkinson.</p> + +<p>“Oh! there was some mistake in the first instance, I believe, and the +mean little fellow took advantage of it.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Percy then gave a detailed account of Louis' birthday at Heronhurst, +and concluded by saying—</p> + +<p>“I was not present, but I heard it from a spectator; I should be afraid +that you will not have a little trouble with such a character.”</p> + +<p>“It is extraordinary,” said the doctor; “his brother is the most frank, +candid fellow possible.”</p> + +<p>“I hear he is a nice boy,” said Mr. Percy. “There is frequently great +dissimilarity among members of the same family; but of course, this +goes no further. It is as well you should know it,—but I should not +talk of it to every one.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson bowed slightly, and remained silent, without exhibiting +any peculiar gratification at having been made the depository of the +secret. Mr. Percy presently rose and took his leave; and Dr. Wilkinson +was turning towards the staircase, when a servant informed him that a +young gentleman waited to see him in the dining-room.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said the doctor to himself, “my dilatory pupil, I presume.”</p> + +<p>He seemed lost in thought for a minute, and then slowly crossing +the hall, entered the dining-room.</p> + +<p>Louis had been very anxious for the appearance of his master, yet +almost afraid to see him; and when the door opened, and this gentleman +stood before him, he was seized with such a palpitation as scarcely to +have the power of speech.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson was certainly a person calculated to inspire a school-boy +with awe. He was a tall, dignified man, between fifty and sixty years +of age, with a magnificent forehead and good countenance: the latter +was not, however, generally pleasing, the usual expression being stern +and unyielding. When he smiled, that expression vanished; but to a +new-comer there was something rather terrible in the compressed lips +and overhanging eyebrows, from under which a pair of the keenest black +eyes seemed to look him through.</p> + +<p>Louis rose and bowed on his master's entrance.</p> + +<p>“How do you do, Mortimer?” said the doctor, shaking hands with him. +“I dare say you are tired of waiting. You have not seen your brother, +I suppose?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir,” replied Louis, looking in the stern face with something +of his customary simple confidence. Doctor Wilkinson smiled, and +added, “You are very like your father,—exceedingly like what he +was at your age.”</p> + +<p>“Did you know him then, sir?” asked Louis, timidly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, as well as I hope to know you in a short time. What is your name?”</p> + +<p>“Louis Francis, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What! your father's name—that is just what it should be. Well, I hope, +Louis, you will now endeavor to give him the utmost satisfaction. With +such a father, and such a home, you have great privileges to account +for; and it is your place to show to your parents of what use their +care and instruction have been. In a large school you will find many +things so different from home, that, unless you are constantly on your +guard, you will often be likely to do things which may afterwards cause +you hours of pain. Remember that you are a responsible creature sent +into the world to act a part assigned to you by your Maker; and to Him +must the account of every talent be rendered, whether it be used, or +buried in the earth. As a Christian gentleman, see, Louis, that you +strive to do your part with all your might.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson watched the attention and ready sympathy with his +admonition displayed by Louis; and in spite of the warning he had +so lately received, felt very kindly and favorably disposed towards +his new pupil.</p> + +<p>“Come with me,” he said, “I will introduce you to your school-fellows; +I have no doubt you will find your brother among them somewhere.”</p> + +<p>Louis followed Dr. Wilkinson through a door at the further end of the +hall, leading into a smaller hall which was tapestried with great-coats, +cloaks, and hats; and here an increasing murmur announced the fact of +his near approach to a party of noisy boys. As the doctor threw open +the folding-doors leading into the noble school-room, Louis felt +almost stupefied by the noise and novelty. A glass door leading into +the play-ground was wide open, and, as school was just over, there +was a great rush into the open air. Some were clambering in great +haste over desks and forms; and the shouting, singing, and whistling, +together with the occasional overthrow of a form, and the almost +incessant banging of desk-lids, from those who were putting away +slates and books, formed a scene perfectly new and bewildering to +our hero.</p> + +<p>The entrance of Dr. Wilkinson stilled the tumult in a slight degree, +and in half a minute after, the room was nearly cleared, and a passage +was left for the new-comers towards the upper end. Here was a knot of +great boys (or, rather, craving their pardon, I should say <em>young men</em>), +all engaged in eager and merry confabulation. So intent were they that +their master's approach was wholly unnoticed by them. One of these young +gentlemen was sitting tailor fashion on the top of a desk, apparently +holding forth for the edification of his more discreet companions, +to whom he seemed to afford considerable amusement, if the peals of +laughter with which his sallies were received might be considered any +proof. A little aloof from this party, but within hearing, stood a +youth of about seventeen, of whom nothing was remarkable, but that his +countenance wore a very sedate and determined expression. He seemed +struggling with a determination not to indulge a strong propensity +to laugh; but, though pretending to be occupied with a book, his +features at length gave way at some irresistible sally, and throwing +his volume at the orator, he exclaimed—</p> + +<p>“How can you be such an ass, Frank!”</p> + +<p>“There now,” said Frank, perfectly unmoved, “the centre of gravity is +disturbed,—well, as I was saying,—Here's the doctor!” and the young +gentleman, who was no other than Frank Digby, brother of Louis' cousin +Vernon, dismounted from his rostrum in the same instant that his auditors +turned round, thereby acknowledging the presence of their master.</p> + +<p>“I have brought you a new school-fellow, gentlemen,” said the doctor; +“where is Mortimer?”</p> + +<p>“Here, sir,” cried Reginald, popping up from behind a desk, where he +had been pinned down by a short thick-set boy, who rose as if by magic +with him.</p> + +<p>“Here is your brother.”</p> + +<p>Louis and Reginald scrambled over all obstacles, and stood before +the doctor, in two or three seconds.</p> + +<p>In spite of Louis' valiant protestations the preceding mid-summer +at Heronhurst, he did not dare, in the presence of only a quarter +of the hundred and twenty eyes, to embrace his brother, but contented +himself with a most energetic squeeze, and a look that said volumes; +and, indeed, it must be confessed, that Reginald was not an inviting +figure for an embrace; for, independently of a rough head, and +dust-bedecked garments, his malicious adversary had decorated his +face with multitudinous ink-spots, a spectacle which greatly provoked +the mirth of his laughter-loving school-fellows.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson made some remark on the singularity of his pupil's +appearance, and then, commending Louis to the kind offices of +the assembled party, left the room.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely closed the door behind him, when several loiterers +from the lower part of the room came up; and Reginald and his brother +were immediately assailed with a number of questions, aimed with such +rapidity as to be unanswerable.</p> + +<p>“When did you come?” “Who's that, Mortimer?” “Is that your brother?” +“What's his name?” “Shall you be in our class?” “Why didn't you stay +longer in Bristol?—If I had been you I would!”</p> + +<p>Louis was amused though puzzled, and turned first one way, and then +another, in his futile attempts to see and reply to his interrogators.</p> + +<p>“Make way!” at last exclaimed Frank Digby; “you are quite embarrassing +to her ladyship. Will the lady Louisa take my arm? Allow me, madam, to +interpose my powerful authority.” And he offered his arm to Louis with +a smirk and low bow, which set all the spectators off laughing; for +Frank was one of those privileged persons, who, having attained a +celebrity for being <em>very funny</em>, can excite a laugh with very little +trouble.</p> + +<p>“Don't, Frank!” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“<em>Don't!</em> really, Mr. Mortimer, if you have no respect for your +sister's feelings, it is time that I interposed. Here you allow this +herd of <em>I don't know what to call them</em>, to incommode her with their +senseless clamor. I protest, she is nearly fainting; she has been +gasping for breath the last five minutes. Be off, ye fussy, curious, +prying, peeping, pressing-round fellows; or, I promise you, you shall +be visited with his majesty's heaviest displeasure.”</p> + +<p>“How do you do, lady Louisa? I hope your ladyship's in good health!” +“Don't press on her!” was now echoed mischievously in various tones +around Louis, whose color was considerably heightened by this +unexpected attack.</p> + +<p>“Now do allow me,” persisted Frank, dragging Louis' hand in his arm, +in spite of all the victim's efforts to prevent it, and leading him +forcibly through the throng, which made way on every side, to Edward +Hamilton, the grave youth before mentioned:—“His majesty is anxious +to make the acquaintance of his fair subject. Permit me to present to +your majesty the lovely, gentle, blushing lady Louisa Mortimer, lately +arrived in your majesty's kingdom; your majesty will perceive that she +bears loyalty in her—hey! what! excited!—hysterics!”</p> + +<p>The last exclamations were elicited by a violent effort of Louis to +extricate himself.</p> + +<p>“Frank, leave him alone!”</p> + +<p>“What is the will of royalty?” said Frank, struggling with his +refractory cousin.</p> + +<p>“That you leave Louis Mortimer alone,” said Hamilton. “You will like us +better presently, Louis,” added he, shaking hands with him: “my subjects +appear to consider themselves privileged to be rude to a new-comer; but +my royal example will have its weight in due time.”</p> + +<p>“Your majesty's faithful trumpeter, grand vizier, and factotum is alive +and hearty,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“But as he had a selfish fit upon him just now,” returned Hamilton, +“we were under the necessity of doing our own business.”</p> + +<p>“I crave your majesty's pardon,” said Frank, stroking his sovereign +tenderly on the shoulder; for which affectionate demonstration he was +rewarded by a violent push that laid him prostrate.</p> + +<p>“I am a martyr to my own benevolence,” said Frank, getting up and +approaching Louis, “still I am unchanged in devotion to your ladyship. +Tell me what I can do,”—and whichever way Louis turned, Frank with +his smirking face presented himself;—“Will you not give your poor +slave one command?”</p> + +<p>“Only that you will stand out of my sunshine,” said Louis good-temperedly.</p> + +<p>“Very good,” exclaimed Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Out of your sunshine! What, behind you? that is cruel, but most +obsequiously I obey.”</p> + +<p>Louis underwent the ordeal of a new scholar's introduction with +unruffled temper, though his cousin took care there should be little +cessation until afternoon school, when Louis was liberated from his +tormentors to his great satisfaction—Frank's business carrying him +to a part of the school-room away from that where Louis was desired to +await further orders. In the course of the afternoon, he was summoned +to the presence of Dr. Wilkinson, who was holding a magisterial levee +in one of two class-rooms or studies adjoining the school-room. The +doctor appeared in one of his sternest humors. Besides the fourteen +members of the first class, whose names Louis knew already, there +was in this room a boy about Louis' age, who seemed in some little +trepidation. Doctor Wilkinson closed the book he held, and laying it +down, dismissed his pupils; then turning to the frightened-looking boy, +he took a new book off the table, saying, “Do you know this, Harrison?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” faintly replied the boy.</p> + +<p>“Where did you get it?”</p> + +<p>“I bought it.”</p> + +<p>“To assist you in winning prizes from your more honorable class-fellows, +I suppose,” said the doctor, with the most marked contempt. “Since you +find Kenrick too difficult for you, you may go into the third class, +where there may be, perhaps, something better suited to your capacity; +and beware a second offence: you may go, sir.”</p> + +<p>Louis felt great pity for the boy, who turned whiter still, and then +flushed up, as if ready to burst into tears.</p> + +<p>“Well, Louis, I wish to see what rank you will be able to take,” +said the doctor, and he proceeded with his examination.</p> + +<p>“Humph!” he ejaculated at length, “pretty well—you may try in the +second class. I can tell you that you must put your shoulder to +the wheel, and make the most of your powers, or you will soon be +obliged to leave it for a less honorable post; but let me see what +you can do—and now put these books away on that shelf.” As he spoke, +the doctor pointed to a vacant place on one of the shelves that lined +two sides of the study, and left the room. Louis put the books away, +and then returned to the school-room, where he sought his brother, and +communicated his news just before the general uproar attendant on the +close of afternoon school commenced.</p> + +<p>Reginald was one of the most noisy and eager in his preparations for +play; and, dragging Louis along with him, bounded into the fresh air, +with that keen feeling of enjoyment which the steady industrious +school-boy knows by experience.</p> + +<p>“What a nice play-ground this is!” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Capital!” said Reginald. “What's the fun, Frank?” he cried to his +cousin, who bounded past him at this moment, towards a spot already +tolerably crowded.</p> + +<p>“Maister Dunn,” shouted Frank.</p> + +<p>“Oh, the old cake-man, Louis,” said Reginald; “I must go and get rid +of a few surplus pence.”</p> + +<p>“Do you like to spend your money in cakes?” asked Louis; “I have plenty, +Mrs. Colthrop took care of that.”</p> + +<p>“In that case I'll save for next time,” said Reginald, “but let's go +and see what's going on.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly Reginald ran off in the cake-man's direction. Louis followed, +and presently found himself standing in the outer circle of a group of +his school-fellows, who formed a thick wall round a white-haired old +man and a boy, both of whom carried a basket on each arm, filled with +dainties always acceptable to a school-boy's palate.</p> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="451" height="522" src="images/lsd02.png" id="lsd02.png" + title="Maister Dunn." + alt="Street vendor with a cane, carrying baskets admist a large crowd."> +</p> + +<h4>Maister Dunn.</h4> + +<p>Were I inclined to moralize, I might here make a few remarks on waste of +money, &c., but my business being merely to relate incidents at present, +I shall only say that there they stood, the old man and his assistant, +with the boys in constant motion and murmur around them.</p> + +<p>Frank Digby and Hamilton were in the outer circle, the latter having +<em>walked</em> from a direction opposite to that from which Frank and Reginald +came, but whose dignity did not prevent a certain desire to purchase if +he saw fit, and if not, to amuse himself with those who did so. He stood +watching the old man with an imperturbable air of gravity, and, hanging +on his arm in a state of listless apathy, stood Trevannion, another +member of the first class.</p> + +<p>Frank Digby took too active a share in most things in the establishment +to remain a passive spectator of the actions of others, and began pushing +right and left. “Get along, get away ye vagabonds!” he politely cried: +“you little shrimps! what business have you to stop the way?—Alfred, you +ignoramus! Alfred, why don't you move?”</p> + +<p>“Because I'm buying something,” said the little boy addressed, looking +up very quietly at the imperious intruder.</p> + +<p>“<em>Da locum melioribus</em>, Alfred, as the poet has it. Do you know where +to find that, my boy?—the first line of the thirteenth book of the +Æneid, being a speech of the son of Anchises to the Queen of Carthage. +You'll find a copy of Virgil's works in my desk.”</p> + +<p>“I don't mean to look,” said Alfred, “I know it's in the Delectus.”</p> + +<p>“Wonderful memory!—I admire that delectable book of yours,” cried Frank, +who talked on without stopping, while forcing himself to the first rank. +“How now, Maister Dunn!” he said, addressing the old man, “I hope you +b'aint a going to treat us as e did last time. You must be reasonable; +the money market is in a sadly unflourishing condition at present.”</p> + +<p>“You always talk of the <em>money market</em>, Frank,” said little Alfred: +“what do you mean by the money market?”</p> + +<p>“It's a place, my dear—I'll explain it in a moment. Here, Maister +Dunn;—It's a place where the old women sell sovereigns a penny +a measure, Alfred.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Frank!” exclaimed Alfred.</p> + +<p>“Oh! and why not?” said Frank; “do you mean to say you don't believe me? +That's it,—isn't it, maister?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, Maister Digby! ye're at yer jokes,” said the old man.</p> + +<p>“Jokes!” said Frank, with a serious air. “Pray, Mr. Dunn, did you ever +happen to notice certain brass, or copper, or bronze tables, four in +number, in front of the Bristol Exchange!”</p> + +<p>“Ay sure, maister!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'll insense you into the meaning of that, presently. That, my +good sir, is where the old women stood in the good old times, crying +out, ‘Here you are! sovereigns a penny a measure!’ And that's the reason +people used to be so rich!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Frank! now I know that's only your nonsense,” said Alfred.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can't give you a comprehension, and if I could buy you one, I +couldn't afford it,” answered Frank. “Now here's my place for any one; +Louis, I'll make you a present of it, as I don't want it.”</p> + +<p>“I don't want to buy any thing,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Rubbish!” cried Frank. “Every one does. Don't be stingy.” And so +Louis allowed himself to be pushed and pulled into the crowd, and +bought something he would much rather have been without, because +he found it inconvenient to say <em>no</em>.</p> + +<p>The two upper classes were privileged to use the largest of the +class-rooms as their sitting-room in the evenings; and here Reginald +introduced his brother after tea; and, when he had shown him his +lessons, began to prepare his own. Most of the assembled youths were +soon quietly busy, though some of the more idly disposed kept up a fire +of words, while turning over leaves, and cutting pens to pieces. Among +the latter class was Frank Digby, who was seldom known to be silent +for a quarter of an hour, and who possessed the singular power of +distracting every one's attention but his own; for, though he scarcely +ever appeared to give his lessons a moment's attention, he was generally +sufficiently prepared with them to enable him to keep his place in his +class, which was usually two from the bottom.</p> + +<p>Louis saw that he must give his whole mind to his work; but being +unused to study in a noise, it was some time before he was well able +to comprehend what he wanted to do; and found himself continually +looking up and laughing at something around him, or replying to some +of Frank's jokes, which were often directed to him. When, by a great +exertion, he had at last forced himself to attend to Reginald's repeated +warnings, and had begun to learn in earnest, the door softly opened, +and the little boy he had noticed in the crowd that afternoon came in.</p> + +<p>“Halloa! what do you want?” cried one of the seniors; “you have no +business here.”</p> + +<p>“Is Edward here, Mr. Salisbury?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know where he is, please?”</p> + +<p>“With the doctor,” replied the young gentleman.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” sighed the little boy, venturing to approach the table a +little nearer.</p> + +<p>“What's the matter with you?” asked Reginald.</p> + +<p>“I can't do this,” said the child: “I wanted Edward to help me with +my exercise.”</p> + +<p>“My little dear, you have just heard that sapient Fred Salisbury declare, +in the most civil terms chooseable, that your fraternal preceptor, +Edwardus magnus, <em>non est inventus</em>,” said Frank, pompously, with a +most condescending flourish of his person in the direction of the +little boy.</p> + +<p>“And, consequently,” said the afore-mentioned Mr. Salisbury, “you +have free leave to migrate to York, Bath, Jericho, or any other +equally convenient resort for bores in general, and you in particular.”</p> + +<p>“Please, Mr. Digby,” said the little boy, “will you just show me this?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed I can't,” said Frank; “I can't do my own, so in all reason +you could not expect me to find brains for two exercises.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! please somebody show me—Dr. Wilkinson will be so angry if +Mr. Norton sends me up again to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“Will you go?” shouted Salisbury, with such deliberate energy of +enunciation that Alfred shrunk back: “what's the use of your exercises, +if you're shown how to do them?”</p> + +<p>“Come here, Alfred,” said Louis, softly. Alfred readily obeyed; +and Louis, taking his book, began to show him what to do.</p> + +<p>“Louis, you must not tell him word for word,” said Reginald: +“Hamilton wouldn't like it—he never does himself.”</p> + +<p>“But I may help him to do it for himself, may I not?” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Yes; but, Louis, you have not time—and he is so stupid,” +replied Reginald; “you won't have time to do your own.”</p> + +<p>But Louis thought he should have time for both, and, putting his arm +round Alfred, he kindly and patiently set him in the way of doing his +lesson properly, and then resumed his own disturbed studies.</p> + +<p>Hardly, however, was he settled than he found himself listening to Frank, +who remarked, as Alfred left the room, “We shall be sure to have ‘Oars’ +in soon!”</p> + +<p>“Who do you mean by Oars?” asked Louis.</p> + +<p>“Churchill,” said Reginald, laughing.</p> + +<p>“What an extraordinary name!” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“I say, Digby,” cried a boy from the opposite side of the table, +“they give you the credit of that cognomen—but we are all in the +dark as to its origin.”</p> + +<p>“Like the origin of all truly great,” answered Frank, “it was very +simple: Churchill came one day to me with his usual ‘Do tell us a bit, +that's a good fellow,’ and after he had badgered me some minutes, +I asked him if he had not the smallest idea of his lesson—so, after +looking at it another minute, he begins thus, ‘<em>Omnes</em>, all.’ ‘Bravo!’ +replied I. ‘<em>Conticuere</em>—What's that, Frank?’ ‘Were silent,’ I answered: +‘Go on.’ After deep cogitation, and sundry hints, he discovered that +<em>tenebant</em> must have some remote relationship to a verb signifying +to hold fast, and forthwith a bright thought strikes him, and on we go: +‘<em>Intentique ora tenebant</em>—and intently they hold their oars,’ he said, +exultingly. ‘Very well,’ quoth I, approvingly, and continued for him, +‘<em>Inde toro pater</em>—the waters flowed glibly farther on, <em>ab alto</em>—to +the music of the spheres; the inseparable Castor and Pollux looking +down benignantly on their namesake below.’ Here I was stopped by the +innocent youth's remark, that I certainly was quizzing, for he knew +that Castor and Pollux were the same in Latin as in English. Whereupon, +I demanded, with profound gravity, whether <em>gemini</em> did not mean +twins, and if the twins were not Castor and Pollux—and if he knew +(who knew so much better than I) whether or no there might not be some +word in the Latin language, besides <em>gemini</em>, signifying twins; and +that if it was his opinion that I was quizzing, he had better do his +lesson himself. He looked hard, and, thinking I was offended, begged +pardon; and believing that <em>jubes</em> was Castor and Pollux, we +got on quite famously—and he was quite reassured when we turned +from the descriptive to the historical, beginning with <em>Æneas sic +orsus infandum</em>—Æneas was such a horrid bear.”</p> + +<p>“Didn't you tell him of his mistake?” asked Louis, who could not +help laughing.</p> + +<p>“What! spoil the fun and the lesson I meant to give him?—not I.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what then, Frank?” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“Why, imagine old Whitworth's surprise, when, confident in the free +translation of a first-class man, Oars flowed on as glibly as the +waters; Whitworth heard him to the end in his old dry way, and then +asked him where he got that farrago of nonsense;—I think he was +promoted to the society of dunces instanter, and learns either +Delectus or Eutropius now. Of course, he never applied again to me.”</p> + +<p>Louis did not express his opinion that Frank was ill-natured, though +he thought so, in spite of the hearty laugh with which his story was +greeted. When he turned again to his lesson, he found his book had +been abstracted.</p> + +<p>“I tell you what,” cried Reginald, fiercely, “I won't have Louis +tormented—who has taken his book? It's you, Ferrers, I am sure.”</p> + +<p>“I! did you ever!” replied that young gentleman. “I appeal to you, +Digby—did you see me touch his book?”</p> + +<p>“I did not, certainly,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Give me the book,” exclaimed Reginald, jumping upon the table, “give +me the book, and let's have no more such foolery.”</p> + +<p>“Get down, Mortimer, you're not transparent,” cried several voices.</p> + +<p>Reginald, however, paid no attention to the command, but pouncing upon +Ferrers at a vantage, threw him backwards off the form, tumbling over +his prostrate foe, and in his descent bringing down books, inkstand, +papers, and one of the candles, in glorious confusion.</p> + +<p>“What's the row!” exclaimed Salisbury, adding an expression more +forcible than elegant; and, starting from his seat, he pulled Reginald +by main force from his adversary, with whom he was now struggling on +the floor, and at the same instant the remaining candle was extinguished. +Louis was almost stunned by the noise that ensued: some taking his +brother's part, and some that of Ferrers, while, in the dark, friend +struggled and quarrelled with friend as much as foe, no one attempting +to quell the tumult, until the door was suddenly burst open, and Hamilton +with Trevannion and two or three from the school-room entered. Hamilton +stood still for a moment, astonished by the unlooked-for obscurity. His +entrance checked the combatants, who at first imagined that one of their +masters had made his appearance, if that could be said to appear which +was hardly discernible in the dim light which came through the half-open +door. Hamilton begged one of the boys with him to fetch a light, and +taking advantage of the momentary lull, he called out, “Is this Bedlam, +gentlemen? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! What's the matter, +Mortimer?”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” replied Ferrers, “they've been teasing his little brother, +and he can't abide it.”</p> + +<p>“I only mean to say, that Louis shan't be plagued in this manner,” +cried Reginald, passionately; “and you know if the others were not +here you wouldn't dare to do it, you bully!”</p> + +<p>“For shame, Mortimer,” said Hamilton, decidedly; and coming up to +Reginald he drew him a little aside, not without a little resistance +on Reginald's part—“What's the matter, Mortimer?”</p> + +<p>“Matter! why that they are doing all they can to hinder Louis from +knowing his lessons to-morrow. I won't stand it. He has borne enough +of it, and patiently too.”</p> + +<p>“But is that any reason you should forget that you are a gentleman?” +said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“My book is here, dear Reginald,” said Louis, touching his brother's +shoulder.</p> + +<p>Reginald darted a fierce glance at Ferrers, but not being able to +substantiate an accusation against him, remained silent, and, under +the eye of Hamilton and his friend Trevannion, the remainder of the +evening passed in a way more befitting the high places in the school +which the young gentlemen held; but Louis had been so much interrupted, +and was so much excited and unsettled by the noise and unwonted scenes, +that when Dr. Wilkinson came at nine to read prayers, he had hardly +prepared one of his lessons for the next day.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_II">Chapter II.</p> + + +<p>Louis soon made himself a universal favorite among his school-fellows; +and, though he was pronounced by some to be a “softy,” and by +others honored by the equally comprehensive and euphonious titles +of “spooney” and “muff,” there were few who were not won by his gentle +good-nature, and the uniform good temper, and even playfulness, with +which he bore the immoderate quizzing that fell to his lot, as a new +boarder arrived in the middle of the half-year. If there were an errand +to be run among the seniors, it was, “Louis Mortimer, will you get me +this or that?” if a dunce wanted helping, Louis was sure to be applied +to, with the certainty in both cases that the requests would be complied +with, though they might, as was too often the case, interfere with his +duties; but Louis had not courage to say <em>no</em>.</p> + +<p>In proportion, however, as our hero grew in the good graces of his +school-fellows, he fell out of those of his masters, for lessons were +brought only half-learned, and exercises only half-written, or blotted +and scrawled so as to be nearly unintelligible; and after he had been +a fortnight at school, he seemed much more likely to descend to a lower +class than to mount a step in his own. Day after day saw Louis kept in +the school-room during play-hours, to learn lessons which ought to have +been done the night before, or to write out some long imposition as a +punishment for some neglected duty that had given place to the desire +of assisting another.</p> + +<p>Louis always seemed in a hurry, and never did any thing well. His mind +was unsettled, and, like every thing else belonging to him at present, +in a state of undesirable confusion.</p> + +<p>There was one resource which Louis had which would have set all to +rights, but his weakness of disposition often prevented him from taking +advantage of even the short intervals for prayer allowed by the rules +of the school, and he was often urged at night into telling stories +till he dropped asleep, and hurried down by the morning bell, before +he could summon up courage to brave the remarks of his school-fellows +as to his being so very <em>religious</em>, &c., and sometimes did not feel +sorry that there was some cause to prevent these solemn and precious +duties. I need not say he was not happy. He enjoyed nothing thoroughly; +he felt he was not steadily in earnest. Every day he came with a +beating heart to his class, never certain that he could get through +a single lesson.</p> + +<p>One morning he was endeavoring to stammer through a few lines of some +Greek play, and at last paused, unable to proceed.</p> + +<p>“Well, sir,” said his master quietly,—“as usual, I suppose—I shall +give you only a few days' longer trial, and then, if you cannot do +better, you must go down.”</p> + +<p>“Who is that, Mr. Danby?” said a voice behind Louis, that startled him, +and turning his blanched face round, he saw Dr. Wilkinson standing near. +“Who is that, Mr. Danby?” he repeated, in a deep stern voice.</p> + +<p>“Louis Mortimer, sir,” replied Mr. Danby. “Either he is totally unfit +for this class, or he is very idle; I can make nothing of him.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson fixed his eyes searchingly on Louis, and replied, in a +tone of much displeasure:</p> + +<p>“If you have the same fault to find the next two days, send him into a +lower class. It is the most disgraceful idleness, Louis.”</p> + +<p>Louis' heart swelled with sorrow and shame as the doctor walked away. +He stood with downcast eyes and quivering lids, hardly able to restrain +his tears, until the class was dismissed, and he was desired to stay in +and learn his unsaid lesson.</p> + +<p>Reginald followed his brother into the study, where Louis took his books +to learn more quietly than he could do in the school-room.</p> + +<p>“My dear Louis,” he said, “you must try; the doctor will be so displeased +if you go into a lower class; and just think what a disgrace it will be.”</p> + +<p>“I know,” said Louis, wiping his eyes: “I can't tell how it is, every +thing seems to go wrong with me—I am not at all happy, and I am sure +I wish to please everybody.”</p> + +<p>“A great deal too much, dear Louis,” said Reginald. “You are always +teaching everybody else, and you know you have scarcely any time +for yourself. You must tell them you <em>won't</em> do it; I can't be always +at your elbow; I've quarrelled more with the boys than ever I did, +since you came, on your account.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear! I am sorry I came,” sighed Louis, “I do so long to be a little +quiet. Reginald, dear, I am so sorry I should give you any trouble. Oh, +I have lost all my happy thoughts, and I know every thing is sure to +go wrong.”</p> + +<p>Louis remained sadly silent for a few minutes, and then, raising his +tearful eyes to his brother, who was sitting with his chin on his hands, +watching him, he begged him to leave him, declaring he should not learn +any thing while Reginald was with him.</p> + +<p>Thus urged, Reginald took his departure, though, with his customary +unselfish affection, he would rather have stayed and helped him.</p> + +<p>When he was gone, Louis began slowly to turn over the leaves of his +Lexicon, in order to prepare his lesson. He had not been long thus +employed, when he was interrupted by the irruption of the greatest +dunce in the school, introduced to the reader in the former chapter +as Churchill, <em>alias</em> Oars, a youth of fifteen, who had constant +recourse to Louis for information. He now laid his dog's-eared +Eutropius before Louis, and opened his business with his usual +“Come now, tell us, Louis—help us a bit, Louis.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, Harry, it is impossible,” said Louis sorrowfully. “I have all +my own to do, and if I do not get done before dinner I shall go into the +third class—no one helps me, you know.”</p> + +<p>“It won't take you a minute,” said Churchill.</p> + +<p>“It does take much more. You know I was an hour last night writing your +theme; and, Churchill, I do not think it is right.”</p> + +<p>“Oh stuff! who's been putting that nonsense into your head?” replied +Churchill. “It's all right and good, and like your own self, you're +such a good-natured fellow.”</p> + +<p>“And a very foolish one, sometimes,” said Louis. “Can't you get somebody +else to show you?”</p> + +<p>“Goodness gracious!” cried Churchill, “who do you think would do it +now? and no one does it so well as you. Come, I say—come now—that's +a good fellow,—now do.”</p> + +<p>“But how is it that you want to learn your lesson now,” asked Louis? +“Won't the evening do?”</p> + +<p>“No; Dr. Wilkinson has given me leave to go out with my uncle this +afternoon, if I learn this and say it to old Norton before I go; and +I am sure I shan't get it done if you don't help me.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot,” said poor Louis.</p> + +<p>“Now I know you're too good-natured to let me lose this afternoon's fun. +Come, you might have told me half.”</p> + +<p>And against his better judgment, Louis spent half an hour in hearing +this idle youth a lesson, which, with a little extra trouble he might +easily have mastered himself in three quarters of an hour.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Louis, you're a capital fellow; I know it now, don't I?”</p> + +<p>“I think so,” replied Louis; “and now you must not talk to me.”</p> + +<p>“What are you doing?” said Churchill, looking at his book; “oh, +‘Kenrick's Greek Exercises.’ If I can't tell you, I can help you +to something that will. Here's a key.” As he spoke, he took down +the identical book taken from Harrison on the day of Louis' arrival, +and threw it on the table before him.</p> + +<p>“Is that a key?” asked Louis, opening the book; “put it back, Harry, +I cannot use it.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“It would not be right. Oh no! I will not, Churchill; put it up.”</p> + +<p>“How precise you are!” said Churchill; “it's quite a common thing for +those who can get them—Thompson and Harcourt always use one.”</p> + +<p>“Thompson ought to be ashamed of himself,” cried Louis, “to be trying +for a prize, and use a key.”</p> + +<p>“Well, so he ought, but you won't get a prize if you begin now, and +try till breaking-up day; so you hurt nobody, and get yourself out of +a scrape. Don't be a donkey, Louis.”</p> + +<p>When Churchill left him alone Louis looked at the title-page, and +felt for an instant strongly tempted to avail himself of the assistance +of the book; but something checked him, and he laid his arms suddenly +on the table, and buried his face on them. A heavy hand laid on his +shoulder roused him from this attitude; and looking up, with his eyes +full of tears, he found Hamilton and Trevannion standing beside him.</p> + +<p>“What's the matter, Louis?” said the former.</p> + +<p>“I have so much to do;—I—I've been very careless and idle,” +stammered Louis.</p> + +<p>“I can readily believe that,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“A candid confession, at any rate,” remarked Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“And do you imagine that your brains will be edified by coming in +contact with these books?” asked Hamilton. “What have you to do?”</p> + +<p>“I have this exercise to re-write, and my Greek to +learn,—and—and—twenty lines of Homer to write out. +I can't do all now—I shall have to stay in this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“I should think that more than probable,” said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“What have we here?” said Hamilton, taking up the key. “Hey! what! +Louis! Is this the way you are going to cheat your masters?”</p> + +<p>“Pray don't think it?” said Louis, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“If you use keys, I have done with you.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed I did not,—I never do,—I wasn't going. One of the boys left it +here. I am sure I did not mean to do so,” cried Louis in great confusion.</p> + +<p>“Put it back,” said Hamilton, gravely, “and then I will go over your +lessons with you, and see if I can make you understand them better.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, thank you,—how kind you are!” said poor Louis, who hastily +put the dangerous book away, and then sat down.</p> + +<p>Hamilton smiled, and remarked, “It is but fair that one should be +assisted who loses his character in playing knight errant for all +those who need, or fancy they need, his good services: but, Louis, +you are very wrong to give up so much of your time to others; your +time does not belong to yourself; your father did not send you here +to assist Dr. Wilkinson—or, rather, I should say, to save a set of +idle boys the trouble of doing their own work. There is a vast +difference between weakness and good-nature; but now to business.”</p> + +<p>Trevannion withdrew with a book to the window, and Hamilton sat down by +Louis, and took great pains to make him give his mind to his business; +and so thoroughly did he succeed with his docile pupil, that, although +he had come in rather late, all, with the exception of the imposition, +was ready for Mr. Danby by the time the dinner-bell rang.</p> + +<p>Louis overwhelmed Hamilton with the expression of his gratitude, and +again and again laid his little hand on that of his self-instituted +tutor. Hamilton did not withdraw his hand, though he never returned +the pressure, nor made any reply to Louis' thanks, further than an +abrupt admonition from time to time to “mind what he was about,” +and to “go on.”</p> + +<p>Several inquiries were made at the open window after Louis, but all were +answered by Trevannion, and our hero was left undisturbed to his studies.</p> + +<p>That evening Louis had the satisfaction of being seated near his friend +Hamilton, who, with a good-natured air of authority, kept him steadily +at work until his business was properly concluded. Unhappily for Louis, +Hamilton was not unfrequently with the doctor in the evenings, or he +might generally have relied on his protection and assistance: however, +for the next two or three days, Louis steadily resisted all allurements +to leave his own lesson until learned; and, in consequence, was able to +report to Hamilton the desirable circumstance of his having gained two +places in his class.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_III">Chapter III.</p> + + +<p>For some time before Louis' arrival at Ashfield House, preparations +had been making in the doctor's domestic <em>ménage</em> for the approaching +marriage of Miss Wilkinson, the doctor's only daughter. The young +gentlemen had, likewise, their preparations for the auspicious event, +the result of which was a Latin Epithalamium, composed by the seniors, +and three magnificent triumphal arches, erected on the way from the +house-door to the gate of the grounds. Much was the day talked of, +and eagerly were plans laid, both by masters and pupils, for the proper +enjoyment of the whole holiday that had been promised on the occasion, +and which, by the way—whatever young gentlemen generally may think of +their masters' extreme partiality for teaching—was now a greater boon +to the wearied and over-fagged ushers, than to the party for whose +enjoyment it was principally designed.</p> + +<p>The bridal day came.—No need to descant on the weather. The sun shone +as brightly as could be desired, and as the interesting procession passed +under the green bowers, cheer after cheer rose on the air, handfuls of +flowers were trodden under the horses' feet, and hats, by common consent, +performed various somersaults some yards above their owners' heads.</p> + +<p>There was a long watch till the carriages returned, and the same scene +was enacted and repeated, when the single vehicle rolled away from the +door; and the last mark of honor having been paid, the party dispersed +over the large playground, each one in search of his own amusement. Louis +wandered away by himself, and enjoyed a quiet hour unmolested, and tried, +with the help of his little hymn-book, and thinking over old times, to +bring back some of his former happy thoughts. There were more than +ordinary temptations around him, and he felt less able to resist them; +and this little rest from noise and hurry was to him very grateful. +When, at length, a little party found out his retreat and begged him +to join in a game of “hocky,” he complied with a light and merry heart, +freer from that restless anxiety to which he had been lately so much +subject.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, determining to let nothing interfere with the learning +of his lessons, Louis sat down in the school-room to business. There were +but two persons besides himself in the room, one of whom was an usher, +who was writing a letter, and the other, his school-fellow Ferrers. The +latter was sitting on the opposite side of the same range of desks Louis +had chosen, very intently engaged in the same work which had brought +Louis there.</p> + +<p>Louis felt very happy in the consciousness that he was foregoing +the pleasure of the merry playground for the stern business that his +duty had imposed on him; and the noise of his companions' voices, +and the soft breezes that came in through the open door leading into +the playground, only spurred him on to finish his work as quickly +as possible.</p> + +<p>Ferrers and his younger <em>vis-à-vis</em> pursued their work in silence, +apparently unconscious of the presence of each other, until the +former, raising his head, asked Louis to fetch him an atlas out +of the study.</p> + +<p>“With pleasure,” said Louis, jumping up and running into the study; +he returned almost immediately with a large atlas, and laid it down +on Ferrers' books. He had once more given his close attention to his +difficult exercises, when a movement from his companion attracted +his notice.</p> + +<p>“Did you speak?” he said.</p> + +<p>“Will you—oh, never mind, I'll do it myself,” muttered Ferrers, +rising and going into the class-room himself.</p> + +<p>Louis had become again so intent upon his study, that he was hardly +aware of the return of his school-fellow, nor did he notice the +precipitation with which he hurried into his place, and half hid +the book he had brought with him, a book that he imagined to be a +key to his exercises, but which, in fact, was a counterpart to that +taken away from Harrison, though bound exactly like the one Ferrers +had gone for, and so nearly the same size as easily to be mistaken +for it in the confusion attendant on the abstraction of it.</p> + +<p>Just at this moment, Hamilton, Trevannion, and Salisbury, with one or +two more of the first class, entered from the playground, and walked +directly across to Ferrers.</p> + +<p>Alive to all the disgrace of being found by his class-fellows in +possession of a key, and unable to return it unobserved, Ferrers, +in the first moment of alarm, tried to push it into the desk at +which he was writing, but finding it locked, he stood up with as +much self-possession as he could assume, and pretending to be +looking among his books and papers, managed, unobserved, to pass +the obnoxious volume over to Louis' heap of books, laying it half +under one of them. Louis was wholly unconscious of the danger so +near him, and did not raise his held from his absorbing occupation +when the fresh comers approached the desk.</p> + +<p>“Ferrers,” said Salisbury, as they came up, “we want your advice on +a small matter; come with us into the class-room.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly Ferrers obeyed, glad to leave the dangerous spot, and Louis +was left in undisturbed possession of the apartment for more than half +an hour, at the end of which time the party returned from the inner +room laughing, and all walked out of doors. Just as they passed out, +Mr. Witworth, the usher, approached Louis, and asked him if he could +lend him a pencil. Louis laid his pen down, and began to search his +pockets for a pencil he knew should be there, when he was startled by +the ejaculation of the master:</p> + +<p>“Hey!—what!—This is it, is it? So I have found you out, sir.”</p> + +<p>Louis looked up in alarm. “Found me out, sir?” he said, in a terrified +tone: “what have I done?”</p> + +<p>“Done!” exclaimed Mr. Witworth,—“done, indeed: what are you doing there?”</p> + +<p>“My exercise, sir.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure, to be sure. What's the meaning of this, sir?” and he held +up the key. “What have you done, indeed!—you hoped that it was nicely +concealed, I dare say. I wonder how you can be so artful.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure I don't know any thing about that book,” said Louis, +in great agitation.</p> + +<p>“Admirably acted,” said Mr. Witworth. “It wouldn't walk here, however, +Master Mortimer: some one must have brought it.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure I don't know who did—I don't indeed,” said poor Louis, +despairingly.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you'll try to make me believe you don't know what it is, +and that you never saw the book before,” remarked Mr. Witworth, +scornfully.</p> + +<p>“I do know what it is, but I never used it, I do assure you, sir, +and I did not bring it here. Will you not believe me?”</p> + +<p>“It is very likely that I should believe you, is it not? Well, sir, +this book goes up with you to-morrow to Dr. Wilkinson, and we shall +see how much he will believe of your story. This accounts for your +apparent industry lately.” So saying, Mr. Witworth walked off with +the book in his hand, leaving Louis in the greatest distress.</p> + +<p>“And all my pains are quite lost!” he exclaimed, as he burst into tears. +“The doctor is sure not to believe me, and there will be—oh, who could +have left it there?”</p> + +<p>“Louis, are you coming out this afternoon; what's the matter?” +exclaimed the welcome voice of his brother.</p> + +<p>“What, Lady Louisa in tears! Here's the ink bottle; do let me catch the +crystal drops,” said Frank Digby, who accompanied Reginald in search of +his brother.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Reginald!” exclaimed Louis, regardless of Frank's nonsense, “some +one has left a key to my exercises on my books, and Mr. Witworth has +just found it. What shall I do?”</p> + +<p>“<em>Some one has left</em>,” ejaculated Frank. “That's a good story, Louis; +only one can't quite swallow it, you know. Who would leave it, eh?”</p> + +<p>“How? where, Louis?” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“It was just here it was found. I am sure I cannot think who put +it there.”</p> + +<p>“Well of all the”—began Frank; “my astonishment positively chokes me. +Louis, are you not ashamed of yourself?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Frank! I am speaking the truth; I am, indeed, I am—Reginald, +I am, you know I am.”</p> + +<p>“It is very strange,” remarked Reginald, who was standing with a +clouded, unsatisfied brow, and did not exhibit that enthusiasm +respecting his innocence which Louis expected from him. Reginald +knew too much, and dared not yet be certain when appearances were +so sadly against him.</p> + +<p>“Reginald, dear Reginald, tell me,” cried Louis, almost frantically; +“surely you believe me?”</p> + +<p>“Believe you!” echoed Frank, scornfully; “he knows you too well, +and so do I. Remember last year, Louis: you'd better have thought +of it sooner.”</p> + +<p>Reginald cast a threatening glance on his cousin, who undauntedly +replied to it.</p> + +<p>“You can't gainsay that, at any rate, Reginald.”</p> + +<p>“Reginald, dear Reginald,” cried Louis, with streaming eyes, “you know +I always spoke the truth to you; I declare solemnly that I am speaking +only the truth now.”</p> + +<p>Reginald looked gloomily at his brother.</p> + +<p>“Indeed it is. If you will not believe me, who will?”</p> + +<p>“Who, indeed?” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“I do believe you, Louis,” said Reginald, quickly, “I do believe you; +but this matter must be sifted. It is very strange, but I will make all +the inquiries I can. Who sat with you?”</p> + +<p>“Ferrers was sitting there,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“Any one else?”</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“I'll answer for it, it was Ferrers,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“A likely story,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“I think it very likely,” said Reginald, firmly, “and woe be to him +if he has.”</p> + +<p>As he finished speaking, Reginald ran off in search of Ferrers, +whom he found in a group of the head boys, into the midst of which +he burst without the smallest ceremony.</p> + +<p>“Manners!” exclaimed Hamilton; “I beg your pardon, Mr. Mortimer, +for standing in your way.”</p> + +<p>“I am very sorry,” said Reginald, bluntly, “but I can't stand +upon ceremony. Ferrers, what have you been doing with Kenrick's +Exercises—I mean the key to it?”</p> + +<p>“I!” cried Ferrers, reddening violently; “what—what do you mean, +Mortimer?”</p> + +<p>“You have left the key on Louis' desk, to get him into a scrape—you +know you have.”</p> + +<p>“Upon my word, Mortimer! what next!” exclaimed Salisbury. “Who do you +think would fash themselves about such a little hop-o'-my-thumb?”</p> + +<p>“Will you let Ferrers answer!” cried Reginald, imperiously.</p> + +<p>Unconscious of the mistake he had made, Ferrers felt exceedingly +uncomfortable in his present position, and, assuming an air of +contemptuous indignation, he turned his back on Reginald, saying +as he did so, “Such impertinence merits nothing but silent contempt.”</p> + +<p>“You did it, you coward!” cried Reginald, enraged almost beyond control. +“I know you did, and <em>you</em> know you did. Will you answer me?”</p> + +<p>“Answer him, Ferrers, answer him at once, and let us have an end of his +impertinence,” cried several voices: “he's like a wild-cat.”</p> + +<p>“Well then, I did not,” said Ferrers, turning round with a violent +effort; “will that satisfy you?”</p> + +<p>Reginald glared angrily and doubtfully on the changing countenance of +the speaker, and then burst out vehemently,</p> + +<p>“I don't believe a word you say: you did it either to spite him, +or you mistook your aim. Do you never use keys, Mr. Ferrers?”</p> + +<p>“Really, Mortimer!” exclaimed Trevannion, “your language is very +intemperate and ungentlemanly. I have no doubt your brother knows +how to help himself; and now, for your comfort, know that I saw him +the other day with that same book, and here is Hamilton, who can +corroborate my statement.”</p> + +<p>“Where? when?” asked Reginald, in a subdued tone.</p> + +<p>“In the class-room alone, when he was writing his exercise. Hamilton, +am I not right?”</p> + +<p>Hamilton nodded.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Wilkinson will do justice to-morrow,” said Reginald, as after +a moment's painful silence he looked up with assumed confidence, +and turned proudly away from Ferrers' reassured look of exultation, +though the latter hardly dared exult, for he thought Reginald had +mistaken the book, and feared the suspicions that might rest on +himself when it should be discovered that it was not a second-class +key. “And now, Mortimer, let's have no more of this violent language,” +said Hamilton. “If the matter is to come before the doctor, he will +do all justice; let him be sole arbitrator; but I would not bring it +before him were I in your place. Make an apology to Ferrers, and say +nothing more. You will do your brother more harm than good.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Make an apology</em>,” said Reginald, ironically; “I haven't changed +my mind yet. It must come before the doctor. Mr. Witworth found the +book, and has carried it by this time, or certainly will carry it, +to head-quarters.”</p> + +<p>“Come along with me, and tell me the whole affair,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>While Reginald was unfolding the matter to Hamilton, the party they had +left was reinforced by Frank Digby, who warmly took Ferrers' part, and +enlightened the company as to many particulars of his cousin's former +character: and so much was said about the injury Reginald had done to +Ferrers by his suspicions, that when that youth discovered the certainty +of the mistake he had made, he was so far involved as to render it +impossible to him to acknowledge that even out of a spirit of teasing +he had placed the book near Louis; and his anxiety was so great to free +himself from any suspicion, that he was selfishly and ungenerously +insensible to the trouble entailed upon Louis, whom he disliked on +account of his superiority to himself, but on whom he had not seriously +contemplated inflicting so great an injury—so imperceptibly does one +fault lead to another, so unable are we to decide where the effects of +one false step, one dishonest thought, shall end.</p> + +<p>The story was soon spread among Louis' immediate companions, who were +anxious to learn the cause of his swollen eyes and sad demeanor, and +Louis had to endure many sneers, and, what was still harder to bear, +much silent contempt from those whose high sense of honor made them +despise any approach to the meanness of which he was supposed guilty. +Hamilton, though in the study the whole evening, took no notice of him, +and when his eyes met Louis', they bore no more consciousness of his +presence than if he had been a piece of stone. Frank Digby did not +tease Louis, but he let fall many insinuations, and a few remarks so +bitter in their sarcasm, that Reginald more than once looked up with +a glance so threatening in its fierceness, that it checked even that +audacious speaker. Even little Alfred was not allowed to sit with Louis; +though Hamilton made no remark, nor even alluded to the subject to his +brother, he called him immediately to himself, and only allowed him to +leave him at bed-time.</p> + +<p>As the elder boys went up stairs to bed, Frank continued his aggravating +allusions to Louis' weakness, but in so covert a manner, that no one but +those acquainted with Louis' former history could have understood their +import. For some time Reginald pretended not to hear them; there was a +strong struggle within him, for his high spirit rose indignantly at his +cousin's unkindness, yet was for some time checked by a better feeling +within; but, at length, on Frank's making some peculiarly insulting +remark in a low tone, his pent-up ire boiled forth, and, in the madness +of his fury, he seized on his cousin with a strength that passion +rendered irresistible. “You've tried to provoke me to this all the +evening—you <em>will</em> have it, you dastardly coward! you <span class="sc">will</span> have +it, will you?”</p> + +<p>These exclamations were poured forth in a shout, and Reginald, after +striking his cousin several violent blows, threw him from him with such +force that his head struck against the door-post, and he fell motionless +to the ground, the blood streaming from a wound in his forehead.</p> + +<p>There was an awful silence for a minute. The boys, horror-struck, stood +as if paralyzed, gazing on the inanimate form of their school-fellow. +Reginald's passion subsided in an instant; his face turned pale, the +color fled from his lips, and clasping his hands in terror, he muttered, +“Oh! what have I done!” and then there was a shout, “Oh, Frank Digby's +killed! Digby's killed—he's dead!”</p> + +<p>Hamilton at length pushed forward and raised Frank's head. And at this +moment Mr. Norton and Dr. Wilkinson, with two or three of the servants, +came from different directions. The crowd round Frank made way for the +doctor, who hurriedly approached, and assisted Hamilton to raise Frank +and carry him to his bed.</p> + +<p>“He's dead, he's dead!” cried the boys all round.</p> + +<p>“How did this happen?” asked the doctor, and without waiting for an +answer he tore open the handkerchief and collar of the insensible youth, +and dispatched some one immediately for a medical man. One was sent for +a smelling-bottle, another for some water, and Mrs. Wilkinson soon made +her appearance with a fan, and other apparatus for restoring a fainting +person. But it was long before there were any signs of returning life. +It was a terrible time for Reginald. It was agony to look on the +motionless form, and blood-streaked countenance before him—to watch +the cloud of anxiety that seemed to deepen on his master's face as +each new restorative failed its accustomed virtue,—to listen to the +subdued murmurs and fearful whispers, and to note the blanched faces +of his school-fellows. He stood with clasped hands, and there was a +prayer in his heart that he might not be called to suffer so very +deeply for this sinful expression of his temper. What if he should +have sent his cousin unprepared into eternity? Oh, what would he +give to see one motion; what, that he had been able to restrain his +ungovernable fury! There was almost despair in his wild thoughts, when +at last Frank sighed faintly, and then opened his eyes. He closed them +immediately, and just then the surgeon arriving, more potent remedies +were used, and he was at length restored to consciousness, though +unable to speak aloud. Doctor Wilkinson had him removed to another +room, and after seeing him comfortably arranged, returned to Reginald's +bedroom.</p> + +<p>“Now, how did this happen?” he said.</p> + +<p>No one spoke, and the silence was only broken by the sound of sobs from +the further end of the room.</p> + +<p>“Who did this?” asked the doctor again.</p> + +<p>“I did, sir,” said Reginald, in a broken voice.</p> + +<p>“Come forward. Who is it that speaks?” said Doctor Wilkinson. “Mortimer! +is this some passion of yours that has so nearly caused the death of +your cousin? I am deeply grieved to find that your temper is still so +ungovernable. What was the matter?”</p> + +<p>Reginald was incapable of answering, and none of his companions +understood the quarrel; so Doctor Wilkinson left the room, determined +to make a strict investigation the next morning.</p> + +<p>Poor Reginald was almost overwhelmed: he knelt with his brother after +their candle was extinguished, by their bedside, and both wept bitterly, +though quite silently. Distress at his own fault, and his brother's +new trouble, and deep thankfulness that his cousin was alive, and not +dangerously hurt, filled Reginald's mind, and kept him awake long after +all besides in the room were asleep.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_IV">Chapter IV.</p> + + +<p>The next morning, after the early school-hours, Doctor Wilkinson kept +Reginald back as he was following the stream to breakfast, and led +the way into the class-room, where, after closing the door, he seated +himself, and motioning Reginald to draw closer to him, thus opened +his inquiry.</p> + +<p>“I wish to know, Mortimer, how this affair began last night: it appears, +from all I can make out, to have been a most unprovoked attack on your +part, but as there is often more than appears on the surface, I shall +be glad to hear what you have to allege in extenuation of your savage +conduct.”</p> + +<p>Reginald colored very deeply, and dropping his eyes under the piercing +gaze of his master, remained silent.</p> + +<p>“Am I to conclude from your silence that you have no excuse to make?” +asked the doctor in a tone of mixed sorrow and indignation; “and am I +to believe that from some petty insult you have allowed your temper +such uncontrolled sway as nearly to have cost your cousin his life?”</p> + +<p>“I had very great provocation,” said Reginald, sullenly.</p> + +<p>“And what might that be?” asked his master. “If the wrong be on Digby's +side, you can have no hesitation in telling me what the wrong was.”</p> + +<p>Reginald made no answer, and, after a pause, Dr. Wilkinson continued: +“Unless you can give me some reason, I must come to the conclusion +that you have again given way to your violent passions without even +the smallest excuse of injury from another. The assertion that you +have been ‘provoked’ will not avail you much: I know that Digby is +teasing and provoking, and is therefore very wrong, but if you cannot +bear a little teasing, how are you to get on in the world? You are +not a baby now, though you have acted more like a wild beast than +a reasonable creature. I am willing and desirous to believe that +something more than usual has been the cause of this ebullition of +temper, for I hoped lately that you were endeavoring to overcome this +sad propensity of yours.”</p> + +<p>“I assure you, sir,” said Reginald, raising his open countenance to his +master's, “I tried very much to bear with Frank, and I think I should +if he had not said so much about—about—”</p> + +<p>Here Reginald's voice failed; a sensation of choking anger prevented +him from finishing his sentence.</p> + +<p>“About what?” said the doctor, steadily.</p> + +<p>“About my brother,” said Reginald, abruptly.</p> + +<p>“And what did he say about your brother that chafed you so much?”</p> + +<p>Reginald changed color, and his eyes' lighted up with passion. He did +not reply at first, but as his master seemed quietly awaiting his answer, +he at length burst out,—</p> + +<p>“He had been going on all the afternoon about Louis: he tried to put +me in a passion; he said all he could—every thing that was unkind and +provoking, and it was more than a fellow could stand. I bore it as long +as I could—”</p> + +<p>“You are giving me a proof of your gentle endurance now, I suppose,” +said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir, but I can't help it,—I feel so angry when I +think of it, that I am afraid I should knock him down again if he were +to repeat it.”</p> + +<p>“For shame, sir!” said the doctor, sternly; “I should have thought that +you had already had a lesson you would not easily have forgotten. What +did he say of your brother that irritated you? I insist upon knowing.”</p> + +<p>“He said Louis was—that Louis did not speak the truth, sir. He said +that I believed it—that <em>I</em> believed it”—and Reginald's passionate +sobs choked his utterance.</p> + +<p>“Believed what?” asked the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Something that happened yesterday,” said Reginald; “he said that—he +was a hypocrite, and he went on taunting me about last summer.”</p> + +<p><em>“About last summer!”</em> repeated the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir—about a mistake. Nobody makes allowances for Louis. I could +have borne it all if he had not said that <em>I</em> knew Louis was a liar. I'd +knock any one down that I was able who should say so! Indeed,” continued +Reginald, fiercely, “I begged him to leave off, and not provoke me, but +he would have it, and he knew what I was.”</p> + +<p>“Enough—enough—hush,” said Dr. Wilkinson: “I beg I may hear no more +of knocking down. Don't add to your fault by working yourself into a +passion with me. Some provocation you certainly have had, but nothing +can justify such unrestrained fury. Consider what would have been your +condition at present, if your rage had been fatal to your cousin; it +would have availed you little to have pleaded the aggravation; your +whole life would have been embittered by the indulgence of your vengeful +feelings—one moment have destroyed the enjoyment of years. Thank God, +Mortimer, that you have been spared so terrible a punishment. But you +will always be in danger of this unless you learn to put a curb on your +hasty temper. The same feelings which urge you into a quarrel as a boy, +will hurry you into the duel as a man. It is a false spirit of honor and +manliness that makes you so ready to resent every little insult. In the +life of the only perfect Man that ever lived, our great Example and +Master, we do not see this impatience of contradiction: ‘When He was +reviled, He reviled not again;’ and if He, the Lord of all, could +condescend to endure such contradiction of sinners against Himself, +shall it be too much for us to bear a little with the contradiction of +our fellow-creatures? My boy, if we do not strive to bear a little +of the burden and heat of the day, we are not worthy to bear the noble +name of Christians.”</p> + +<p>“I am very sorry, sir,” said Reginald, quite softened by the earnest +manner of his master; “I am very sorry I have been so hasty and wrong. +I dare not make any promises for the future, for I know I cannot +certainly keep them, but, with God's help, I hope to remember what +you have so kindly said to me.”</p> + +<p>“With His help we may do all things,” said Dr. Wilkinson; “you may by +this help overcome the stumbling-stone of your violent passions, which +otherwise may become an effectual barrier in the way of your attaining +the prize of eternal life; and remember that ‘he that is slow to anger +is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that +taketh a city.’ ”</p> + +<p>There was a minute's silence, which Reginald broke by asking if he +might attend on Frank until he was well.</p> + +<p>“Can I hope that you will be gentle,” said the doctor; “that you will +remember he is in invalid—one of your making, Mortimer; and that if he +is impatient and fretful, you are the cause?”</p> + +<p>“I will try, sir, to make amends to him,” said Reginald, looking down; +“I hope I may be able to be patient.”</p> + +<p>“I will give orders that you may go to him,” said the doctor; and after +a pause, he added, “another offence of this kind I shall visit with the +heaviest displeasure. I am in hopes that the anxiety you have undergone, +and the present state of your cousin, may be a lesson to you; but if +I find this ineffectual, I shall cease to consider you a reasonable +creature, and shall treat you accordingly.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson then rose and left the room. Reginald lingered a few +minutes to compose himself before joining his school-fellows; his heart +was very full, and he felt an earnest desire to abide by his master's +counsel, as well as grateful for the leniency and kindness with which +he had been treated, which made him feel his fault much more deeply +than the severest punishment.</p> + +<p>The breakfast time was very unpleasant for Louis that morning; he was +full of anxiety as to the result of Mr. Witworth's discovery, and his +sickness of heart entirely deprived him of appetite. When the meal was +dispatched, Reginald went off to Frank, whom he found in a darkened +room, very restless and impatient. He had passed a very bad night, and +was suffering considerable pain. Reginald had to endure much ill-nature +and peevishness; all of which he endeavored to bear with gentleness, and +during the time Frank was ill, he gave up all his play-hours to wait on +him and to amuse him as he grew better; and the exercise of patience +which this office entailed was greatly beneficial to his hasty and +proud spirit.</p> + +<p>Mr. Danby was in the midst of the second-class lessons that morning, +when one of the first class brought him a little slip of paper. Mr. +Danby glanced at the few words written thereon, and when the class +had finished he desired Louis to go to Dr. Wilkinson. All remnant of +color fled from Louis' cheek, though he obeyed without making any reply, +and with a very sinking heart entered the room where the doctor was +engaged with the first class. The keen eye of his master detected him +the instant he made his appearance, but he took no notice of him until +he had finished his business; then, while his pupils were putting up +their books he turned to Louis, and pointing to a little table by his +side, said, “<em>There</em> is a volume, Louis Mortimer, with which I suspect +you have some acquaintance.”</p> + +<p>Louis advanced to the table, and beheld the Key to Kenrick's Greek +Exercises.</p> + +<p>“You know it?” said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, but I did not use it,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“You will not deny that it was found among your books in the +school-room,” said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“I know, sir, Mr. Witworth found it, but I assure you I did not +put it there,” replied Louis, very gently.</p> + +<p>“Have you never used it at all?” asked Dr. Wilkinson.</p> + +<p>“Never, sir,” replied Louis, firmly.</p> + +<p>At this moment, he met the eye of Hamilton, who was standing near +Dr. Wilkinson, and who looked very scornfully and incredulously at +him as he paused to hear the result of the inquiry. Louis remembered +that Hamilton had seen the key Churchill had left, and he hastily +exclaimed, “I assure you, Mr. Hamilton, I did not.”</p> + +<p>“What is this, Hamilton?” said Dr. Wilkinson, turning round. +“Do you know any thing of this matter?”</p> + +<p>“I would much rather not answer,” said Hamilton, abruptly, +“if you will excuse me, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I must, however, beg that you will, if you please,” replied the doctor.</p> + +<p>“I really know nothing positively, I can say nothing certainly. You +would not wish, sir, that any imagination of mine should prejudice +you to Louis Mortimer's disadvantage; I am not able to say any thing,” +and Hamilton turned away in some confusion, vexed that he should have +been appealed to.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson looked half perplexed—he paused a moment and fixed his +eyes on the table. Louis ventured to say, “Mr. Hamilton saw a book once +before with my lesson books, but I never used it.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by <em>saw a book</em>?” asked the doctor. “What book did +Mr. Hamilton see? How came it there, and why was it there?”</p> + +<p>“It was ‘Kenrick's Greek Exercises,’ sir.”</p> + +<p>“You mean the ‘Key,’ I suppose?”</p> + +<p>Louis answered in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>“Whose was it?” asked the doctor, with a countenance more ominous +in its expression.</p> + +<p>“It was the one you took from Harrison, sir,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“Humph! I thought I took it away. Bring it here.” Louis obeyed, +and the doctor having looked at it, continued, “Well, you had this +<em>with your lesson books</em>, you say. How did it come there?”</p> + +<p>“One of the boys gave it to me, sir,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“And why did you not put it away?”</p> + +<p>“I was going, sir;” and the color rushed into Louis' pale face. “I did +not use it—and I hope I should not.”</p> + +<p>“Who left the book?” asked Dr. Wilkinson.</p> + +<p>“Churchill, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Call Churchill, Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>Salisbury obeyed; and during his absence a profound silence reigned in +the room, for all the first class were watching the proceedings in deep +interest. Dr. Wilkinson seemed lost in thought; and Louis, in painful +anxiety, scanned the strongly marked countenance of his master, now +wearing its most unpleasing mask, and those of Hamilton and Trevannion, +alternately. Hamilton did not look at him, but bent over a table at +a book, the leaves of which he nervously turned. Trevannion eyed him +haughtily as he leaned in his most graceful attitude against the wall +behind the doctor's chair; and poor Louis read his condemnation in his +eyes, as well as in the faces of most present.</p> + +<p>Salisbury at length returned with Churchill, who was the more awe-struck +at the unwonted summons, as he was so low in the school as seldom to have +any business with the principal.</p> + +<p>“Churchill,” said the doctor, gravely, “I have sent for you to hear what +is said of you. Now, Louis Mortimer, who gave you this book on the day +Mr. Hamilton discovered it in your possession?”</p> + +<p>“Churchill, sir,” replied Louis, in great agitation; “you did, Churchill, +did you not? Oh! do say you did.”</p> + +<p>“Hush,” said the doctor. “What have you to say against this, Churchill?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing, sir—I did—I gave it to Louis Mortimer,” stammered Churchill, +looking from Louis to the doctor, and back again.</p> + +<p>“And how came you to give it to him?”</p> + +<p>Churchill did not reply until the question was repeated, when he +reluctantly said, he had given it to Louis to assist him in his +exercise.</p> + +<p>“Did Mortimer ask you for it?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Did he wish for it?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, not that I know of.”</p> + +<p>“You know, Harry, that I asked you to put it away—did I not?” +cried Louis.</p> + +<p>“I don't know—yes—I think you did,” said Churchill, growing very hot.</p> + +<p>“Why did you not put it away?” asked Dr. Wilkinson.</p> + +<p>“Because I thought he wanted it, please sir.”</p> + +<p>“But I did not, Harry! I told you I did not,” said Louis, eagerly.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson desired Louis to be silent, and continued his questions—</p> + +<p>“Did you try to persuade him to use it?”</p> + +<p>Again Churchill paused, and again confessed, most unwillingly, that +he had done so—and received a severe reprimand for his conduct on the +occasion, and a long task to write out which would keep him employed +during the play-hours of that day.</p> + +<p>He was then dismissed, and Dr. Wilkinson again addressed himself to +Louis: “I am glad to find that part of your story is correct; but I +now wish you to explain how my key found its way into the school-room +yesterday, when discovered by Mr. Witworth. The book must have been +deliberately taken out of this room into the school-room. You appear +to have been alone, or nearly so, in the school-room the greater part +of yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Witworth found the book half concealed +by your lesson books while you were writing your exercises.”</p> + +<p>“I assure you, sir, I did not take it,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Unhappily,” replied Dr. Wilkinson, “I cannot take a mere assurance +in the present instance. Had not the case been so palpable, I should +have been bound to believe you until I had had reason to mistrust your +word—but with these facts I <em>cannot</em>, Louis;” and he added, in a very +low tone, so as to be heard only by Louis, who was much nearer to him +than the others, “Your honor has not always been sacred—beware.”</p> + +<p>His school-fellows wondered what made the red flush mount so furiously +in Louis' forehead, and the tears spring to his eyes. The painful feelings +called forth by his master's speech prevented him from speaking for a few +minutes. He was roused by Dr. Wilkinson saying—</p> + +<p>“The discovery of this Key in your possession would involve your +immediate dismissal from the second class, a sufficient disgrace, but +the matter assumes a far more serious aspect from these assertions of +innocence. If you had not used the book when discovered, it must have +been taken either by you, or another, for use. The question is now, +who took it?”</p> + +<p>“I did not, sir,” said Louis, in great alarm.</p> + +<p>“Who did, then? Were any of your class with you?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Was any one with you?”</p> + +<p>Louis paused. A sudden thought flashed across him—a sudden recollection +of seeing that book passed over and slipped among his books; an action he +had taken no notice of at the time, and which had never struck him till +this moment. He now glanced eagerly at Ferrers, and then, in a tremulous +voice, said, “I remember now, Ferrers put it there—I am almost sure.”</p> + +<p>“Ferrers!” exclaimed the young men, with one voice.</p> + +<p>“What humbugging nonsense!” said Salisbury, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>“Do you hear, Mr. Ferrers?” said the doctor: “how came you to put that +Key among Louis Mortimer's books?”</p> + +<p>“I, sir—I never,” stammered Ferrers. “What should I want with it? +What good could I get by it? Is it likely?”</p> + +<p>“I am not arguing on the possibility of such an event, I simply wish +to know if you did it?” said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“I, sir—no,” exclaimed Ferrers, with an air of injured innocence. +“If I had done it, why did he not accuse me at once, instead of +remembering it all of a sudden?”</p> + +<p>“Because I only just remembered that I saw you moving something +towards me, and I am <em>almost</em> sure it was that book now—I think +so,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“You'd better be quite sure,” said Ferrers.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson looked from one to the other, and his look might have made +a less unprincipled youth fear to persist in so horrible a falsehood.</p> + +<p>“Were you learning your lessons in the school-room yesterday afternoon, +Mr. Ferrers, at the same time with Louis Mortimer?” Ferrers acknowledging +this, Dr. Wilkinson sent for Mr. Witworth, and asked him if he had +observed either Ferrers or Louis go into the study during the afternoon, +and if he knew what each brought out with him. Mr. Witworth replied that +both went in, but he did not know what for.</p> + +<p>“I went in to get an atlas for Ferrers,” cried Louis, in great agitation.</p> + +<p>“I got the atlas myself, Mortimer, you know,” said Ferrers.</p> + +<p>Louis was quite overcome. He covered his face with his hands, and burst +into tears.</p> + +<p>“This is a sad business,” said Dr. Wilkinson, very gravely; “much +worse than I expected—one of you must be giving utterance to the +most frightful untruths. Which of you is it?”</p> + +<p>“What would Ferrers want with the Key to The Greek Exercises sir?” +suggested Trevannion, “unless he wished to do an ill turn to Mortimer, +which you cannot suppose.”</p> + +<p>“I have hitherto trusted Mr. Ferrers,” replied Dr. Wilkinson; “and +am not disposed to withdraw that confidence without sufficient cause. +Mr. Ferrers, on your word of honor, am I to believe your statement?”</p> + +<p>Ferrers turned pale, but the doctor's steady gaze was upon him, and all +his class-fellows awaited his reply—visions of disgrace, contempt, and +scorn were before him, and there was no restraining power from within to +check him, as he hastily replied, “On my word of honor, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I must believe you, then, as I can imagine no motive which could +induce you to act dishonorably by this boy, were I to discover that +any one in my school had acted so, his immediate expulsion should be +the consequence.”</p> + +<p>The dead silence that followed the doctor's words struck coldly on the +heart of the guilty coward.</p> + +<p>“Now, Louis Mortimer,” said the doctor, sternly, “I wish to give you +another chance of confessing your fault.”</p> + +<p>Louis' thick convulsive sobs only replied to this. After waiting a +few minutes, Dr. Wilkinson said, “Go now to the little study joining +my dining-room, and wait there till I come: I shall give you half an +hour to consider.”</p> + +<p>Louis left the room, and repaired to the study, where he threw himself +on a chair in a paroxysm of grief, which, for the first quarter of an +hour, admitted of no alleviation: “He had no character. The doctor had +heard all before. All believed him guilty—and how <em>could</em> Ferrers act +so? How could it ever be found out? And, oh! his dear father and mother, +and his grandfather, would believe it.”</p> + +<p>By degrees the violence of his distress subsided, and he sent up his +tearful petitions to his heavenly Father, till his overloaded heart +felt lightened of some of its sorrow. As he grew calmer, remembrances +of old faults came before him, and he thought of a similar sin of his +own, and how nearly an innocent person had suffered for it—and this +he felt was much easier to bear than the consciousness of having +committed the fault himself; and he remembered the sweet verses in +the first Epistle of St. Peter: “What glory is it if, when ye be +buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently; but if when ye do well +and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. +For even hereunto ye were called, because Christ also suffered for us, +leaving us an example that we should follow His steps: who did no sin, +neither was guile found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, reviled +not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself +to Him that judgeth righteously,”—and the feeling of indignation +against Ferrers was gradually changed into almost pity for him, for +Louis knew by experience the pain of a loaded conscience. While his +thoughts thus ran over the past and present, he heard the firm step +of Dr. Wilkinson crossing the hall, and nearly at the same moment that +gentleman entered the room. There was no pity in his countenance—the +dark lines in his face seemed fixed in their most iron mould; and +briefly announcing to his trembling pupil that the time allowed him +for consideration had expired, he asked whether he were prepared to +acknowledge his fault. Louis meekly persisted in his denial, which +had only the effect of making the doctor consider him a more hardened +offender; and after a few words, expressing the strongest reprehension +of his wickedness and cowardice, he gave him severe caning, and sent +him immediately to bed, although it was but the middle of the day. +In spite of the better feelings which urged poor Louis to acknowledge +the justice, under the circumstances, of his master's proceedings, he +could not help thinking that he had been very hardly treated. He hurried +up stairs, glad to indulge his grief in silence. How many times, in the +affliction of the next few hours, did he repeat a little hymn he had +learned at home:</p> + +<p class="poem1">“Thy lambs, dear Shepherd, that are weak,</p> +<p class="poem2">Are thy peculiar care;</p> +<p class="poem1">'Tis Thine in judgment to afflict,</p> +<p class="poem2">And Thine in love to spare.</p> +<p class="poem1"> </p> +<p class="poem1">“Though young in years, yet, oh! how oft</p> +<p class="poem2">Have I a rebel been;</p> +<p class="poem1">My punishment, O Lord, is mild,</p> +<p class="poem2">Nor equals all my sin.</p> +<p class="poem1"> </p> +<p class="poem1">“Since all the chastisements I feel</p> +<p class="poem2">Are from Thy love alone,</p> +<p class="poem1">Let not one murmuring thought arise,</p> +<p class="poem2">But may Thy will be done.</p> +<p class="poem1"> </p> +<p class="poem1">“Then let me blush with holy shame,</p> +<p class="poem2">And mourn before my Lord,</p> +<p class="poem1">That I have lived to Thee no more,</p> +<p class="poem2">No more obeyed Thy word.”</p> +<p class="poem3">—“Hymns for Sunday-Schools”</p> + +<p>At last he fell asleep, and oh! to wake; from that sleep! It was surely +good to be afflicted, and in the happiness of his mind Louis forgot his +trouble. But he had yet to endure much more, and the bitterest part of +his punishment came the next morning, when, according to his master's +orders, he repaired to the study with his books. He had been desired to +remain in this room out of school-hours, and was forbidden to speak +to any of his school-fellows without leave. While he was sitting +there the first morning after the inquiry related in this chapter, +Dr. Wilkinson entered with a letter, and sat down at the table where +Louis was reading. As he opened his desk, he said, “I have a painful +task to perform. This is a letter from your father, Louis Mortimer, +and he particularly requests that I should give him an account of +your conduct and your brother's; you know what an account I can give +of you both.”</p> + +<p>Louis had listened very attentively to his master's speech, and when +it was concluded he gave way to such a burst of sorrow as quite touched +the doctor. For some minutes he wept almost frantically, and then +clasping his hands, he implored Dr. Wilkinson not to tell his father +what had happened: “It will break mamma's heart, it will break mamma's +heart, sir—do not tell my father.”</p> + +<p>“Confess your fault, Louis, and I may then speak of amendment,” +said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“I cannot, indeed—indeed I cannot. It will all come out by and bye: +you will see, sir—oh! you will see, sir,” sobbed Louis, deprecating +the gathering of the angry cloud on the doctor's face. “Oh! do not +tell mamma, for it is not true.”</p> + +<p>“I do not wish to hear any more, sir,” said the doctor, sternly.</p> + +<p>“Oh! what shall I do—what shall I do!” cried Louis; and he pushed +his chair quickly from the table, and, throwing himself on his knees +by Dr. Wilkinson, seized the hand that was beginning to date the +dreaded letter—“I assure you I did not, sir—I am speaking the truth.”</p> + +<p>“As you always do, doubtless,” said the doctor, drawing his hand +roughly away. “Get up, sir; kneel to Him you have so deeply offended, +but not to me.”</p> + +<p>Louis rose, but stood still in the same place. “Will you hear only this +one thing, sir? I will not say any thing more about my innocence—just +hear me, if you please, sir.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson turned his head coldly towards him.</p> + +<p>Louis dried his tears, and spoke with tolerable calmness: “I have +one thing to ask, sir—will you allow me still to remain in the +second class, and to do my lessons always in this room? You will +then see if I can do without keys, or having any help.”</p> + +<p>“I know you can if you choose,” replied Dr. Wilkinson, coldly, +“or I should not have placed you in that class.”</p> + +<p>“But, if you please, sir, I know all,”—Louis paused, he had promised +to say no more on that subject.</p> + +<p>There was a little silence, during which Dr. Wilkinson looked earnestly +at Louis. At last he said, “You may stay in the class; but, remember, +you are forbidden to speak to any of your school-fellows for the next +week without express permission.”</p> + +<p>“Not to my brother, sir?”</p> + +<p>“No; now go.”</p> + +<p>“May I write to mamma?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if you wish it.”</p> + +<p>After timidly thanking the doctor, Louis returned to his seat, and +Dr. Wilkinson continued his letter, which went off by the same post +that took Louis' to his mother.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_V">Chapter V.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, +but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the +peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are +exercised thereby.”—<em>Heb.</em> xii. 11. +</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> </p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have +I kept Thy word.”—<em>Psalm</em> cxix. 67. +</p> + + +<p>Perhaps there is no state more dangerous to a Christian's peace of +mind than one of continual prosperity. In adversity even the worldly +man will sometimes talk of resignation, and feel that it is a good +thing to be acquainted and at peace with God, and that when all human +help is cut off, it is a sweet thing to have a sure refuge in an +almighty Saviour. But in prosperity the ungodly never look to Him; +and His own children, carrying about with them a sinful nature, against +which they must continually maintain a warfare, are too apt to forget +the Giver in his gifts, and to imagine that all is well because nothing +occurs to disturb the regularity of their blessings.</p> + +<p>Our little Louis, though the trial he now underwent was a bitter one, +and though at times it seemed almost too hard to be endured, learned by +degrees to feel that it was good for him. He had been in too high favor, +he had trusted too much in the good word of his school-fellows, and had +suffered the fear of man to deter him from his duty to God; and now, +isolated and looked upon as an unworthy member of the little society +to which he belonged, he learned to find his sole happiness in that +sweet communion which he had now solitary leisure to enjoy. His very +troubles carried him to a throne of grace; his desolate condition made +him feel that there was only One who never changed nor forsook His +people; only One who could understand and feel for the infirmities +and sorrows of a human creature; and though to the ungodly it is a +terror to know that there is “nothing that is not manifest in God's +sight,” to the true child of God it is an unspeakable comfort to feel +that his thoughts and actions are “known long before” by his unwearied +Guardian.</p> + +<p>The effects of Louis' lonely communings were soon visible in his daily +conduct, and after his term of punishment had expired, the meekness of +his bearing, and the gentle lowliness of his demeanor, often disarmed +the most severe and unpitying of his youthful judges. There was no +servility in his manner, for he neither courted nor shunned observation; +nor, though he was as willing as ever to do a kind action for any +one, did he allow himself to be persuaded to give up all his time to +his idler school-fellows. There seemed more firmness and decision in his +naturally yielding disposition, and those who knew not the power of +assisting grace, looked and wondered at the firmness the sweet but weak +boy could at times assume. He would have told them it was not his own. +He was very quiet, and spoke little, even to his brother, of what was +passing in his mind, and sometimes his thoughts were so quietly happy +that he did not like to be spoken to. To Ferrers, Louis was as gentle +and courteous as to the rest of his companions, and, indeed, he had now +little other feeling towards him than that of sorrow and pity.</p> + +<p>There had been an unusual noise in the study one evening, while Louis +was absent, and when he entered it, he found the confusion attendant on +a grand uproar. Very little was doing, and tokens of the late skirmish +lay about the floor in torn and scattered books, and overthrown forms. +Among others, Ferrers was hunting for a missing book, but to discover +it in such a chaos was a difficult task, especially as no one would +now allow the candles to be used in the search.</p> + +<p>With many expressions, so unfitted for refined ears that I do not choose +to present them to my reader, Ferrers continued his search, now and then +attempting to snatch a candle from the table, in which he was regularly +foiled by those sitting there.</p> + +<p>“Well, at least have the civility to move and let me see if it is under +the table,” he said at length.</p> + +<p>“You have hindered us long enough,” said Salisbury; “Smith, Jones, and +I have done nothing to-night. If you will have rows, you must e'en take +the consequences.”</p> + +<p>“Can't you get under the form?” asked Smith, derisively.</p> + +<p>Ferrers was going to make some angry, reply, when Louis dived between +the table and the form, with some trouble, and, at the expense of +receiving a few unceremonious kicks, recovered the book and gave it +to Ferrers, who hardly thanked him, but leaning his head on his hand, +seemed almost incapable of doing any thing. Presently he looked up, +and asked in a tone of mingled anger and weariness, what had become +of the inkstand he had brought.</p> + +<p class="poem1">“Loosing's seeking,</p> <!-- Printed in original book as "Loosing's" --> +<p class="poem2">Finding's keeping,”</p> + +<p>said Salisbury. “Which is yours? Perhaps it's under the table too.”</p> + +<p>“Hold your nonsense,” cried Ferrers, angrily. “It's very shabby of you +to hinder me in this manner.”</p> + +<p>Louis quietly slipped an inkstand near him, an action of which Ferrers +was quite aware, and though he pretended not to notice it, he availed +himself presently of the convenience. A racking headache, however, +almost disabled him from thinking, and though he was really unwell, +there was only the boy he had so cruelly injured who felt any sympathy +for his suffering.</p> + +<p>Louis carefully avoided any direct manifestation of his anxiety to +return good for evil, for he felt, though he hardly knew why, that +his actions would be misconstrued, but whenever any little opportunity +occurred in which he could really render any service, he was always +as ready to do it for Ferrers as for another; and now, when from his +classmates Ferrers met with nothing but jokes on his “beautiful temper,” +and “placid state of mind,” he could not help feeling the gentleness of +Louis' conduct, the absence of pleasure in his annoyance, and the look +of evident sympathy he met whenever he accidentally turned his eyes in +his direction. For a few days after this he was obliged to keep his bed, +and during this time, though Louis only once saw him, he thought of every +little kind attention he could, that might be grateful to the invalid. +Knowing that he was not a favorite, and that few in the school would +trouble themselves about him, he borrowed books and sent them to him for +his amusement, and empowered the old cake man to procure some grapes, +which he sent up to him by a servant, with strict orders to say nothing +of where they came from. The servant met Hamilton at the door of the +room, and he relieved her of her charge, and as she did not consider +herself under promise of secrecy towards him, she mentioned it, desiring +him at the same time to say nothing to Ferrers.</p> + +<p>Louis had now established a regular time for doing his own lessons, +and kept to it with great perseverance to the end of the half-year, +with one exception, when he had been acting prisoner in a trial +performed in the school-room, by half his own class and the third, +and let the evening slip by without remembering how late it grew. +His class-fellows were in the same predicament as himself, and as +they had barely time to write a necessary exercise, they agreed among +themselves to learn each his own piece of the lesson they had to repeat. +Louis did not seriously consider the deceit they were practising, and +adopted the same plan. One of the number, not trusting to his memory, +hit upon the singular expedient of writing the whole of his piece and +the next on a piece of paper, and wafering it to the instep of his shoe +when he went up to his class. Unhappily for his scheme, he was so placed +that he dared not expose his foot so as to allow him to avail himself +of this delectable assistance, and consequently, after much looking on +the floor for inspiration, and much incoherent muttering, was passed +over, and the order of things being thereby disturbed, of course no one +could say the missing lines until the head boy was applied to, and the +lower half of the class was turned down, with the exception of Louis, +who, standing on this occasion just above the gentleman of shoe memory, +had been able to say his share.</p> + +<p>As they were breaking up, Mr. Danby said to Louis, “You have been very +industrious lately, Louis Mortimer: I am glad you have been so correct +to-day.”</p> + +<p>Louis blushed from a consciousness of undeserved praise; but though +his natural fear of offending and losing favor sprung up directly, a +higher principle faced it, and bearing down all obstacles, forced him +to acknowledge his unworthiness of the present encomium.</p> + +<p>“I ought to learn mine, sir,—I learned my piece to-day.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Mr. Danby.</p> + +<p>“I learned my part of the lesson, as well as Harris, Williams, Sutton, +and Charles Salisbury. We forgot our lessons last night, but it is quite +an accident that I have said mine to-day.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad you have had the honor to say so,” said Mr. Danby. +“Of course you must learn yours, but let me have no more +learning pieces, if you please.”</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_VI">Chapter VI.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they will +be still praising Thee. For a day in Thy courts is +better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper +in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents +of wickedness.”—<em>Psalm</em> lxxxiv. 4, 10. +</p> + + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson's school was too large to be entirely accommodated with +sittings in the nearest church—and, consequently, was divided into two +bodies on Sunday, one of which regularly attended one of the churches in +Bristol, where Mr. Wilkinson, the doctor's son, occasionally did duty. +It fell to Louis' lot, generally, to be of the Bristol party, and unless +the day was rainy he was not ill-pleased with his destiny, for the walk +was very pleasant, and there was something in the chorus of bells in that +many-churched city, and the sight of the gray towers and spires, very +congenial to his feelings. It happened that the Sunday after Louis had +received permission to mix as usual with his school-fellows was one +of those peculiarly sunny days that seem to call upon God's people +especially to rejoice and be glad in the Works of His hand. Louis' mind +was in a more than usually peaceful state, and his heart overflowed +with quiet happiness as he looked down from the height of Brandon Hill +upon the city below. He and his companion had walked on rather faster +than the rest of their school-fellows, and now stood waiting till they +came up.</p> + +<p>“A penny for your thoughts, Mortimer,” said his companion, a +pleasant-looking boy of fifteen or sixteen years of age; “you +are very silent to-day—what may be the subject of your profound +meditations?”</p> + +<p>Louis hardly seemed to hear the question, for he suddenly turned his +bright face to his interrogator, and exclaimed, “What a beautiful sight +it is to see so many churches together, Meredith! I think our churches +make us such a happy country.”</p> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="481" height="273" src="images/lsd03.png" id="lsd03.png" + title="Louis and Meredith on Brandon Hill." + alt="Two school-boys talking on a hill overlooking a town."> +</p> + +<h4>Louis and Meredith on Brandon Hill.</h4> + +<p>“Upon my word,” replied Meredith, “you are endowing those piles of +stone with considerable potency. What becomes of commerce and—”</p> + +<p>“I mean, of course,” interrupted Louis, “that it is religion that +makes us a happier country than others. I love so to look at the +churches; the sight of one sometimes, when all is fair and quiet, +brings the tears into my eyes.”</p> + +<p>“Hey-dey! quite sentimental! You'd better be a parson, I think.”</p> + +<p>“I hope I shall be a clergyman—I wish very much to be one—there is +not such another happy life. I was just thinking, Meredith, when you +spoke to me, of a verse we read yesterday morning, which quite expresses +my feelings: ‘One thing have I desired of the Lord which I will seek +after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, +to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.’ ”</p> + +<p>Meredith looked with some surprise at Louis, and as they moved on he +said carelessly, “I suppose somebody will have the gratification of +beholding me in a long gown some day, holding forth for the edification +of my devoted flock.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to be a clergyman?” asked Louis.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I suppose I must. Don't you think I shall be a most +useful character?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! surely you wish it, do you not?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't much mind,” replied Meredith, snatching a handful of +leaves from the hedge near him; “I shall have a nice fat living, and +it's a respectable kind of thing.”</p> + +<p>Louis was horror-struck—he had not imagined such an idea—he almost +gasped out, “Oh! Meredith, I can hardly understand you. Surely that is +not your only wish about it: that cannot be a reason—not a right one.”</p> + +<p>“Why, what's the harm?” said Meredith, laughing. “I only say outright +what hundreds think. If I could choose, perhaps I might like the army +best, but my father has a comfortable provision in the church for me, +and so I, like a dutiful son, don't demur, especially as, if I follow +the example of my predecessor, it will be vastly more easy than a +soldier's life.”</p> + +<p>“Meredith, Meredith, this is too solemn a thing to laugh about. I have +often wondered how it is there are clergymen who can take their duties +so easily as some do; but if they only undertake them for your reasons, +I cannot feel so much surprised that they should be so careless. How +can you expect any happiness from such a life! I should be afraid to +talk so.”</p> + +<p>Meredith stared contemptuously. “You are a Methodist, Louis,” he said; +“I have no doubt I shall preach as good sermons as you: just put on a +grave face, and use a set of tender phrases, and wear a brilliant on +your little finger, and a curly head, and there you are a fashionable +preacher at once—and if you use your white pocket-handkerchief +occasionally, throw your arms about a little, look as if you intended +to tumble over the pulpit and embrace the congregation, and dose your +audience with a little pathos, you may draw crowds—the ladies will +idolize you.”</p> + +<p>“I should not think that such popularity would be very good,” +replied Louis, “supposing you could do as you say; but it seems +to me quite shocking to speak in such a slighting manner of so +holy a thing. Were you ever at an ordination, Meredith?”</p> + +<p>“Not I,” said Meredith.</p> + +<p>“I should think if you had been you would be afraid to think of going +to answer the solemn questions you will be asked when you are ordained. +I was once with papa at an ordination at Norwich cathedral, and I shall +never forget how solemnly that beautiful service came upon me. I could +not help thinking how dreadful it must be to come there carelessly, and +I wondered how the gentlemen felt who were kneeling there—and the hymn +was so magnificent, Meredith. I think if you were there with your present +feelings, you would be afraid to stay. It would seem like mocking God to +come to answer all those solemn questions, and not mean what you said. +I think it is wicked.”</p> + +<p>Louis spoke rapidly, and with great emotion.</p> + +<p>Meredith looked angry, struggling with a feeling of shame, and a wish to +laugh it off. “You are exclusively precise,” he said; “others are not, +and have as much right to their opinion as you to yours. Trevannion, +for instance—he's going into the church because it is so genteel.”</p> + +<p>“I hope you are mistaken,” said Louis, quickly.</p> + +<p>“Not I; I heard him say the same thing myself.”</p> + +<p>“I am <em>very</em> sorry,” said Louis, sadly. “Oh! I would rather be a laborer +than go into the church with such a wish—and yet, I had rather be a +very poor curate than a rich duke: it is such a happy, holy life.” The +last part of Louis' speech was nearly inaudible, and no more was said +until the afternoon.</p> + +<p>It was Dr. Wilkinson's wish that the Sabbath should be passed as +blamelessly as he had the power of ordering it in his household; but +to make it a day of reverence and delight among so large a number of +boys, with different dispositions and habits of life, was an arduous +task. Mr. James Wilkinson was with the boys the whole afternoon, as +well as his father, to whose utmost endeavors he joined his own, that +the day might not be wholly unprofitable. In spite, however, of all +diligence, it could not fail of often being grossly misspent with many +of the pupils; for it is not possible for human power effectually to +influence the heart, and, until that is done, any thing else can be but +an outward form.</p> + +<p>This afternoon the boys were scattered over the large playground. In +one corner was the doctor, with twenty or thirty boys around him, and +in other directions, the different ushers hearing Catechisms and other +lessons. Some of the parties were very dull, for no effort was made by +the instructor to impart a real delight in the Word of God to his pupils; +and religion was made merely a matter of question and answer, to remain +engraved in such heartless form on the repugnant mind of the learner. +And, alas! how can it be otherwise, where the teacher himself does not +know that religion is a real and happy thing, and not to be learned as +we teach our boys the outlines of heathen mythology?</p> + +<p>Sitting on the ground, lolling against one of the benches under a +tree, sat Hastings Meredith and Reginald and Louis Mortimer; and one +or two more were standing or sitting near; all of whom had just finished +answering all the questions in the Church Catechism to Mr. Danby, and +had said a Psalm.</p> + +<p>Louis was sitting on the bench, looking flushed, thinking of holidays, +and, of course, of home,—home Sabbaths, those brightest days of home +life,—when Trevannion came up with his usual air of cool, easy +confidence. Trevannion was the most gentlemanly young man in the +school; he never was in a hurry; was particularly alive to any +thing “vulgar,” or “snobbish,” and would have thought it especially +unbecoming in him to exhibit the smallest degree of annoyance at any +untoward event. It took a good deal to put him out of countenance, and +he esteemed it rather plebeian to go his own errands, or, indeed, to +take any unnecessary trouble.</p> + +<p>“Were you in Bristol this morning, Meredith?” he said.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sure, your highness,” replied Meredith, yawning.</p> + +<p>“Tired apparently,” said Trevannion ironically, glancing at the +recumbent attitude of the speaker.</p> + +<p>“Worried to death with that old bore Danby, who's been going backwards +and forwards for the last hour, with ‘What is your name?’ and ‘My good +child,’ &c. I'm as tired as—as—oh help me for a simile! as a pair of +worn-out shoes.”</p> + +<p>“A poetical simile at last,” remarked Reginald, laughing.</p> + +<p>“You would have a nice walk,” said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“Very! and a sermon gratis to boot,” replied Meredith. “It would +have done you good, Trevannion, to have heard what shocking things +you have done in being so <em>very genteel</em>.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” said Trevannion, coolly.</p> + +<p>“Louis Mortimer was giving me a taste of his Methodistical mind on the +duties of clergymen generally, and your humble servant especially.”</p> + +<p>“I presume you do not include yourself in the fraternity yet?” +said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“Not exactly; but having informed him of my prospects, the good child +began to upbraid me with my hypocrisy, and, bless you, such a thundering +sermon,—positively quite eloquent.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I may be allowed to profit by the second part of it,” said +Trevannion, turning to Louis; “will you be kind enough to edify me?”</p> + +<p>Louis did not reply, and Trevannion's lips curled slightly as he +remarked, “There is an old proverb about those who live in glass +houses—‘Physician, cure thyself.’ ”</p> + +<p>Poor Louis turned away, and Meredith, stretching himself and yawning +terrifically, continued, “You must know, Trevannion, that it is very +wicked to be any thing but a Methodist, very wicked for a clergyman +to be genteel, or to wish to make himself comfortable.”</p> + +<p>“Hastings, I did not say so,” said Louis, turning his head.</p> + +<p>“And so,” continued Meredith, without noticing Louis, “if we dare +to follow up our own or our fathers' wishes, we must listen to +Louis Mortimer, and he will tell us what to do.”</p> + +<p>“Much obliged to him, I am sure,” said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“Yes, so am I,” rejoined Meredith, “though I forgot to tender my +thanks before; and hereby give notice, that when I am in orders, +I will not hunt more than convenient, nor play cards on Good Friday, +nor go to dancing parties on Saturday evening.”</p> + +<p>“Pshaw, Meredith,” said Trevannion: “it is very unbecoming to talk +in this manner of so sacred a profession. A hunting and card-playing +clergyman ought to be stripped of his gown without hesitation. Any +right-minded person would recoil with horror at such a character. It +is a great disgrace to the profession; no clergyman ought to enter +into any kind of improper dissipation. Your ideas are very light +and indelicate.”</p> + +<p>“Will you be kind enough to define that term, <em>improper dissipation</em>,” +said Meredith, carelessly. “I presume you have no objection to a quiet +dance now and then, only they must not call it a ball.”</p> + +<p>“A clergyman ought not to dance,” replied Trevannion, in precisely the +same cool, dictatorial manner.</p> + +<p>“He may look on them, may he not?” said Meredith.</p> + +<p>“A clergyman has many serious duties to perform, and he should be +very careful that he does not degrade his office,” replied Trevannion. +“He has to uphold the dignity of the church, and should take care that +his conduct is such that no reproach can fall on that church from his +inconsistency.”</p> + +<p>“Well, for my part,” said Meredith, lightly, “I think the church +too important to miss the weight of my example. I mean to have a +most exemplary curate.”</p> + +<p>Near these speakers sat Mr. James Wilkinson, with a few little boys, +whom at this moment he hastily dismissed, for the sound of the light +conversation reached him, and he arose quickly and introduced himself +to the little côterie just as Reginald exclaimed, “For shame, Meredith!”</p> + +<p>“Ay, for shame,” said Mr. James: “I have heard a little of what has been +going on among you, and am really very sorry to hear such expressions on +a subject so solemn and important. Meredith, you cannot be aware of what +you are saying. I should like to have a little talk about this matter; +and, Mr. Trevannion, if you will give me your attention for a few +minutes, I shall be obliged to you.”</p> + +<p>Trevannion seated himself on the bench, and folding his arms, +remained in an attitude of passive attention.</p> + +<p>“Lend me your prayer-book, Mortimer,” said Mr. James, and he quickly +turned to the service for the ordering of deacons. “The first question +here put to the candidate for holy orders is, ‘Do you trust that you +are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, to take upon you this office +and ministration, to serve God for the promoting of His glory and the +edifying of His people?’ Now, Meredith, I ask you to think, whether, +with such sentiments as you have just expressed, you can dare to answer, +‘<em>I trust so?</em>’ ”</p> + +<p>“I never thought very seriously about it,” said Meredith, +rather abruptly.</p> + +<p>“But you know these things must be thought of seriously and prayerfully. +It is required of a man in every station of life, that he be faithful +and diligent, serving the Lord, and whoever does not remember this, +must answer for his neglect of such duty to his Maker. It will not do +to say that our individual example can be of no importance; the command, +‘Occupy till I come,’ is laid upon each one of us; but what must be said +of him who, in a careless, light frame of mind, takes these holy vows +upon him, knowing in his own mind that he intends to break them; that +his sole desire to be put into the priest's office is to eat a morsel +of bread? What shall be said of him who goes into the house of God, and +in the presence of His people declares that it is his intention, ‘to +search gladly and willingly for the sick and poor of his parish, +to relieve their necessities; to frame his own life and the lives +of his family according to the doctrine of Christ; to be diligent in +prayers and in reading of the Holy Scriptures, laying aside the study +of the world and the flesh,’ and yet knows that he intends to enjoy +himself in the things of this world—a very hireling who forgets that +his master's eye is upon him. It is a fearful thing. It is coming before +the Almighty with a lie. Nay, hear me a little longer. The clergyman's +is a glorious and exalted path, the happiest I know of on earth. It is +his especially to bear the message of salvation from a tender Saviour. +It is his to go forth with the balm of heavenly comfort, to bind up the +wounds sin and grief have made. It is his indeed pre-eminently to dwell +in the house of his God, to be hid away from the world and its many +allurements; but as every great blessing brings with it a great +responsibility, so the responsibility of the minister of Christ is +very great, and if he turn from the commandment delivered to him, his +condemnation is fearful. I should be much obliged to you, Meredith, +if you would read me these verses.”</p> + +<p>Meredith took the open Bible from Mr. Wilkinson's hand, and read aloud +the first ten verses of the 34th of Ezekiel.</p> + +<p>“In this holy word, which must be the standard for all our conduct, +we do not find that the Almighty looks upon this office as a light +thing. In the thirty-third chapter there is so solemn a warning to +the careless watchman, that I wonder any one who does not steadfastly +intend to give himself to his sacred duties, can read it and not +tremble. ‘If the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, +and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take away any +person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but <span class="sc">his +blood will I require at the watchman's hand</span>. So thou, O son of man, +I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou +shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say +unto the wicked, Oh wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost +not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die +in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.’ This is +the second solemn warning to the same purport given to Ezekiel; for, +in the third chapter, we find the same thing; and these are awful +truths engraved in God's everlasting word, by which we are to be +judged at the last day. You must excuse me,” continued Mr. Wilkinson, +and his eyes glistened with emotion; “but I am a watchman, and I must +warn you of the fearful sin you are contemplating.”</p> + +<p>Meredith was silent. He was impressed with the earnestness displayed by +Mr. Wilkinson, and the solemn truths he had brought before him—truths +it would be well if all those who are looking forward to entering the +sacred ministry would seriously and prayerfully consider.</p> + +<p>The tea bell ringing at this moment, the conversation was necessarily +concluded; but that evening after prayers, Mr. Wilkinson put into +Meredith's hand a piece of paper, on which were written the following +references: Num. xvi. 9; Isaiah lii. 7, 8; lxii. 6, 7; Jer. xxiii. 1-4; +Ezek. iii. 17-21; xxxiii. 1-9; xxxiv. 1-10; John xxi. 15-17; +1 Cor. ix. 16, 17, 19; and both the Epistles to Timothy; and underneath +the references was the Apostle's injunction, “Meditate upon these things; +give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all.”</p> + +<p>When Louis was fairly in bed that night, he was called on for a story.</p> + +<p>“Tell us the end of the princess Rosetta, Louis,” cried Frank; +“I want to know how the fair animal got out of her watery bedroom, +and whether the green dog ever got his nose nipped by the oysters +he was so fond of snapping up.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Rosetta!” cried several voices. “Did she ever get to the king +of the peacocks, Louis?”</p> + +<p>“No, no,” cried Reginald; “it is not fit for Sunday.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure we have been doing heaps of good things to-day,” +replied Frank, lightly; “come, Louis.”</p> + +<p>“I must not,” said Louis, gently. “I do not like telling stories at +night at all, because I think we ought not to fill our heads with such +things when we are going to sleep; but I must not tell you Rosetta +to-night, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“Get along,” said Frank, contemptuously; “you are not worth the snap +of a finger. All you are ever worth is to tell stories, and now you +must needs set up for a good, pious boy—you, forsooth of all others!”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, Frank, you will not understand me.”</p> + +<p>“If you dare to say any more to Louis,” cried Reginald, “I'll make you—”</p> + +<p>Louis' hand was upon Reginald's mouth.</p> + +<p>Frank replied, tauntingly, “Ay, finish your work this time, that's +right. Come boys, never mind, I'll tell you a wonderful tale.”</p> + +<p>“I think we'd better not have one to-night,” said one; “perhaps +Mortimer's right.”</p> + +<p>“Don't have one, don't!” said Louis, starting up; “do not let us +forget that all this day is God's day, and that we must not even +speak our own words.”</p> + +<p>“None of your cant,” cried one.</p> + +<p>“Well, I propose that we go to sleep, and then we shan't hear what +he says,” said Meredith. “They talk of his not having pluck enough +to speak, but he can do it when he pleases,” he remarked in a low +tone to his next companion, Frank Digby, who rejoined,</p> + +<p>“More shame for him, the little hypocrite. I like real religious +people, but I can't bear cant.”</p> + +<p>What Frank's idea of real religion was, may be rather a difficult +matter to settle. Probably it was an obscure idea to himself,—an +idea of certain sentiment and no vitality.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_VII">Chapter VII.</p> + + +<p>The next Saturday afternoon proving unusually fine, the community at +Ashfield House sallied forth to enjoy their half-holiday on the downs. +A few of the seniors had received permission to pay a visit to Bristol, +and not a small party was arranged for a good game of cricket. Among +the latter was Reginald Mortimer, whose strong arm and swift foot were +deemed almost indispensable on such occasions. As he rushed out of the +playground gates, bat in hand, accompanied by Meredith, he overtook his +brother, who had discovered a poem unknown to him in <em>Coleridge's Ancient +Mariner</em>, and was anticipating a pleasant mental feast in its perusal.</p> + +<p>“Louis, you lazy fellow,” cried Reginald, good-temperedly, “you shan't +read this fine afternoon—come, join us.”</p> + +<p>“I don't play cricket, I have not learned,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“And you never will,” rejoined Reginald, “if you don't make a beginning: +I'll teach you—now put away that stupid book.”</p> + +<p><em>“Stupid!”</em> said Louis. “It's Coleridge, that mamma promised to read +to us.”</p> + +<p>“I hate poetry,” exclaimed Reginald; “I wonder how anybody can read such +stuff. Give me the book, Louis, and come along.”</p> + +<p>“No, thank you, I'd rather not.”</p> + +<p>“What a donkey you are!” said Meredith: “why don't you learn?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps my reputation may be the safer for not divulging my reasons,” +said Louis, archly: “it is sufficient for present purposes that I had +rather not.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Rather not</em>—<em>rather not</em>,” echoed Meredith: “like one of your +sensible reasons.”</p> + +<p>“He has refused to give them, so you cannot call that his reason, +Meredith,” remarked Reginald; “but let us be off, as Louis won't come.”</p> + +<p>Away they ran, and after looking at them for a minute, Louis turned +off his own way, but it was destined that he should not read the +<em>Ancient Mariner</em> that day, for he was presently interrupted by +little Alfred Hamilton, who pounced upon him full of joy.</p> + +<p>“Louis,” he cried, “I am so glad to speak to you! I don't know how +it is that I have not been able to speak to you lately: I half thought +Edward did not like it, but he asked me to-day why I did not come to +you now.”</p> + +<p>“Did he?” exclaimed Louis, with joyful surprise; “I am very glad you +are come. I think we shall have a beautiful walk.”</p> + +<p>“I can't think how it is, Louis, that everybody is either so grave or +rude when I speak of you. What is the matter?”</p> + +<p>“A mistake; and a sad one for me,” said Louis, gravely. “But don't say +any thing about it, Alfred; they think I have been doing something very +wrong; but all will come out some day.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” replied little Alfred; “I cannot think what you can have +done wrong, Louis, you always seem so good.”</p> + +<p>The child looked wistfully up in Louis' face as he spoke, and seemed +to wait some explanation.</p> + +<p>“That is because you do not know much about me, Alfred,” replied Louis; +“but in this one case I have not done wrong, I assure you.”</p> + +<p>Alfred asked no more questions, though he looked more than once in the +now sorrowful young face by him, as they sauntered along the wide downs.</p> + +<p>“Here come Edward and Mr. Trevannion,” said Alfred, turning round; +“and there is Frank Digby, and Mr. Ferrers, too. I think Edward is +going to Bristol this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>This intimation of the august approach of his majesty and court was +hardly given when the young gentlemen passed Louis. Hamilton, with +Trevannion, as usual, leaning on his arm, and Frank Digby walking +backwards before them, vainly endeavoring to support a failing +argument with a flood of nonsense, a common custom with this young +gentleman; and, by the way, we might recommend it as remarkably +convenient at such times, to prevent the pain of a total discomfiture, +it being more pleasant to slip quietly and unseen from your pedestal +to some perfectly remote topic, than to allow yourself to be hurled +roughly therefrom by the rude hand of a more sound and successful +disputant.</p> + +<p>“Enough, enough, Frank!” exclaimed Hamilton, laughing. “I see through +your flimsy veil. We won't say any more: you either argue in a circle, +or try to blind us.”</p> + +<p>Louis looked up as Hamilton passed, in hopes that that magnate might +give him a favorable glance, in which he was not mistaken, for Edward +the Great had been watching him from some distance, and was perfectly +aware of his near approach to him.</p> + +<p>He certainly did not seem displeased, though the grave countenance bore +no marks of particular satisfaction at the rencontre. He spoke carelessly +to his brother, and then, addressing Louis, said, “You must look after +him, Louis, if you wish for his company; if not, dismiss him at once.”</p> + +<p>“I do wish for him,” said Louis, with a bright look of gratitude; +“I promise to take care of him. Mr. Hamilton, I am getting up in my +class—I am fifth now.”</p> + +<p>The latter communication was made doubtfully, in a tone indicating +mixed pleasure and timidity.</p> + +<p>“I am glad to hear it,” was Hamilton's laconic reply. He did not quicken +his pace. “What have you there?” he asked, noticing his book.</p> + +<p>“Coleridge's <em>Ancient Mariner</em>; I was going to read it,” replied Louis; +“but now Alfred has come we shall talk: shall we not, Alfred?”</p> + +<p>This was accompanied by another look of grateful pleasure at Alfred's +brother.</p> + +<p>What was passing in Hamilton's mind was not to be gathered from his +countenance, which exhibited no emotion of any kind. He turned to +Trevannion, as their party was strengthened by Churchill, remarking, +“Here comes the sucking fish.”</p> + +<p>“It's <em>uncommon</em> hot,” said Churchill, taking off his hat, and fanning +himself with his handkerchief.</p> + +<p>“<em>Dreadful</em> warm,” said Frank Digby, in exactly the same tone.</p> + +<p>“And there is not a breath of wind on the horrid downs,” continued the +sapient youth, perfectly unconscious of Frank's mimicry.</p> + +<p>“What will the fair Louisa do?” cried Frank: “O that a zephyr would +have pity on that delicate form!”</p> + +<p>Across their path lay a wagon, from which the horses had been detached, +and which now offered a tempting though homely shelter to those among +the pedestrians who might choose to sit on the shady side, or to avail +themselves of the accommodation afforded by the awning over the interior. +Ferrers threw himself full length inside the cart: and Louis, drawing +Alfred to the shady side, seated himself by him on the grass. His example +was followed by Churchill, who exclaimed rapturously as he did so, “How +nice! This puts me in mind of a Latin sentence; I forget the Latin, but +I remember the English—‘Oh, 'tis pleasant to sit in the shade!’ ”</p> + +<p>“Of a wagon,” said Frank, laughing. “Remarkably romantic! It is so +sweet to hear the birds chirp, and the distant hum of human voices—but +language fails! As for Lady Louisa, she is in the Elysium of ecstasy. +It's <em>so</em> romantic.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to Bristol, Frank, for I'm off?” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Coming,” replied Frank. “We'll leave these romantic mortals to their +sequestered glen. There ain't nothing like imagination, my good sirs.”</p> + +<p>As he joined his companions, Trevannion remarked to Hamilton, “Little +Mortimer is so much the gentleman, you never know him do or say any +thing vulgar or awkward. It is a pity one can't depend upon him.”</p> + +<p>“I am not quite sure that you cannot,” replied Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“How!” said Trevannion, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Are you going to turn Paladin for her ladyship?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“I have been watching Louis very carefully, and the more I see, +the more I doubt his guilt,” replied Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“After what you saw yourself? After all that was seen by others? +Impossible, my dear Hamilton!” exclaimed Trevannion. “You cannot +exonerate him without criminating others.”</p> + +<p>“We shall see,” replied Hamilton; “and more than that, Trevannion, +I am certain that Dr. Wilkinson has his doubts now, too.”</p> + +<p>“But does Fudge know any thing about his old pranks?” asked Frank, +incredulously.</p> + +<p>“I cannot say,” replied Hamilton; “but I think that he probably does; +for what is so well known now among ourselves, is likely enough to reach +his quick ears.”</p> + +<p>“But knowing all you do, my dear Hamilton,” said Trevannion, +expostulatingly, “you must be strongly prejudiced in your protegé's +favor to admit a doubt in this case. Has Dr. Wilkinson told you that +he has any doubts?”</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Hamilton; “you know the doctor would not reveal his mind +unless he were confident, but I have noticed some little things, and am +sure that though he seems generally so indifferent to Louis' presence +and concerns, and so distant and cold towards him, he's nevertheless +watching him very narrowly; and I, for my part, expect to see things +take a new turn before long.”</p> + +<p>“The boy seems quite to have won your heart,” said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“Poor fellow,” replied Hamilton, smiling. “He is a sweet-tempered, +gentle boy; a little too anxious to be well thought of, and has, +perhaps, too little <em>moral courage</em>. I own he has interested me. +His very timidity and his numerous scrapes called forth pity in the +first instance, and then I saw more. I should not have been surprised +at his telling a lie in the first place, but I do not think he would +persist in it.”</p> + +<p>“I'm afraid wisdom's at fault,” said Frank, shaking his head: +“you would not say that Ferrers helped him?—I mean took the key +to get him into a scrape.”</p> + +<p>“I accused no one, Digby,” replied Hamilton, in a reserved tone; +“nor am I going to wrong any one by uttering unformed suspicions.”</p> + +<p>“Enough has been said,” remarked Trevannion; “let us drop the subject, +and talk of something more interesting to all parties.”</p> + +<p>While these young gentlemen pursue their walk, we will retrace our +steps to the wagon, where Louis and his little friend have taken +shelter.</p> + +<p>Churchill, finding neither seemed very much inclined to encourage his +conversational powers, took himself off, after remaining in the shade +long enough to cool himself. After his departure Louis and Alfred talked +lazily on of their own pleasant thoughts and schemes, both delighted at +being once more in each other's society. They were within sight of the +masters out on the downs, and who had forbidden them to wander beyond +certain limits, but still so far from their school-fellows as to be able +to enjoy their own private conversation unmolested, and in the feeling +of seclusion.</p> + +<p>At length, after a pause, Louis made an original remark on the beauty +of the weather, which was immediately responded to by his companion, +who added that he had not known such a fine day since Miss Wilkinson's +wedding.</p> + +<p>“Don't you think so?” said Louis; “I think we had one or two Sundays +quite as fine.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I thought that day so very fine, because I wanted to go out,” +said Alfred.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Louis: “we had a holiday then.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know, but I was not allowed to go out because I had been idle, +and had spoken improperly to Mr. Norton. I remember it was so sad. I +assure you, Louis, I cried nearly all day; for I was shut up in your +class-room, and I heard all the boys so merry outside. The very thought +makes me quite sorrowful now.”</p> + +<p>A thought flashed across Louis' mind, and he asked quickly—</p> + +<p>“Were you shut up in our class-room that holiday, Alfred? I never saw +you when I went in.”</p> + +<p>“But I saw you once,” said Alfred, “when you came in for an atlas; +and I saw Mr. Ferrers, and afterwards Edward and Mr. Salisbury and +Mr. Trevannion come in; but I was ashamed, and I did not want any +one to see me, so I hid myself between the book-case and the wall.”</p> + +<p>“Did your brother know you were there?” asked Louis.</p> + +<p>“Not <em>there</em>,” replied Alfred. “He thought I was to go into +Dr. Wilkinson's study; but I could not go there, and I didn't +want him to speak to me.”</p> + +<p>“Did Ferrers come to fetch any thing, Alfred?”</p> + +<p>Alfred laughed. “It won't be telling tales out of school to tell you, +Louis. He came for a key to the first-class exercise book.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know it was a first-class exercise book, Alfred?” +asked Louis, with a glowing face and beating heart.</p> + +<p>“I know Edward does Kenrick's Latin Exercises, and I know the key +because it's just like the book, and I have seen Mr. Ferrers with +it before. I remember once on a half-holiday he did his lessons in +the school-room at my desk, and he had it open in the desk, and as +I wanted something out. I saw it, though he did not think I did.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Alfred, Alfred!” cried Louis, clasping him very tightly. “Oh Alfred! +<em>dear</em> Alfred!”</p> + +<p>The child looked up in astonishment, but Louis was so wild with +excitement that he could not say any more.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment there was an abrupt movement in the wagon, +and Ferrers' head was put over the side.</p> + +<p>Alfred uttered an exclamation of fear. “Oh, there's Mr. Ferrers!”</p> + +<p>“What rubbish have you been talking, you little impostor?” cried Ferrers. +“How dare you talk in such a manner? I've a great mind to kick you from +Land's End to John o' Groat's house.”</p> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="452" height="541" src="images/lsd04.png" id="lsd04.png" + title="Ferrers begins to be found out." + alt="Two young boys under a tipped wagon being verbally threatened by a third boy in the wagon."> +</p> + +<h4>Ferrers begins to be found out.</h4> + +<p>“Ferrers, you know it's all true,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>Ferrers' face was white with passion and anxiety. “Get along with +you, Alfred, you'd better not let me hear any more of your lies, I +can tell you.”</p> + +<p>“If you had not been listening you would not have heard,” replied Alfred, +taking care to stand out of Ferrers' reach. “Listeners never hear any +good of themselves, Mr. Ferrers: you know it's all true, and if I'd +told Edward, you wouldn't have liked it.”</p> + +<p>“Alfred dear, don't say so much,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>Alfred here set off running, as Ferrers had dismounted in a very +threatening attitude, but instead of giving chase to the daring +fugitive, the conscience-stricken youth drew near Louis, who was +standing in a state of such delight that he must be excused a little +if no thought of his school-fellow's disgrace marred it at present. +A glance at the changed and terror-stricken countenance of that +school-fellow checked the exuberance of Louis' joy, for he was too +sympathizing not to feel for him, and he said in a gentle tone,</p> + +<p>“I am very sorry for you, Ferrers,—you have heard all that Alfred +has said.”</p> + +<p>“Louis Mortimer!” exclaimed Ferrers, in agony; and Louis was half +alarmed by the wild despair of his manner, and the vehemence with +which he seized his arm. “Louis Mortimer—it is all true—but what +shall I do?”</p> + +<p>Louis was so startled that he could not answer at first: at last +he replied,</p> + +<p>“Go and tell the doctor yourself—that will be much the best way.”</p> + +<p>“Listen to me a moment—just listen a moment—as soon as Dr. Wilkinson +knows it, I shall be expelled, and I shall be ruined for life. What I +have suffered, Louis! Oh—you see how it was; I dared not tell about +it—how can I hope you can forgive me?”</p> + +<p>“I think you must have seen that I forgave you long ago,” replied +Louis; “I wish I could do any thing for you, Ferrers, but you cannot +expect me to bear the blame of this any longer. I think if you tell +it to the doctor yourself, he will, perhaps, overlook it, and I will +beg for you.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Louis!” said Ferrers, seizing the passive hand, and speaking more +vehemently; “you heard what the doctor said, and he will do it—and +for one fault to lose all my prospects in life! I shall leave at the +holidays, and then I will tell Dr. Wilkinson; will you—can you—to +save a fellow from such disgrace, spare me a little longer? There are +only four weeks—oh, Louis! I shall be eternally obliged—but if you +could tell—I have a father—just think how yours would feel. Louis, +will you, can you do this very great favor for me? I don't deserve any +mercy from you, I know; but you are better than I am.”</p> + +<p>All the bright visions of acknowledged innocence fled, and a blank +seemed to come over poor Louis' soul. The sacrifice seemed far too +great, and he felt as if he were not called to make it; and yet—a +glance at Ferrers' face—his distress, but not his meanness, struck +him. A minute before, he had indulged in bright dreams of more than +restoration to favor—of his brother's delight—of his father's and +mother's approbation—of his grandfather's satisfaction—and Hamilton's +friendly congratulations. And to give up this! it was surely too much +to expect.</p> + +<p>During his silence, Ferrers kept squeezing, and even kissing, his now +cold hand, and repeating,</p> + +<p>“Dear Louis—be merciful—will you pity me?—think of all—I don't +deserve it, I know.” And though the meanness and cowardliness were +apparent, Louis looked at little else than the extreme agony of the +suppliant.</p> + +<p>“Don't kiss my hand, Ferrers—I can't bear it,” he said at length, +drawing his hand quickly away; and there was something akin to disgust +mingled with the sorrowful look he gave to his companion.</p> + +<p>“But Louis, will you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh Ferrers! it is a hard thing to ask of me,” said Louis, bitterly.</p> + +<p>“Just for a little longer,” implored Ferrers, “to save me from a +lasting disgrace.”</p> + +<p>Louis turned his head away—it was a hard, hard struggle: “I will +try to bear it if God will help me,” he said; “I will not mention +it at present.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! how can I thank you! how can I! how shall I ever be able!” +cried Ferrers: “but will Alfred tell?”</p> + +<p>“He does not know,” replied Louis, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>“But will he not mention what has passed?”</p> + +<p>“I will warn him then,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>Ferrers then in broken sentences renewed his thanks, and Louis, after +hearing a few in silence, as if he heard nothing, turned his full moist +eyes on him with a sorrowful beseeching look,</p> + +<p>“You have done a very wicked thing, Ferrers. Oh do pray to God to +forgive you.”</p> + +<p>“I will try to do any thing you wish,” replied Ferrers.</p> + +<p>“A prayer because <em>I</em> wished, could do you no good. You must feel you +have sinned against God. Do try to think of this. If it should make +you do so, I <em>think</em> I could cheerfully bear this disgrace a little +longer for you, though what it is to bear I cannot tell you.”</p> + +<p>“You are almost an angel, Louis!” exclaimed Ferrers.</p> + +<p>“Oh don't say such things to me, Ferrers,” said Louis, “pray don't. +I am not more so than I was before this—I am but a sinful creature +like yourself, and it is the remembrance of this that makes me pity +you. Now do leave me alone; I cannot bear to hear you flatter me now.”</p> + +<p>Ferrers lingered yet, though Louis moved from him with a shuddering +abhorrence of the fawning, creeping manner of his school-fellow. Seeing +that Ferrers still loitered near him, he asked if there were any thing +more to say.</p> + +<p>“Will your brother know this?”</p> + +<p>“Reginald?” replied Louis. “Of course—no—<em>I</em> shall not tell him.”</p> + +<p>“A thousand thousand times I thank you,—oh Louis, Louis, you are +too good!”</p> + +<p>“Will you be kind enough to let me alone,” said Louis gently, +but very decidedly.</p> + +<p>This time the request was complied with, and Louis resumed his former +seat, and fixing his eyes vacantly on the sweet prospect before him, +ruminated with a full heart on the recent discovery; and, strange to +say, though he had voluntarily promised to screen Ferrers a little +longer from his justly merited disgrace, he felt as if it had been +only a compulsory sense of duty and not benevolence which had led him +to do so, and was inclined to murmur at his hard lot. For some time he +sat in a kind of sullen apathy, without being able to send up a prayer, +even though he felt he needed help to feel rightly. At length the kindly +tears burst forth, and covering his face with his hands he wept softly. +“I am very wrong—very ungrateful to God for His love to me. He has borne +so much for me, and I am so unwilling to bear a little for poor Ferrers. +Oh what sinful feelings I have! My heavenly Father, teach me to feel pity +for him, for he has no one to help him; help him, teach him, Thyself.”</p> + +<p>Such, and many more, were the deep heart-breathings of the dear boy, +and who ever sought for guidance and grace, and was rejected? and how +unspeakably comfortable is the assurance, that for each of us there is +with Christ the very grace we need.</p> + +<p>The sullen fit was gone, and Louis was his own happy self again, when +little Alfred came to tell him that Mr. Witworth had given the order to +return home,—“And I came to tell you, dear Louis, for I wanted to walk +home with you. What a beast that Ferrers is! see if I won't tell Edward +of him.”</p> + +<p>“Hush, Alfred!” said Louis, putting his finger on the little boy's mouth. +“Do you know that God is very angry when we call each other bad names, +and surely you do not wish to revenge yourself? I will tell you a very +sweet verse which our Saviour said: <em>‘Love your enemies, bless them that +curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you, +that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven.’</em> ” As the +little monitor spoke, the soft consciousness of the comfort of those +sweet words rushed over his own mind, <em>“children of your Father who is +in heaven.”</em></p> + +<p>“And am I a child—His child indeed! I will try to glorify my Saviour +who has given me that great name.”</p> + +<p>That is a sure promise that “they who water shall be watered,” and +who is there that has endeavored to lead another heavenward, that has +not felt, at one time or another, a double share of that living water +refreshing his own soul?</p> + +<p>With one arm round his little friend's neck, Louis wandered home, +and, during the walk, easily persuaded Alfred not to say a word of +what had passed; and as for Louis—oh, his eye was brighter, his +step more buoyant, his heart full of gladness!</p> + +<p>A little word, and I will close this long chapter. It is good for us +to consider how unable we are to think and to do rightly ourselves: +we must do so if we would be saved by Christ. When we have done all, +we are unprofitable servants; but oh, how gracious—how incomprehensible +is that love that puts into our minds good desires, brings the same to +good effect, and rewards us for those things which He Himself has enabled +us to do!</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_VIII">Chapter VIII.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub;"> +“Charity suffereth long, and is kind.”—1 <em>Cor.</em> xiii. 4. +</p> + + +<p>Louis entered the class-room sooner than usual one evening, and +sitting down by his brother, spread before him a few strawberries +and some sweet-cakes, inviting him and one of Salisbury's brothers +who was on the other side of him to partake of them.</p> + +<p>“What beauties they are!” exclaimed John Salisbury; “have you had a box, +Louis? How <em>did</em> you get them?”</p> + +<p>“Guess,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Nay, I can't guess. Strawberries like these don't come at this time +of the year in boxes.”</p> + +<p>“I guess,” said Frank Digby from the opposite side of the table, +in a tone as if he had been speaking to some one behind him. +“Fudge has a dinner party to-night, hasn't he?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Louis, laughing; “how did you know that?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I have the little green bird that tells every thing,” replied Frank.</p> + +<p>“What's that, Frank?” cried Salisbury; “Fudge a dinner party? How snug +he's kept it!”</p> + +<p>“Why you don't suppose that he's obliged to inform us all when he has +some idea of doing the genteel,” remarked one of the first class.</p> + +<p>“Are Hamilton and Trevannion invited?” asked Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“In good troth! thou art a bat of the most blind species,” said Frank; +“didn't you see them both just now in all their best toggery? Trevannion +went up to his room just after school, and has, I believe, at last +adorned his beauteous person to his mind—all graces and delicious +odors.—Faugh! he puts me in mind of a hair-dresser's shop.”</p> + +<p>“He declares that his new perfumes are something expressly superior,” +said another. “<em>He</em> wouldn't touch your vulgar scents.”</p> + +<p>“His <em>millefleurs</em> is at all events uncommonly like a muskrat,” +said Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“And,” remarked Frank, “as that erudite youth, Oars, would say, +‘puts me in mind of some poet, but I've forgotten his name.’ However, +two lines borrowed from him, which my sister quotes to me when I am +genteel, will do as well as his name:</p> + +<p class="poem1">“ ‘I cannot talk with civet in the room—</p> +<p class="poem2">A fine puss gentleman, that's all perfume.’ ”</p> + +<p>Reginald laughed. “I often think of the overrun flower-pots in the +cottages at Dashwood, when Trevannion has been adorning himself. +I once mortally offended him by the same quotation.”</p> + +<p>“Had you the amazing audacity! the intolerable presumption!” cried +Frank, pretending to start. “I perceive his magnificent scorn didn't +quite annihilate you; I think, though, he was three hours embellishing +himself to-night.”</p> + +<p>“Frank, that's impossible!” cried Louis, laughing, “for it was four +o'clock when he went, and it's only half-past six now.”</p> + +<p>“Cease your speech, and eat your booty: I dare say it is sweet enough; +sweetness is the usual concomitant of goods so obtained.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, Frank?” asked Louis.</p> + +<p>“Sweet little innocent; of course he don't know—no, in course he +don't—how should he? they came into his hand by accident,” said Frank, +mockingly; “I wish such fortunate accidents would happen to me.”</p> + +<p>“They were given to me, Frank,” said Louis, quietly. “Mrs. Wilkinson +gave them to me when she told me I must not stay in the study.”</p> + +<p>“What a kind person Mrs. Wilkinson is!—oh! Louis, Louis, <em>Tanta est +depravitas humani generis</em>!”</p> + +<p>“<span class="sc">Frank</span>!” shouted Reginald, “at your peril!”</p> + +<p>“Well, my dear—what, is my life in peril from you again? I must take +care then.”</p> + +<p>“Come, Frank, have done,” cried one of his class-fellows, “can't you +leave Louis Mortimer alone—it doesn't signify to you.”</p> + +<p>“I only meant to admonish him by a gentle hint, that he must not presume +to contradict gentlemen whose honor and veracity may at least be on a +par with his own.”</p> + +<p>“Frank,” said Louis, “I cannot think how you can suppose me guilty of +such meanness.”</p> + +<p>“The least said, the soonest mended,” remarked Salisbury. “We must have +large powers of credence where you are concerned. Clear off your old +scores, and then we will begin a new one with you.”</p> + +<p>Reginald started to his feet. “You shall rue this, Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>“Two can play at your game,” rejoined Salisbury, rising.</p> + +<p>Reginald was springing forward, but was checked by Louis, who threw +himself on him. “Do not fight, dear Reginald—do not, pray.”</p> + +<p>“I will—unhand me, Louis! I tell you I <span class="sc">will</span>—let me go.”</p> + +<p>“Dear Reginald, not for me—wait a minute.”</p> + +<p>At this moment the form behind them fell with a heavy bang, and in +struggling to release himself, Reginald fell over it, dragging Louis +with him. Louis was a little hurt, but he did not let go his hold. +“Reginald,” he said, “ask Mrs. Wilkinson to say so herself; they will +believe her, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>The fall had a little checked his rage, and Reginald sat brooding in +sullen anger on the ground. At last he started up and left the room, +saying to Louis, “It's all your fault, then—you've no spirit, and +you don't want me to have any.”</p> + +<p>Louis mechanically assisted in raising the form, and stood silently +by the table. He looked quickly round, and pushing the little share +of his untasted fruit from him, went into the school-room. He did not +recover his spirits again that evening, even when Reginald apologized +to him for his roughness, pleading in excuse the extreme trouble it +gave him to prevent himself from fighting with Salisbury.</p> + +<p>As they went up stairs that night, in spite of the cautions given +by the usher to be quiet, a sham scuffle ensued on purpose between +Salisbury and Frank Digby, during which the former let his candle +fall over the bannisters, and they were left in darkness; though, +happily for the comfort of the doctor's dinner party, the second +hall and back staircase arrangement effectually prevented the noise +that ensued from reaching the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>“Halloa there—you fellows! Mortimer, ahoa!” cried one of Salisbury's +party; “bring your light.”</p> + +<p>“You may come and fetch it if you want it,” shouted Reginald from +his room.</p> + +<p>“We're in the dark,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“So much the better,” said Reginald: “perhaps you will behave a little +better now; if you want a light you may come and light your candle here.”</p> + +<p>“Our candle's on the hall floor,” said another voice, amidst suppressed +laughter.</p> + +<p>“Pick it up, then.”</p> + +<p>“We're desperately afraid of hobgoblins,” cried Frank, rushing into his +room and blowing their candle out.</p> + +<p>“What did you do that for, Frank?” asked several indignant voices.</p> + +<p>“Because Salisbury and his myrmidons were coming to carry it off by a +<em>coup de main</em>—he-he-he—” giggled Frank.</p> + +<p>“And so you've given your own head a blow to punish your tooth! well +done,” exclaimed another voice at the door.</p> + +<p>“Peters, is that you?”</p> + +<p>“What's to be done now?”</p> + +<p>“How shall we get a light?”</p> + +<p>“If you will give me the candle I will get one,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the extinguished candle was delivered into his hands, and +he felt his way to the kitchen door, where he obtained a light, and then, +picking up the fallen candle, tried to arrange its shattered form, and +replace it. While thus employed, Ferrers joined him, and offered his aid, +and on Louis' accepting it, said in a low tone,—</p> + +<p>“Louis, I am a wretch, I am so very miserable. I can't think how you +can bear so much from one who has never done you any thing but harm.”</p> + +<p>Louis raised his head from his work in astonishment, and saw that +Ferrers looked as he said, very miserable, and was deadly pale.</p> + +<p>“I do so despise myself—to see you bearing all so sweetly, Louis. I +should have been different, perhaps, if I had known you before—I love, +I admire you, as much as I hate myself.”</p> + +<p>“Are you coming with the candle there?” cried a voice from above: +“Louis Mortimer and William Ferrers in deep confabulation—wonders +will never cease.”</p> + +<p>Ferrers jumped up and ran up stairs with his candle, and Louis followed +more leisurely to his own room, nor could any thing induce him that +night to tell a story. How long and earnest was his prayer for one +who had injured him so cruelly, but towards whom he now, instead of +resentment, felt only pity and interest!</p> + +<p>Ferrers, after tossing from side to side, and trying all schemes for +several hours, in vain, to drown his remorse in sleep, at last, at +daybreak, sank into an uneasy slumber. The image of Louis, and his +mute expression of patient sorrow that evening, haunted him, and he +felt an indefinable longing to be like him, and a horror of himself +in comparison with him. He remembered Louis' words, “Pray to God;” +and one murmured petition was whispered in the stillness of the night, +“Lord have mercy on a great sinner.”</p> + +<p>Since his disgrace, Louis generally had his brother for a companion +during their walks; but the next morning Ferrers joined him, and asked +Louis to walk with him to the downs. They were both naturally silent +for the beginning of the walk; but on Louis making some remark, Ferrers +said, “I can't think of any thing just now, Louis; I have done every +thing wrong to-day. My only satisfaction is in telling you how much +I feel your goodness. I can't think how you can endure me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Ferrers!” said Louis, “what am I that I should not bear you? and +if you are really sorry, and wish to be better, I think I may some day +love you.”</p> + +<p>“<em>That</em> you can never do, Louis,—you must hate and despise me.”</p> + +<p>“No, I do not,” said Louis, kindly; “I am very sorry for you.”</p> + +<p>“You must have felt very angry.”</p> + +<p>“I did feel very unkind and shocked at first,” replied Louis; “but by +God's grace I learned afterwards to feel very differently, and you can't +think how often I have pitied you since.”</p> + +<p>“Pitied <em>me</em>!” said Ferrers.</p> + +<p>“Oh yes,” replied Louis, sweetly; “because I am sure you must have been +very unhappy with the knowledge of sin in your heart—I don't think there +is any thing so hard as remorse to bear.”</p> + +<p>“I did not feel much sorrow till you were so kind to me,” said Ferrers. +“What a wretch you must think me!”</p> + +<p>“I have sinned too greatly myself to judge very hardly of you; and +when I think of all the love shown to me, I feel anxious to show some +love to others; and I should be afraid, if I thought too hardly of you, +I should soon be left to find out what I am.”</p> + +<p>Ferrers did not reply; he did not understand the motives which +induced Louis' forbearance and gentleness, for he was an entire +stranger to religion, and never having met with any one resembling +Louis, could not comprehend, though he did not fail to admire, his +character, now its beauty was so conspicuously before him. He felt +there was an immeasurable distance between them—for the first +time he found himself wanting. Mentally putting himself in Louis' +place, he acknowledged that no persuasion could have induced him +to act so generously and disinterestedly; and knowing the keen +sensitiveness of Louis to disgrace, he wondered how one so alive +to the opinion of others, and naturally so yielding and wavering, +could steadily and uncomplainingly persevere in his benevolent +purpose; for not by word or sign did Louis even hint the truth +to Reginald—the usual depository of his cares and secrets.</p> + +<p>Louis, imagining the silence of his companion to proceed from shame +and distress, proceeded after a few minutes to reassure him.</p> + +<p>“You must not think that I am miserable, Ferrers, for lately I have +been much happier than even when I was in favor, for now I do not care +so much what the boys will think or say of me, and that thought was +always coming in the way of every thing; and there are many things +which make me very happy, often.”</p> + +<p>“What things, Louis?”</p> + +<p>“I do not think you would understand me,” replied Louis, timidly; +“the things and thoughts that make me happy are so different from +what we hear generally here.”</p> + +<p>“But tell me, Louis. I want to know how it is you are so much better +than any one else here. I want to be better myself.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear Ferrers,” said Louis, gazing earnestly in Ferrers' face, +“if you <em>do</em> want to be better, come to our Saviour, and He will +make you all you want to be. It is the feeling of His goodness, +and the happy hope of being God's children, and having all their +sins forgiven, that make all God's people so happy; and you may have +this happiness too, if you will. I do not think we think enough of our +great name of Christian.”</p> + +<p>“You read your Bible a great deal, Louis, don't you?”</p> + +<p>“Not so much as I ought,” replied Louis, blushing, “but I love it +very much.”</p> + +<p>“It always seems to me such a dull book, I am always very glad when +our daily reading's over.”</p> + +<p>“I remember when I thought something in the same way,” said Louis: +“only mamma used always to explain things so pleasantly, that even +then I used to like to hear her read it to us. Papa once said to me +that the Bible is like a garden of flowers, through which a careless +person may walk, and notice nothing, but that one who is really anxious +to find flowers or herbs to cure his disease, will look carefully till +he finds what he wants, and that some happy and eager seekers will find +pleasure in all.”</p> + +<p>“Louis, you are very happy,” said Ferrers, “though very strange. +I would give a world, were it mine, to lay this heavy burden of mine +down somewhere, and be as light in disgrace as you are.”</p> + +<p>Ferrers sighed deeply, and Louis said softly, “ ‘Come unto Him all ye +that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. His yoke is easy and +His burden is light.’ ”</p> + +<p>Here they parted. The last whispers of the Saviour's gracious invitation, +those “comfortable words,” lingered in Ferrers' ears as he entered the +house, and returned at night; but he did not throw himself and his burden +at the Saviour's feet. And what hindered him? It was pride, pride—though +forced to feel himself a sinner, pride still retained its hold, more +feebly than before, but still as a giant.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_IX">Chapter IX.</p> + + +<p>The holidays were fast approaching. Ten days of the three weeks' +examination had passed, and every energy was exerted, and every +feeling of emulation called out, among those who had any hope of +obtaining the honors held out to the successful candidates. It was +surprising to see what could be, and what was, done. Even idle boys +who had let their fair amount of talent lie dormant during the half +year, now came forth, and, straining every nerve, were seen late and +early at work which should have been gradually mastered during the +last five months; denying themselves both recreation and sleep, with +an energy, which, had it been earlier exerted in only half the degree, +would have been highly laudable. Some of the latter, who possessed +great talent, were successful, but generally the prizes fell to the +lot of those who had throughout been uniformly steady, and who had +gained an amount of thorough information which the eager study of a +few weeks could not attain. Now there were beating hearts and anxious +faces, and noisy summing up of the day's successes or losses, when the +daily close of school proclaimed a truce to the emulous combatants. +A few there were who appeared totally indifferent as to the issue of +the contest, and who hailed the term of examination as entailing no set +tasks to be said the ensuing day under certain penalties, and, revelling +in extended play-hours, cared nothing for disgrace, having no character +to lose.</p> + +<p>Reginald bid fair to carry off all, or nearly all, the second-class +honors; still, there were in his class several whose determined +efforts and talents gave him considerable work in winning the battle.</p> + +<p>Amongst all this spirited warfare, it is not to be supposed +that Louis was tranquil; for, though naturally of an indolent +temperament, there was in him a fund of latent emulation, which +only wanted a stimulus such as the present to rouse him to action. +Louis was a boy of no mean ability, and now, fired with the hope of +distinguishing himself, and gaining a little honor that might efface +the remembrance of past idleness, and give some pleasure to his dear +parents, he applied himself so diligently and unremittingly to his +studies during the last month, as to astonish his masters.</p> + +<p>I do not mean to particularize the subjects for examination given by +Dr. Wilkinson to the two upper classes, for this simple reason, that +my classical and mathematical ignorance might cause mistakes more +amusing to the erudite reader than pleasant to the author. It shall +be sufficient to say, that whatever these subjects had been, the day's +examination had gone through in a manner equally creditable to masters +and pupils; and after a few turns in the fresh air when tea was over, +a knot, comprising the greater part of the above-mentioned classes, +assembled round their head man to congratulate him on his undoubted +successes, and to talk over the events of the day elsewhere. Reginald +and Louis could spare little time for talking, and were walking up and +down the playground, questioning and answering each other with the most +untiring diligence, though both of them had been up since four o'clock +that morning. There were a few who had risen still earlier, and who now +lay fast asleep on forms in the school-room, or endeavored to keep their +eyes open by following the example of our hero and his brother.</p> + +<p>“John's fast asleep,” said Salisbury, laughing; “he has a capital way +of gaining time—by getting up at half-past three, and falling asleep +at seven.”</p> + +<p>“How does he stand for the prizes?” asked Smith.</p> + +<p>“I'm sure I can't tell you; I suppose Mortimer's sure of the first +classics and history—and he ought, for he's coming to us next half. +John's next to him.”</p> + +<p>“I hear little Mortimer's winning laurels,” remarked Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“Oh! for <em>him</em>,” said Harris, a second-class boy, “because he's +been such a dunce before;—I suspect Ferrers helps him.”</p> + +<p>“Ferrers!” cried all at once, and there was a laugh—“Do you hear, +Ferrers?”</p> + +<p>“Of course I do,” replied Ferrers.</p> + +<p>“He's not good-natured enough,” remarked another.</p> + +<p>“He needs no help,” said Ferrers.</p> + +<p>“You're sure of the mathematical prize, Ferrers; and Hamilton, +of course, gets that for Latin composition.”</p> + +<p>Ferrers did not reply—his thoughts had flown to Louis, from whom they +were now seldom absent; and, though he had been generally successful, +yet the settled gloom and anxiety of his manner led many to suppose +that he entertained fears for the issue of his examination. There were +others who imagined that there was some deeper cause of anxiety preying +on his mind, or that he was suffering from illness and fatigue—and one +or two made mysterious remarks on his intimacy with Louis, and wondered +what all foreboded.</p> + +<p>“I wonder who'll get the medal,” said one.</p> + +<p>“Hamilton, of course,” replied Smith.</p> + +<p>“You're out there,” said Frank Digby. “My magic has discovered that +either the Lady Louisa or myself will obtain it. I admire your +selfishness, young gentlemen—you assign to yourselves every thing, +and leave us out of the question. If I can't be a genius, I mean to +be a good boy.”</p> + +<p>Many bitter remarks were then made on Louis' late good behavior, and a +few upon his manner towards Ferrers, which, by some, was styled meanness +of the highest degree.</p> + +<p>Ferrers could not endure it—he left the circle and walked about the +playground alone, full of remorse, thinking over every plan he had +formed for making amends to Louis for all. He looked up once or twice +with a gasping effort, and, oh! in the wrinkled and contracted forehead +what trouble might be read. “Oh! that it were a dream,” he at last +uttered, “that I could wake and find it a warning.”</p> + +<p>There was a soft, warm hand in his, and Louis' gentle voice replied, +“Do not grieve now about me, Ferrers, it will soon be over.”</p> + +<p>Ferrers started and drew his hand away.</p> + +<p>“You are not angry with me, are you?” said Louis; “I saw you alone, +and I was afraid you wanted comfort—I did not like to come before, +for fear the boys should make remarks, Reginald especially.”</p> + +<p>Ferrers looked at Louis a minute without speaking, and then, pushing +him off, walked quickly to the house, and did not show himself any more +that evening.</p> + +<hr class="exsmall"> + +<p>Breakfast had long been finished, and the school was once more +assembled; the second class was waiting impatiently on the raised +end of the school-room for the doctor's entrance, or for a summons +to his presence; and near, at their several desks, busily writing +answers to a number of printed questions, sat the first class. It +was nearly an hour past the time, and impatient eyes were directed +to the clock over the folding-doors, which steadily marked the +flying minutes.</p> + +<p>“Where can the doctor be?” had been asked many times already, +but no one could answer.</p> + +<p>“We shall have no time—we shall not get done before night,” +muttered several malcontents. “What can keep the doctor?”</p> + +<p>At this moment the folding-doors were quickly flung open, and +Dr. Wilkinson entered, and rapidly made his way towards the upper +end of the school-room, but in such a state of unwonted agitation +that the boys were by common consent hushed into silence, and every +occupation was suspended to watch their master's movements. “How +strange he looks!” whispered one; “something's the matter.” +Dr. Wilkinson took no notice of the open eyes and mouths of his +awe-struck pupils—all his aim seemed to be to reach his seat with +the greatest speed.</p> + +<p>“What's the row?” muttered Salisbury, in an under-tone to Hamilton, +having some idea that the latter could afford a clue to the clearing +up of the mystery. “Do you know of any thing, Hamilton?” Hamilton +shook his head, and fairly stood up to see what was going on.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson at length reached his place, and there stood a few +minutes to collect himself. He then looked around, and asked, in a +quick, low tone, for Louis Mortimer. Louis was almost behind him, +and in some terror presented himself; though he was unconscious of +any misdemeanor, he did not know what new suspicion might have attached +to him. His gentle “Here, sir,” was distinctly heard in every part of +the large room, in the breathless silence which now ruled. Dr. Wilkinson +looked on him, but there was no anger in his gaze—his eyes glistened, +and though there might be indignation mixed with the many emotions +struggling for expression in his countenance, Louis felt, as he raised +his timid eyes, that there was nothing now to fear. The doctor seemed +incapable of speaking; after one or two vain efforts he placed both +hands on Louis' head, and uttered a deep “God bless you!”</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to describe the flood of rapture which this +action poured upon poor Louis. The endurance of the last few weeks was +amply repaid by the consciousness that somehow—and he did not consider +how—his innocence was established, and now, in the presence of his +school-fellows, publicly acknowledged.</p> + +<p>For another minute Dr. Wilkinson stood with both hands resting on the +head of his gentle pupil, then, removing one, he placed it under Louis' +chin, and turned the glowing face up to himself and smiled—such a smile +none remembered ever to have seen on that stern face.</p> + +<p>“Have you found all out, sir?” cried Reginald, starting forward.</p> + +<p>The doctor's hand motioned him back, and turning Louis round, so as +to face the school, he said in a distinct, yet excited manner,</p> + +<p>“Young gentlemen, we have been doing a wrong unconsciously, and I, +as one of the first, am anxious to make to the subject of it the only +reparation in my power, by declaring to you all that Louis Mortimer +is entirely innocent of the offence with which he was charged; and +I am sure I may say in the name of you all, as well as of myself, +that we are very sorry that he should have suffered so much on +account of it.”</p> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="467" height="554" src="images/lsd05.png" id="lsd05.png" + title="Dr. Wilkinson proclaims Louis innocent." + alt="A teacher with hand on a boy's head standing in front of a class."> +</p> + +<h4>Dr. Wilkinson proclaims Louis innocent.</h4> + +<p>There was a hum all around, and many of the lower school who knew +nothing of the matter, began whispering among themselves. But all +was hushed directly the doctor resumed his speech.</p> + +<p>“There are some among you who are not aware, I believe, to what I allude; +but those who do know, can bear testimony to the gentle endurance of +false accusation that Louis Mortimer has exhibited during the whole time +he has been made to suffer so severely for the fault of another. I cannot +express my admiration of his conduct—conduct which I am sure has had +for its foundation the fear and love of God. Stay, gentlemen,” said +the doctor, stilling with a motion of his hand the rising murmur of +approbation, “all is not yet told. This patient endurance might be +lauded as an unusual occurrence, were there nothing more—but there +is more. Louis Mortimer might have produced proofs of his innocence +and cleared himself in the eyes of us all.”</p> + +<p>“Louis!” exclaimed Reginald, involuntarily.</p> + +<p>Louis' head was down as far as his master's hand would allow it, and deep +crimson blushes passed quickly over the nearly tearful face—and now the +remembrance of Ferrers, poor Ferrers, who had surely told all. Louis felt +very sorry for him, and almost ashamed on his own account. He wished he +could get behind his master, but that was impossible, and he stood still, +as the doctor continued, “Three weeks ago Louis discovered that a little +boy was in the study on the day when Kenrick's Key was abstracted, who +could, of course, bring the desired information—the information which +would have righted him in all our eyes; but mark—you who are ready to +revenge injuries—because this would have involved the expulsion of one +who had deeply injured him, he has never, by sign or word, made known to +any one the existence of such information, persuading the little boy also +to keep the secret; and this, which from him I should never have learned, +I have just heard from the guilty person, who, unable to bear the remorse +of his own mind, has voluntarily confessed his sin and Louis' estimable +conduct. Young gentlemen, I would say to all of you, ‘<span class="sc">Go and do likewise</span>.’ ”</p> + +<p>During this speech, Reginald had hardly been able to control himself, +especially when he found that Louis had never mentioned his knowledge +to himself; and now he sprang forward, unchecked by the doctor, and, +seizing his brother, who was immediately released, asked, “Why did you +not tell me, Louis? How was it I never guessed?”</p> + +<p>While he spoke, there was a buz of inquiry at the lower end of the +school, and those who knew the story crowded eagerly up to the dais +to speak to Louis. Alfred's voice was very distinct, for he had worked +himself up to his brother:</p> + +<p>“Edward, tell me all about it. I'm sure if I'd known I'd have told. +I didn't know why Louis was so joyful.”</p> + +<p>Edward could answer nothing: his heart was as full as the doctor's, and +with almost overflowing eyes and a trembling step, he pushed his way to +Louis, who had thrown himself on Reginald and was sobbing violently.</p> + +<p>“Louis, I'm very sorry,” said one. “Louis, you'll forgive me—I'm sure +I beg pardon,” said other voices; and others added, “How good you are!—I +shouldn't have done it.”</p> + +<p>Louis raised his head from that dear shoulder, so often the place where +it had rested in his troubles, and said, amidst his sobs,</p> + +<p>“Oh! don't praise me. I was very unwilling to do it.”</p> + +<p>“Let him alone,” said the doctor. “Reginald, take him up stairs. +Gentlemen, I can do nothing more, nor you neither, I think, to-day. +I shall give you a holiday for the remainder of it.”</p> + +<p>There was a lull in the noise as Dr. Wilkinson spoke, but just as Louis +was going out, there arose a deafening cheer, three times repeated, and +then the boys picked up their books and hurried out of doors.</p> + +<p>Louis' heart was full of gratitude, but at the same time it was +sobered by the recollection of what Ferrers must now suffer, and the +doubt he felt respecting his fate; and as soon as he had recovered +himself, he sought the doctor to beg pardon for him.</p> + +<p>“As he has voluntarily confessed his fault, I shall not expel him,” +replied the doctor; “but I intend that he shall beg your pardon before +the school.”</p> + +<p>Louis, however, pleaded so earnestly that he had already suffered enough, +and begged as a favor that nothing more might be said, that at length +Dr. Wilkinson gave way.</p> + +<p>The sensation that this event had caused in the school was very great: +those who had been loudest in condemning Louis, were now the loudest in +his praise, and most anxious to load him with every honor; and when he +made his appearance among them with Reginald, whose manly face beamed +with satisfaction and brotherly pride, he was seized by a party, and +against his will, chaired round the playground, everywhere greeted by +loud cheers, with now and then “A groan for Ferrers!”</p> + +<p>“Louis, my man, you look sorrowful,” said Hamilton, as he was landed +at last on the threshold of the school-room door.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” said Salisbury, who had been foremost in the rioting; +“cheer up, Louis—what's the matter?”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid,” said Louis, turning away.</p> + +<p>“Afraid! of what old boy?” said Salisbury. “Come, out with it.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid you will make me think too much of what ought not to be +thought of at all—you are all very kind, but—”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed Salisbury; “we're all so vexed that we have been +such bears, and we want to make it up.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure I do not think any thing about it now,” said Louis, holding +out both his hands and shaking all by turns; “I am very happy. Will you +let me ask one thing of you?”</p> + +<p>“A hundred,” was the reply; “and we'll fly on Mercury's pennons to do +your bidding.”</p> + +<p>“Put a girdle round the earth in forty minutes,” said Frank Digby.</p> + +<p>“When poor Ferrers comes among us, for my sake, do not take any notice +of what has happened.”</p> + +<p>There was a dark cloud on the faces before Louis, and Hamilton's lip +trembled with scorn. No reply was made.</p> + +<p>“I am the only one who has any thing to forgive; please promise me to +leave him alone.”</p> + +<p>“Then,” said Salisbury, abruptly, “whenever he comes in, I walk out, +for I can't sit in the same room and be civil.</p> + +<p>“I shan't be particularly inclined to favor him with my discourse,” +said Frank; “so I promise to leave him alone.”</p> + +<p>“Will you try to be the same as you were before? Do!” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“That's impossible!” they all cried; “we <em>cannot</em>, Louis.”</p> + +<p>“If you only knew how unhappy he has been, you would pity him very much,” +said Louis, sorrowfully. “He has been so very sad—and do not talk of +this to other people, please. I should be so much more happy if you +would try to be the same to him.”</p> + +<p>“All we can promise, is not to notice it, Louis,” said Hamilton; +“and now, don't be sad any longer.”</p> + +<p>Yet Louis was sad and anxious; though now and then a thought that all +was clear, darted like a sunbeam across his mind, and called forth a +grateful emotion. He longed for the holidays to come,—the favor he was +in was almost painful.</p> + +<p>Ferrers was invisible till the next evening, when he joined his +class-fellows at prayers. In spite of the half-promise Louis had +obtained from them, a studied unconsciousness of his presence, and +a chilling coldness, greeted him. Louis alone stood by him, and looked +in the deadly white countenance by him with heartfelt sympathy and +compassion; and glanced at several of his companions to remind them +of his wish. Ferrers seemed hardly the same; the proud, bullying air of +arrogance had given place to a saddened, subdued despair; and yet his +expression was far more pleasing in its humility than the natural one.</p> + +<p>One or two, noticing Louis' anxiety, addressed him civilly, and even +wished him “Good-night!” which he did not return by more than an +inclination of the head. He expected no pity, and had nerved himself +to bear the scorn he had brought on himself; but any attention was a +matter of surprise to him.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_X">Chapter X.</p> + + +<p>Wearily and joylessly had the last week of the examination passed away +for Ferrers; although in one branch he had borne away the palm from all +competitors. His confession had, in some measure, atoned for his great +fault, in the eyes of his judicious master; for, however much it called +for the severest reprehension, the fact of the mind not being hardened +to all sense of shame and right feeling, made the doctor anxious to +improve his better feelings; and, instead of driving them all away by +ill-timed severity, considering how lamentably the early training of +Ferrers had been neglected, he endeavored, after the first emotion +of indignation had passed away, to rouse the fallen youth to a +sense of honor and Christian responsibility; and sought to excite, +as far as he was able, some feeling of compassion for him among his +school-fellows.</p> + +<p>There were, however, few among them who had learned the Christian +duty of bearing one another's burdens; few among them, who, because +circumstances over which they had had no control, had placed them out +of the temptations that had overcome their penitent school-fellow, did +not esteem themselves better than he, and look scornfully upon him, as +though they would say with the proud Pharisee of old, “Stand by, for +I am holier than thou!” And is it not the case around us generally? +Alas! how apt we are all to condemn our fellow-creatures; forgetting +that, had we been throughout similarly situated, our course might have +been the same, or even worse. “Who is it that has made us to differ +from another?”</p> + +<p>Louis, as I have mentioned, felt very deeply for Ferrers; for, besides +their late close connection, had he not known what it was to suffer for +sin? He knew what it was to carry about a heavy heart, and to wake in the +morning as if life had no joy to give; and he knew, too, what it was to +lay his sins at a Saviour's feet, and to take the light yoke upon him. +How anxious was he to lead his fellow-sinner there! Though his simple +efforts seemed impotent at the time, years after, when his school-fellow +had grown a steady and useful Christian, he dated his first serious +impressions to this time of disgrace; and the remembrance of Louis' +sweet conduct was often before him.</p> + +<p>Louis' mind had been so chastened by his previous adversity that his +present prosperity was meekly though thankfully borne. It came like +sunshine after showers, cheering and refreshing his path, but not +too powerful; for he was gradually learning more and more, to fear +any thing that had a tendency to draw his mind to rest complacently +on himself.</p> + +<p>But the prize-day came—the joyful breaking-up-day—the day that was +to bring his dear parents; and of all the bounding hearts, there were +none more so than those of the two brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer had +given their boys reason to expect them in the afternoon of that day, +and they were to go from Clifton to Heronhurst before returning home.</p> + +<p>Although Dr. Wilkinson's breaking-up-day was not ostensibly a public +day, yet so many of the pupils' friends claimed admittance to the +hall on the occasion, that it became so in fact, and was usually very +respectably attended. Many of the doctor's old pupils came, to recall +their old feelings, by a sight of this most memorable exhibition. And +on this day, Vernon Digby was present with a younger brother, not to +witness Frank's triumph, for that young gentleman had none to boast of, +but to look on the theatre of his former fame, and to see how his place +was now filled.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson's high desk had been removed from the dais, and in +its place stood a long table covered with a red cloth, on which were +arranged a number of handsomely bound books of different sizes; and in +front of the dais, in a semicircular form, were placed the rows of seats +for the boys. On each side of this semicircle, and behind and parallel +with Dr. Wilkinson's seat, was accommodation for the spectators. The +room was in the most inviting order, and had been hung with garlands +of flowers by the boys. At eleven o'clock the pupils assembled, and +under the inspection of two of the under masters, seated themselves in +the places assigned them, the little boys being placed in the front row.</p> + +<p>As the exact fate of each was unknown, though tolerably accurately +guessed, there was much anxiety. Some of the youths were quite silent +and pale, others endeavored to hide their agitation by laughing and +talking quietly, and some affected to consider their nearest companion +as more sure than themselves. Even Hamilton was not free from a little +nervousness, and though he talked away to Vernon Digby, who was sitting +by him, he cast more than one fidgety glance at the red-covered table, +and perceptibly changed color when the class-room door opened to allow +the long train of ladies and gentlemen to enter, and closed after +Dr. Wilkinson, and a few of his particular friends, among whom were +two great scholars who had assisted in the examination of the past week.</p> + +<p>When every one was comfortably settled, Dr. Wilkinson leaned forward +over the table, and drew a paper towards him. His preliminary “hem” was +the signal for many fidgety motions on the forms in front of him, and +every eye was riveted on him as he prefaced his distribution of the +prizes by a short statement of his general satisfaction, and a slight +notice of those particular points in which he could desire improvement. +He then spoke of his pleasure at the report his friends had made of +the proficiency of the upper classes, and particularly alluding to the +first class, stopped and mentioned by name those who had especially +distinguished themselves. Among these, as a matter of course, Hamilton +stood foremost, and carried away the prize for Latin composition, as +well as another. Ferrers gained that for mathematics—and two other +prizes were awarded to the next in order. Dr. Wilkinson mentioned +Frank Digby as having taken so high a place during the examination, +as to induce one of the gentlemen who assisted him to consider him +entitled to one of the classical prizes; but the doctor added that +Frank Digby's indifference and idleness during the term had made him +so unwilling that he should, by mere force of natural ability, deprive +his more industrious class-fellows of a hard-earned honor, that he had +not felt himself justified in listening to the recommendation, but +hoped that his talents would, the following term, be exerted from the +beginning, in which case, he should have pleasure in awarding to him +the meed of successful application.</p> + +<p>Frank colored, half angrily, but said, <em>sotto voce</em>,</p> + +<p>“I don't care—I just like to see whether I can't do as well as any one +else without fagging.”</p> + +<p>Vernon was half provoked and half amused at his brother's discomfiture.</p> + +<p>Then came Reginald's turn, and he carried off three out of the +four prizes of his class, leaving one for John Salisbury.</p> + +<p>As each one was called up to receive his reward, an immense clapping +and stamping took place, and Louis, all exuberance, stamped most +vigorously when his brother and his particular friends went up. There +were very slight manifestations when poor Ferrers was summoned, but +Louis exerted himself so manfully in the applauding department, that +the contagion spread a little before the despised recipient was seated.</p> + +<p>The other classes were taken in order; and when all was finished, +Dr. Wilkinson took up a little morocco case, and, after clearing his +throat once or twice, began anew:</p> + +<p>“There remains now but one reward to be assigned, but it is the greatest +of all, though undoubtedly that one which it is the most difficult to +adjudge rightly. It is the medal for good conduct. Hitherto it has been +my practice never to give it to any one who has not been with me the +whole term, but on the present occasion I am inclined to depart from +my custom in favor of a young gentleman whose conduct has been most +praiseworthy, though he has only been with me since Easter. Before +adjudging it, I will, however, appeal to the young gentlemen themselves, +and ask them who they think among them is the most deserving of this +honor?”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson paused, and immediately a shout, led by Hamilton, arose, +of “Louis Mortimer.”</p> + +<p>“I expected it,” said the doctor, with a smile: “Louis Mortimer +has been placed, perhaps, in a situation in the school a little +beyond him, and has, therefore, made no great figure in the +examination, but of his conduct I can speak in the highest terms, +and believe that his sense of duty is so strong that he only wants +the conviction that it is his duty to exert himself a little more, +to make him for the future as habitually industrious as he has been +during the last six weeks.—Louis Mortimer!”</p> + +<p>Almost overcome with astonishment and delight, Louis hardly understood +the summons, but Reginald whispered, “Go, Louis, the doctor calls you,” +and all made way for him with the most pleasant looks of sympathy and +congratulation. His modesty and elegance prepossessed the spectators +greatly in his favor, as he passed timidly along the ranks to the table. +Dr. Wilkinson smiled kindly on him as he delivered the bright silver +medal, in its claret-colored case, saying as he did so,</p> + +<p>“I have the greatest pleasure in giving this to you, and trust that you +will be encouraged, when you look on it, to go on as you have begun.”</p> + +<p>Louis was covered with blushes—he bowed, and as he turned away, the +most deafening applause greeted him; and, as the last prize was now +given, the boys left their seats and mingled among the company. Louis +was drawn immediately into a little côterie, composed of Hamilton, +Reginald, his three cousins, and one or two others, all of whom +congratulated him upon his distinction.</p> + +<p>“And so, Louis, you are the hero,” said Vernon; “and what is the +drama in which you have been acting so much to your credit?”</p> + +<p>“Too long a tale to tell now,” replied Hamilton, smiling on Louis; +“we will talk over it by and by. We have been treating him very ill, +Digby, but next half-year we shall understand him better—shall we +not, Louis?”</p> + +<p>Louis was so full of delight that he could hardly speak—it was +especially a happy moment to stand before his cousin Vernon with +a right fame and well-established character.</p> + +<p>“I said my magic knew who would gain the medal,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“But your magic did not anticipate such magnificent honors for +yourself, I imagine,” said Vernon.</p> + +<p>“I was a little out,” said Frank, carelessly; “for it has proved that +Lady Louisa has all the goodness, and I the genius. My head is quite +overloaded with the laurels Fudge heaped on me: I shan't be able to +hold it up these holidays.”</p> + +<p>“A good thing that something will press it down: it is generally high +enough,” remarked Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“How delighted father and mother will be to hear of your industry!” +said Vernon.</p> + +<p>“I am sure,” replied the incorrigible youth, “they ought to be proud of +having a son too clever to win the prizes. Louis, it puts me in mind +of the man in your tale, who had to bind his legs for fear he should +outrun the hares. I am, however, heartily glad for you, and amazingly +sorry we should have so misunderstood you.”</p> + +<p>“Louis Mortimer,” cried a little boy, very smartly dressed, “mamma +wants to look at your medal—will you come and show it to her?”</p> + +<p>“And go off, Reginald, with him, and tell Lady Stanhope all the news,” +said Vernon, as Louis went away with little Stanhope; “I will come and +pay my respects as soon as it is convenient for me to be aware of her +ladyship's presence.”</p> + +<p>Louis' medal was examined and passed from hand to hand, and many +compliments were made on the occasion. Lady Stanhope was very kind, +and would hear the history, a command Reginald was by no manner of +means unwilling to obey, though he suppressed the name of the guilty +party. The doctor was in great request, for many of the ladies were +very anxious to know more of “that lovely boy,” but he was very guarded +in his accounts of the matter, though bearing the strongest testimony +to Louis' good conduct. He turned to Mr. Percy, who was present, and +said, quietly, “That, sir, is the boy you mentioned to me at Easter; +the son of Mr. Mortimer, of Dashwood.”</p> + +<p>The excitement was almost too much for Louis, tried as he had been +lately by unusual fagging and early rising. He was glad to get away +into the playground, and after watching one or two departures he ran +wildly about, now and then laughing aloud in his delight, “Oh! papa and +mamma, how glad they will be!” and then the well-spring of deep gladness +seemed to overflow, and the excess of happiness and gratitude made him +mute. His heart swelled with emotions too great for any words; a deep +sense of mercies and goodness of which he was unworthy, but for which +he felt as if he could have poured out his being in praise. Oh the +blessing of a thankful heart! How happy is he who sees his Father's +hand in every thing that befalls him, and in whom each mercy calls +forth a gush of gratitude!</p> + +<p class="poem1">“Ten thousand thousand precious gifts</p> +<p class="poem2">My daily thanks employ;</p> +<p class="poem1">Nor is the least a thankful heart,</p> +<p class="poem2">To taste those gifts with joy.”</p> +<p class="poem3">—<span class="sc">Addison</span>.</p> + +<p>The playground was empty, for the boys were either engaged with their +friends, or else departing; and Louis, from his little nook, saw many +vehicles of different descriptions drive away from the door. When the +dinner-bell rang he re-entered the house, but the dinner-table looked +very empty—there was not half the usual party.</p> + +<p>“Where have you been, Louis?” asked Reginald, as he entered; “I have +been looking everywhere for you. Hamilton was quite vexed to go away +without bidding you goodbye, and he begged me to do it for him.”</p> + +<p>“I am very sorry, indeed,” said Louis; “I have been in the playground. +Reginald, does it not make you feel very pleasant to see the heap of +boxes in the hall? I stood a long time looking at our directions.”</p> + +<p>“I am almost cracked,” cried Reginald, joyously;—</p> + +<p class="poem1">“ ‘Midsummer's coming again, my boys,</p> +<p class="poem2">Jolly Midsummer and all its joys!’ ”</p> + +<p>How far Reginald's reminiscences of his holiday song might have +continued, I cannot pretend to say, had it not been interrupted by +a desire from the presiding master, that “he would recollect himself, +and where he was;” but order was out of the question, most of the party +being in Reginald's condition—and, after several useless appeals to +the sense of gentlemanly decorum proper to be observed by the noisy +party, Mr. Witworth found his best plan would be to let every thing +pass that did not absolutely interfere with the business in hand, and, +dinner being over, the ill-mannered troop dispersed. Several of them, +among whom were Reginald and Louis, stopped in the hall to feast their +eyes on the piles of trunks and portmanteaus; and Reginald discovered +that a direction was wanting on one of theirs; “And I declare, Louis, +see what Frank has been doing.”</p> + +<p>Louis laughed, as he perceived that one of the directions on his luggage +was altered to “Lady Louisa Mortimer,” and ran away to rectify it. When +he returned, the party in the hall was considerably enlarged, and Ferrers +came towards him to wish him good-bye. “Good-bye, Louis, I am coming back +next half-year,” he said, in a low tone; “and you must help me to regain +my character.” Louis squeezed his hand, and promised to write to him, +though he hoped, he said, that he should not come back himself; and when +Ferrers left the hall, the business of affixing the necessary directions +went on very busily. Reginald was in a state of such overflowing delight, +as to be quite boisterous, and now and then burst out into snatches of +noisy songs, rendered remarkably effective by an occasional squeak and +grunt, which proclaimed his voice to be rather unmanageable.</p> + +<p>“Now, Louis, here's a piece of string, and my knife.</p> + +<p class="poem1">‘Christmas is coming again, my boys!’ ”</p> + +<p>“<em>Christmas</em>, Reginald—Midsummer!” cried Louis, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Well then, ah, well! tie it tight.</p> + +<p class="poem2">‘Midsummer's coming again, my boys,</p> +<p class="poem2">Jolly Midsummer, and all its joys;</p> +<p class="poem2">And we're all of us cracked, so we'll kick up a noise.</p> +<p class="poem1"><em>Chorus</em>. Ri-toorul-loor, rul-loor, rul-loor-rul. Hip, hip, hurrah!</p> +<p class="poem2">Hollo!’ ”</p> + +<p>The sensible chorus was shouted at the utmost pitch of the voices +of the assembled youths, who waved hats, hands, and handkerchiefs, +during the process.</p> + +<p>“Bravissimo!” exclaimed Reginald, quite red with his exertions, and +beaming with excitement. “But my beautiful voice is very unruly; the +last few times I have tried to sing, it has been quite disobedient. +I think it must be cracked, at last.”</p> + +<p>“Are you not pleased?” said Louis, archly.</p> + +<p>“Not particularly,” replied Reginald.</p> + +<p>“You said you should be, last Christmas. Do you remember the ladies +at grandpapa's?”</p> + +<p>“Well, there is that comfort at any rate,” said Reginald, “we shan't +have any more of their humbug; but think of the dear old madrigals, +and—it's no laughing matter, Mr. Louis, for all your fun.”</p> + +<p>“Acknowledge, then, that you spoke rashly, when you said you should +be glad of it,” said Louis, who was full of merriment at his brother's +misfortune.</p> + +<p>And now Vernon, Arthur, and Frank Digby pressed forward, to bid good-bye.</p> + +<p>As Vernon shook Louis' hand, he said, “I shall see you at Heronhurst, +I suppose.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose <em>I</em> mustn't dare to go,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“And now I shall go and gather some of those white roses by the wall, +for mamma,” said Louis. “I hope it won't be very long, Reginald, they +must be here soon—oh, how delightful it will be!”</p> + +<p>Louis ran off, and succeeded in finding a few half-blown roses for his +dear mother, and was engaged in carefully cutting off the thorns, when +one of his school-fellows ran up to him, and called out that his father +and mother were come.</p> + +<p>“Papa and mamma! Where's Reginald?” he cried, and flew over the +playground without waiting for an answer. “Where are papa and mamma? +Where is Reginald?” he cried, as he ran into the hall. His hurried +question was as quickly answered; and Louis, jumping over the many +packages, made his way to the drawing-room. Here were his dear father +and mother, with Dr. Wilkinson. Reginald had been in the room several +minutes; and when Louis entered, was standing by his mother, whose arm +was round him, and close behind him stood his father.</p> + +<p>“My Louis!” was his mother's affectionate greeting, and the next moment +he was in her arms, his own being clasped tightly round her neck, and he +could only kiss her in speechless joy, at first; and then, when the kind +arms that strained him to her bosom were loosened, there was his dear +father, and then words came, and as he looked with flashing eyes and +crimsoned cheek, from one to the other, he exclaimed, “Oh, mamma! I +have a medal—mamma, it is all come out! Papa, I am innocent; I have +a character now! Oh, dear mamma, I said it would—I am quite cleared!”</p> + +<p>His head sank on his father's shoulder; a strange, dull sound in his +head overpowered him; a slight faintness seemed to blow over his face; +his eyes were fixed and glassy, and he became unconscious. Mr. Mortimer +changed color, and hastily catching the falling boy, he carried him to +the sofa. Dr. Wilkinson sent Reginald immediately for some water, but +before he could return, and almost before Mrs. Mortimer could raise her +dear boy's head from the pillow to her shoulder, the color came again, +and his eyes resumed their natural expression.</p> + +<p>“What was the matter, my darling?” said his mother, kissing him.</p> + +<p>“I don't know, mamma,” replied Louis, sitting up. “I only felt giddy, +and something like a little wind in my face.”</p> + +<p>“I think he has been overwrought,” said Dr. Wilkinson, kindly; “he has +gone through a great deal lately. We will take him up stairs and let +him lie down; I think he wants a little quiet.”</p> + +<p>“I am quite well now,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“I will sit by your side; you had better go up stairs, dear,” +said his mother.</p> + +<p>Louis yielded, and Mr. Mortimer assisted him up stairs, despite his +declarations that he was quite strong and well, and, being laid on a +bed, Mrs. Mortimer stationed herself by his side.</p> + +<p>All they said I have not time to relate, but long Louis lay with his +mother's hand in both of his, telling her of the events of the last +two months, and often she bent her head down and kissed his broad +forehead and flushed cheek; and when she would not let him talk any +more, he lay very passively, his eyes filling with grateful tears, +and now and then in the overflowing of his heart, raising them to +his mother, with “Mamma, thank God for me. Oh, how very grateful +I ought to be!”</p> + +<p>At length he fell asleep, and his mother sat still, watching the quiet +face, and the glittering tear-drop that trembled on his eyelash, and +she too felt that her mercies were very great—she did thank God for +him, and for herself.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XI">Chapter XI.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues +of life.”—<em>Prov.</em> iv. 23. +</p> + + +<p>After a long and tedious journey Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer, with their two +boys, reached Heronhurst, where they met with the affectionate welcome +usually given by Sir George and Lady Vernon to all so nearly related to +them. The castle was full of visitors, amongst whom were Lady Digby and +her two eldest daughters, and many young people—personages grandmamma +never forgot in the holidays, however unimportant they may appear in the +eyes of some. Children liked to come to Heronhurst, for there was always +so much mirth and amusement, and Lady Vernon was so remarkably clever +in arranging pleasant pic-nics and excursions. Vernon and Frank Digby +arrived the same day as Mr. Mortimer, a few hours before him, and as +Vernon had announced the fact of Louis' having gained the medal, every +one was prepared to receive our hero with due honor.</p> + +<p>It was with no little satisfaction that Louis felt in the hearty shake of +the hand, and the kind tone, that he was now more than re-established in +his grandfather's good opinion. Had it not been for the salutary effects +of his former disgrace, and the long trial he had lately undergone, there +would have been great danger now of his falling into some open fault, +for he was praised so much by his kind relations, and flattered by the +company, and his medal had so often to be exhibited, that it needed much +that in himself he did not possess, to guard him from falling into the +error of imagining himself to be already perfect.</p> + +<p>It was settled that there was to be a fête on the 27th, which some of +my readers may remember was Louis' birthday; and Sir George, anxious +to efface from his grandson's memory any painful reminiscences of the +last, arranged the order of things much in the same manner, taking care +that Louis' protegés, the school-children, should not be forgotten.</p> + +<p>This news had just been communicated to Louis by his grandfather, with +many expressions of commendation, and he was in a state of complacent +self-gratulation, that feeling which would have led him to say, “By +the strength of my hand I have done this;” instead of, “My strength +will I ascribe unto the Lord,” when a kind, soft hand, glittering with +rings, was laid upon his arm, and the pleasant voice of his old friend +Mrs. Paget greeted him.</p> + +<p>“So, Master Louis, we are to have a fête, I hear. Are you really +fourteen on the 27th? Come and sit down and tell me all about your +school. I knew you would soon be a favorite. What's all this long +story that everybody talks of and nobody knows? I said I would ask +you, the most proper person to know it; and I know you will tell me +the secret.”</p> + +<p>“It is no secret, ma'am,” said Louis; “I would rather not talk of it.”</p> + +<p>“Just like your own modest little self: and it might not be kind to tell +every one all the story, perhaps; but with an old friend like me, you +know you are safe.”</p> + +<p>“But, ma'am, you might forget when every one is talking—”</p> + +<p>Louis stopped and colored, for he thought it seemed rather conceited to +imagine every one must be talking of him, and he corrected himself,</p> + +<p>“At least, dear Mrs. Paget, I had much rather not, I mean.”</p> + +<p>“You are a dear, kind little boy,” said the injudicious lady; +“I know very well you are afraid of committing that naughty +school-fellow of yours. I can't understand about the <em>keys</em>—I +heard your brother saying something about them—what keys? Were +they the keys of the boy's desks?”</p> + +<p>Louis could hardly help laughing—“No, ma'am, Kenrick's keys.”</p> + +<p>“And who is Kenrick—one of the masters?”</p> + +<p>“It is a book, ma'am—a key to the Greek exercises.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I see—a sort of translation—well, he stole this from +Dr. Wilkinson, and said you'd done it?”</p> + +<p>“No, not that,” replied Louis. “He took it out of the study. Some +of the boys were in the habit of using the keys when they could.”</p> + +<p>“Well, there was nothing so very terrible in it, poor fellows. +I dare say the lessons are very hard. I think every boy ought to +have an English translation of those frightful Latin and Greek books.”</p> + +<p>Louis opened his eyes and quietly said—</p> + +<p>“We think it very dishonorable and unfair, ma'am.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if I understood all about it, I might too, I dare say. +I only see a little bit, but of course you know the rules and +all the rest,—well, was that all?”</p> + +<p>“No, ma'am,” said Louis, uneasily.</p> + +<p>“He said you had taken it, I dare say?”</p> + +<p>“Something like it,” replied Louis. “He slipped it among my books +to hide it, ma'am, but not intending to do me any harm; and when +it was found he was afraid to speak the truth.”</p> + +<p>“And so you bore the blame—and did you not try to clear yourself?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure, ma'am; but he was older and better known than I was, +and so he was believed.”</p> + +<p>“And you couldn't help yourself? I thought you bore it out of +kindness to him.”</p> + +<p>“Afterwards I found it out, ma'am. I found that Alfred Hamilton +knew something about it.”</p> + +<p>“Who is Alfred Hamilton?” asked Mrs. Paget.</p> + +<p>“A little boy, ma'am, at school.”</p> + +<p>“And he found it out—and didn't he tell of it?”</p> + +<p>“I did not wish him,” replied Louis, with less reserve. “It would +have been very unkind to poor Ferrers; he would have been expelled. +Alfred was going to tell, but you would not have wished him to do it, +I am sure.”</p> + +<p>Ah Louis, Louis! anxiety for Ferrers' reputation was quite lost in the +selfish desire of admiration. Mrs. Paget put her arm round him, and her +kindly eyes nearly overflowed with affectionate emotion, for she, poor +lady, could only see the surface; the inward workings of the little vain +heart were hid from her, or she would have been surprised to find under +the appearance of sweetness and humility, Louis was only thinking of +seeming lovely and amiable in her eyes.</p> + +<p>“No, my darling, I know you could not do any thing unkind—you +are a sweet, dear creature, and I am sure I love you; and so this +Master Ferrers never spoke the truth, and you bore the blame?”</p> + +<p>“He did at last, ma'am, at the end of the half-year: but it was not +very long to bear it, only five weeks.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Only!</em> I wonder you could have done it for so long; Ferrers, +that was the name, was it?”</p> + +<p>“If you please, don't mention it,” exclaimed Louis, with unaffected +earnestness; “I did not mean to say his name. Please, dear Mrs. Paget, +do not mention it. He is so very sorry, and confessed all so +handsomely—I think you would like him if you knew all about him, +for he is not so bad as others make him out to be.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Paget had only time to give him a kind of half promise, when she +was called away; and Louis, left to himself, became aware of the vanity +his foolish heart had persuaded him was Christian kindness. His enjoyment +was destroyed that evening, for he was full of anxiety lest Mrs. Paget +should talk of the matter, and he wandered restlessly about the rooms, +longing for an opportunity of speaking a kind word for Ferrers, wishing +vainly that what he had said could be undone. He felt more than ever +the necessity of keeping a watch over his heart and tongue, and almost +inclined to despair of ever overcoming the many stumbling-blocks in the +way of attaining to holiness. Thus, little by little, is the evil of +our hearts disclosed to us, and the longer the true Christian lives, +the less he finds to be satisfied with in himself; not that he is +further removed from holiness, but he has more sight given him to +know what he really is by nature—and the nearer he arrives to the +perfect day, the greater is the light to disclose his own deformities, +and the exceeding loveliness of the righteousness he possesses in +Jesus his Lord.</p> + +<p>Louis, in common with the young visitors at Heronhurst, thought often +and expectantly of his birthday—and when the morning at last arrived, +he awoke much earlier than usual, with a strong sensation of some great +happiness. The light on the blind of his window was not bright, nor +promising brightness—and when he jumped up and ran to examine the day, +expressing to his brother his hope that the weather was propitious, he +found to his dismay that the rain was pouring in torrents, and the dull +unbroken clouds gave but little promise of a change in the prospect.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Reginald, it's raining, raining hard.”</p> + +<p>“How very provoking!” cried Reginald. “Let me see—there is not much +hope neither—how exceedingly tiresome—there's an end to our fun—who'd +have thought it—how <span class="sc">very</span>—”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” said poor Louis, who was very much disappointed, “it is not +right to say <em>tiresome</em> when it pleases God that the weather shall +not suit us.”</p> + +<p>“I can't help it,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“I dare say we shall be very happy. I am most sorry about the +school-children.”</p> + +<p>“I don't care a fig about them,” said Reginald, impatiently; “there's +that cricket match, and all.”</p> + +<p>“What, not the poor little things, Reginald? just think how they have +been expecting this day—it is quite an event for them, and we have so +many pleasures: I dare say you will have the cricket the first fine day.”</p> + +<p>Reginald felt rather ashamed, and yet unwilling to acknowledge himself +in the wrong; therefore he satisfied himself with remarking, that Louis +did not like cricket, and he didn't care about the children, and there +was no difference.</p> + +<p>Louis' attention was at that moment attracted by something on the table. +“Oh! here is something for me, Reginald!—A beautiful new Bible from +dear papa and mamma—and a church service from grandmamma, and what's +this?—‘<em>The Lady of the Manor</em>’ from uncle and aunt Clarence; +how kind, look Reginald! and here's another—a beautiful little red and +gold book, ‘<em>Mrs. Rowe's Poems</em>,’ the book I am so fond of—from +you: oh! thank you, dear Reginald.”</p> + +<p>“And many happy returns of the day, dear Louis,” said Reginald, who +had by this time completely recovered his ordinary good-humor.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the stairs, when he descended, Louis met some of the +young party, who hardly waited to offer the compliments of the day +before they loudly expressed the disappointment felt by each at the +unfavorable weather. “Raining, raining—nothing but splashing and dark +clouds—so tiresome, so disappointing—we shall be obliged to stay +in-doors,” sounded round him in different keys as they marched in +close phalanx to the breakfast-room, where they found Bessie Vernon, +a little girl of seven years old, kneeling on a chair at the window, +singing, in the most doleful accents,</p> + +<p class="poem1">“Rain, rain, go to Spain,</p> +<p class="poem2">And mind you don't come back again.”</p> + +<p>“Good morning, Bessie,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Louis, many happy returns. I haven't got a present for you, +because I hadn't money enough.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said Louis; “I would rather have your love and kisses +than any present.”</p> + +<p>“And I will give you many, many kisses,” cried the little girl, +fulfilling her promise in good earnest.</p> + +<p>“<em>My love and a kiss</em>,” said her brother; “that's what Bessie always +sends at the end of her letters: isn't it, Bessie, <em>I send you my love +and a kiss</em>?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I mean it,” said Bessie, “and you needn't laugh. I wonder what +we shall do to-day—dear me—I think, though, there's a little lighter +bit of sky over the oak.”</p> + +<p>“Let me see—where are my spectacles?” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Not much hope, I fear,” said Sir George's hearty voice behind +her. “Not much hope, Bessie. What an array of long faces. How do +you do? Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, I hope I see you in +health and spirits. A happy birthday, and many of them to you, +my boy; the rain does not appear to have damped you so much as +some of your play-fellows—well, Miss Bessie?”</p> + +<p>“Grandpapa, grandpapa! what shall we do? you must find some pleasure +for us,” cried Bessie, clinging round her grandfather's knees, and +looking up very beseechingly in the kind face so far above her.</p> + +<p>“Ah, well—we'll see, we'll see—now let me go to breakfast; when that +important business is dispatched, and grandmamma makes her appearance, +we will find something to do.”</p> + +<p>Fortified with this promise, an excellent breakfast was eaten by the +martyrs to disappointment, and then, after some consultation, it was +decided that the band should be in attendance in the hall, and a +messenger should be sent forthwith to command the attendance of the +school-children at a banquet in the same place, and Lady Vernon was +of opinion that with charades, a magic lantern, bagatelle, tivoli, +and dolls, a very merry morning might be spent. The young people then +dispersed in search of their own peculiar amusements. Some of the young +men went into the billiard-room, and a few chess parties were formed. +Some began to act charades for the edification of such among the elders +as would choose to make an audience. A still larger party adjourned to +the school-room to play at houses with their dolls, and two tables were +soon spread with ground plans of three magnificent establishments for +paper ladies and gentlemen, by three young ladies between the ages of +twelve and eight, assisted by Mr. Frank Digby.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock they went to the hall, where the band was playing a merry +air. Here a long table was spread, well covered with a nice plain dinner, +and the school-children came two-and-two into the hall, just after the +visitors had arrived.</p> + +<p>When all were seated, the girls at the upper, and the boys at the +lower end, Mr. Mortimer came forward and said grace for them, and +then the viands disappeared with great rapidity. Some of the castle +children, headed by Louis, asked to be allowed to wait on them, and, +the permission being given, they made themselves very busy, though +it must be confessed that they were sometimes sadly in the servants' +way. Sir George Vernon went round the table very majestically, and +now and then spoke a word or two to one of the children—words which +were treasured up in their memories for many a long day, though they +meant little or nothing; but it is so easy to create a pleasant and +grateful feeling.</p> + +<p>Many of the spectators, including nearly all the gentlemen, had left +the hall very soon after the commencement of the feast, and now a summons +was given to the little ones of the castle to their own dinner. Louis, +not being included in the little ones, went with the school-children +into a large empty room, and with the help of his father and one or two +others, exerted himself successfully for their entertainment, until his +friends joined them, and, the room being darkened, the magic lantern was +displayed. The humble little guests then, being supplied each with a +cake and some fruit, returned to their homes, quite delighted with the +pleasures of the day. Frank and the three young ladies enjoyed an hour's +amusement during the late dinner; for the good-natured youth had yielded +to the pressing invitation of the merry little party, and dined with +them at two, to their great satisfaction, notwithstanding the declaration +of some, that he was “a great tease.”</p> + +<p>The great dinner was much earlier than usual, to allow of the ball, +which began at seven o'clock for the convenience of the younger ones, +and was continued until eleven, at which time, though he had been very +happy, Louis was very tired, and could not help thinking, that, after +all, a whole day of pleasure-seeking in this manner, was very fatiguing +and unsatisfying. He could hardly keep his eyes open, when Mrs. Paget +seized him, and after a few compliments on his dancing, insisted upon +hearing him sing “<em>Where the bee sucks</em>.”</p> + +<p>Louis complied as well as he was able, and though his sleepiness robbed +his song of some power, its sweetness not only satisfied the flattering +lady, but a more unscrupulous auditor who stood behind him in the person +of his grandfather.</p> + +<p>“Your mother taught you to sing, Louis?” said he.</p> + +<p>“Miss Spencer taught me,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“The mechanism, perhaps, but it's your mother's teaching. +The taste, madam,” said Sir George, turning to Mrs. Paget.</p> + +<p>“Both Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer are first-rate amateurs,” said Mrs. Paget.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Mortimer has great talent,” replied Sir George; “and she has done +something with this boy. I suppose you are very fond of music, Louis?”</p> + +<p>Louis answered in the affirmative, and Sir George added—</p> + +<p>“I shall give you a treat. You shall go on Sunday to A——, and hear +the singing at the church there. The little boys sing very sweetly. +Have you heard them ma'am?”</p> + +<p>“No, I never have.”</p> + +<p>“Then I think it would be a wise step to pay a visit there during +divine service next Sunday. The church is worth looking at,—a good +specimen of the early English style of architecture. We can make up +a little party to go, if you would like it.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Paget expressed her entire approbation of the scheme, and Louis, +too sleepy to think much of it, wished her and Sir George good night, +and went to bed.</p> + +<p>The next day, the rain continuing, in the morning Louis enjoyed +<em>The Lady of the Manor</em> in his own room. He was still much excited +by the yesterday's pleasure, and felt unsettled, and disinclined to +employ himself steadily with any thing. In the afternoon, as the +weather was fine, his mother insisted on his taking a walk, and +Reginald and Vernon Digby accompanied him. They had a great scramble +through the hilly district that surrounded Heronhurst, and merrily +the talk (we will not dignify it by the name of conversation) continued. +As they re-entered the grounds it fell upon the scheme of visiting the +church, and during the light and common-place discussion that ensued, +it struck Louis that there might be something wrong in the plan. He +became very silent, and when he reached his room, quietly thought over +the matter, and came to the conclusion that, though they intended going +to church, yet the motives that induced their doing so were not to the +glory of God, and that to employ servants for such an end, on God's holy +day, was certainly wrong. This was his first impression; and when he +next saw Reginald, he told him what he had been thinking of.</p> + +<p>“Well, but Louis, you know it won't make any difference whether we go +or not, and so <em>we</em> shan't engage the servants. I don't see why, because +you like nice singing, you should go to the chapel where they screech +so abominably.”</p> + +<p>Louis was silent, for he hardly liked to oppose his reasons to Reginald's +blunt speech, and Reginald, dismissing the subject from his mind, began +to talk of something else. He ran on very volubly for a little while, +without receiving any interruption from his brother, and, looking at him, +he saw very plainly that Louis was not paying the slightest attention +to him.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter, Louis? How dull you are!”</p> + +<p>“Nothing,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“Nothing?” repeated Reginald; “<em>Something</em>, you ought to say. I know you +are making yourself miserable about this church-going, and what need is +there? We are going to church, and we can't prevent the carriage going. +If it were on purpose for us it would be different.”</p> + +<p>“But there will be a great deal of nonsense, I know,” said Louis, +uneasily. “It seems very much like going to a show place. I hope I +shall be able to ask mamma about it.”</p> + +<p>“As to nonsense,” replied Reginald, “when do we have any thing else +here?—you can't make Dashwood of Heronhurst, and I think if you go +to hear such beautiful singing, it is more likely to put good thoughts +into your head than those lovely singers here; and then, Mr. Perrott +is quite a famous man; everybody likes him better than Mr. Burton—you +are too scrupulous, Louis. I think, sometimes, you are guilty of +over-conscientiousness.”</p> + +<p>Before Louis could reply, some of their young friends entered the +room, and one thing followed another so quickly that Louis had no +time to think clearly on the subject till he went to bed; but when +all was silent and nothing interfered with his thoughts, his anxious +mind ran over all that had passed, and turn it which way he would, it +still seemed wrong. What with this feeling, and the fear of making +his grandfather angry, Louis felt very uncomfortable; and then came +Reginald's sophistry, and Louis almost argued himself into the belief +that his brother was right and he too scrupulous: and when he tried to +pray for direction he did not feel sincere, for he was conscious of a +wish to go to the church, and a great dread of offending his grandfather. +After some hours' restless consideration, he dropped asleep, having made +up his mind to consult his father and mother, and to abide by their +counsel. The next day, however, he had no opportunity of speaking to +them alone, and Saturday night found him as miserably undecided as +before. “Oh dear, if there were any one I could ask!” There was One, +and though aid was feebly asked, it was granted; and with much fear and +anxiety, Louis declined accompanying the party to A—— church the next +morning.</p> + +<p>Vernon stared, and Reginald tried in vain to persuade him to alter his +mind,—but he stood firm, and turning away from them, afraid to trust +himself, stayed up stairs till the castle chapel bells began to ring, +and then hastened down with a happy, free, and light heart, to join +his mother.</p> + +<p>“Hey-day, Louis!” exclaimed his grandfather; “I thought you were off +long ago. You're too late: the carriage has been gone this hour. What's +the meaning of these late hours, sir?”</p> + +<p>“I was up quite early, grandfather,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Then how was it you let them go without you?”</p> + +<p>“Because I had rather not go, sir,” said Louis, with a heightened color.</p> + +<p>“And pray why could you not say so sooner?—you are the most uncertain +fellow;—not the smallest dependence ever to be placed upon you. Do you +know your own mind, Mr. Louis?”</p> + +<p>“Not always at first,” replied Louis, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>“Hold up your head and speak out. And pray why has your weather-cock +mind changed? What new wind has blown you round now, eh?”</p> + +<p>“It's Sunday, grandpapa,” said Louis, looking up at his mother with +a distressed face.</p> + +<p>“Well! Is the boy moon-struck? ‘<em>It's Sunday, grandpapa.</em>’ Don't you +suppose I know that?”</p> + +<p>“I didn't think it was quite right, sir, to go to A—— church when we +had one so near us.”</p> + +<p>“Just as you please,” said Sir George, contemptuously—“just as you +please, Master Louis; only do not expect me to plan any thing for your +pleasure again.”</p> + +<p>“I am very much obliged, grandpapa—you don't understand me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we understand each other very well, sir,” said his grandfather, +turning off very haughtily.</p> + +<p>As he passed Mr. Mortimer he said,</p> + +<p>“This comes of <em>molly-coddling</em> that boy at home; you'll make +a Methodist of him.”</p> + +<p>What answer Mr. Mortimer made, Louis could not hear, and the next +moment they all went into the chapel.</p> + +<p>Many contemptuous smiles were exchanged among those of the visitors +who heard the colloquy, but Louis was comforted by an approving smile +from his parents, and from the sweet consciousness of having done what +was right. The service was very sweet to him, and the lightness of +his heart made even the inferior singing very pleasant, and he gained +something from “tedious Mr. Burton's” sermon; so much depends on the +frame of mind. Our Saviour has enjoined us to take heed <em>how</em> we hear.</p> + +<p>Louis had a very pleasant stroll in the park with his father after +service, and when he entered the house with a happy quiet mind, he +contrasted his feelings with those he should have had, had he been +one of the giddy party at that time returning from A——, and joyfully +thanked his heavenly Father for keeping him from dishonoring His holy +day in “seeking his own pleasure” on it.</p> + +<hr class="exsmall"> + +<p>The following Thursday evening Mr. Mortimer's carriage was seen coming +along the road leading to Dashwood, and at each window was a very joyful +face noting all the familiar objects around; and as the horses dashed +round a corner under a short grove of limes, the tongues belonging to +the two began to move with astonishing rapidity.</p> + +<p>“Here's Dashwood!” cried one.</p> + +<p>“There's the river,” exclaimed the other.</p> + +<p>“The Priory chimneys,” shouted the first.</p> + +<p>“The Grange, Reginald,” cried the second.</p> + +<p>“And Bessie Gordon in the garden,—she sees us,” cried Reginald, who +had changed sides for a second. “Ann White's cottage, Louis—I saw the +old picture of Lazarus large as ever—and the sheep—and I smell hay. +Look, there's a hay-field, and Johnson with the hay-makers! Hillo, +Johnson! He sees me.”</p> + +<p>“The bells, papa! The bells, mamma!” exclaimed Louis—“Oh, it's home, +dear, sweet home! The bells are ringing because you are come home, papa; +and look, there are all the people coming out of the cottages—how glad +they seem to be!”</p> + +<p>“Louis, Louis, here we go!” shouted Reginald, as the carriage swept +down a lane arched over with green boughs.</p> + +<p>Presently they came to the lodge gate; but not a moment had they +to wait; it was wide open, and they could scarcely exchange marks +of recognition with the gatekeeper and family, when they were out of +sight in the long winding carriage road that led through the park.</p> + +<p>“Welcome, welcome—home! The dear, dear old Priory,” said Louis, +with increasing enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>“Take care you are not out on the grass, Louis,” said his mother, +seizing his arm.</p> + +<p>“Here we are!” cried Reginald. “And there's Mary, the little pussy, +and sober Neville, looking out of his wits, for a wonder. Here we are!”</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XII">Chapter XII.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”—<em>Eccles.</em> ix. 10. +</p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> </p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Watch and pray.”—<em>Matt.</em> xxvi. 41. +</p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> </p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through +God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, +and every high thing that exalteth itself against the <em>knowledge</em> +of God.”—2 <em>Cor.</em> x. 4, 5. +</p> + + +<p>“Ah! Louis, <em>this</em> is home,” exclaimed Reginald, as, after the +embraces in the hall, they entered the pleasant drawing-room. It <em>was</em> +home, home with all its sweet associations and dear beings; and, in +a few minutes, Reginald and Louis had run all over the house for the +pleasure of seeing “the dear old places;” had shaken hands with the old +servants, given nurse a kiss, and, having finished by wakening Freddy +from his first sleep, returned to the drawing-room, where tea was ready. +It was a very pleasant tea that night. Every one had so much to say, +and there was so much innocent mirth—all agreed it was worth while +going away from home, for the pleasure of returning. Gradually the +broad yellow light faded from the wall, table, carpet, and window; +and, the gray twilight usurping its place, little Mary was obliged +to leave her seat on her father's knee, and with many kisses was +marshalled up stairs by nurse and Neville.</p> + +<p>When Neville returned, the happy party sat round the open window +watching the bright stars in their trembling beauty, and the half-moon +rise over the dark trees, whitening their tops, silvering the water, +and casting the deep shadows into deeper darkness. There was something +in the still beauty that hushed the speakers, and at last only a low +remark was now and then made, until Louis asked his mother to walk out +into the garden. Mrs. Mortimer at first pleaded the heavy dews as an +excuse, but the request was so urgently pressed by Reginald and Neville, +and a large shawl and pair of clogs being procured, they sallied forth, +Neville and his father first, then Reginald and Miss Spencer, and lastly, +to his great satisfaction, Louis and his mother.</p> + +<p>“I am so fond of moonlight, mamma,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“I think most people are,” replied his mother.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what is the reason that moonlight is so much sweeter than +sunlight,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Do you like it better?” said his mother.</p> + +<p>“I don't know that I like it <em>better</em>,” replied Louis; “but it always +seems so quiet and soothing. I always liked moonlight when I was a very +little boy—but I thought very differently about it then.”</p> + +<p>“How so?” asked his mother.</p> + +<p>“Oh! mamma, I thought it was very beautiful, and I felt a strange +sort of feeling come into my mind—a sort of sad happiness: and +sometimes I thought of fairies dancing in the moonlight; and when +I grew older, I used to think a great deal of nonsense, or try to +make poetry, and I called the moon ‘Diana,’ and ‘queen of night’—and +imagined a great deal that I hardly like to tell you, about lovers +walking in moonlight.”</p> + +<p>“And your feelings are quite changed now?” asked his mother.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! quite, mamma, it only seems more soothing, because I feel +as if I were alone with God. Does it not seem to you, mamma, as if we +see something of heaven in these lovely nights? I often wonder whether +the bright stars are the many mansions our Saviour speaks of. Oh! mamma, +what an immense thought it is to think of all these bright worlds +constantly moving—either suns themselves with their planets revolving +in ceaseless circles, or else themselves going round some bright sun!”</p> + +<p>“And, perhaps,” added his mother, “that bright sun carrying all its +attendant worlds round some larger and brighter sun, whose distance +is too great to be calculated. By the aid of powerful telescopes may +be seen in the extremity of our firmament, appearances which those who +have devoted themselves to this glorious science have decided are other +firmaments, each one containing its countless systems. Oh! Louis, God +is infinite—what if these wondrous creations have no limit, but circle +beyond circle spread out to all eternity! We may see the infinity of +our Maker in the smallest leaf. There is nothing lost. What we destroy +does but change its form.”</p> + +<p>“Mamma, I once remember cutting a bit of paper into halves—that is to +say, I first cut it into halves, and then cut one half into halves and +so on, till my scissors would not divide the little bit. I was very idle +that day, but I remember thinking that if I could get a pair of scissors +small enough I could cut that speck up <em>forever</em>—and even if there only +happened to be a grain left, I could not make that nothing.”</p> + +<p>Louis paused; he was lost in thoughts of wonders that human imagination +cannot grasp: the immensity and mystery of the Almighty's works. +Presently he added, “I cannot imagine it, mamma, my mind seems lost +when I try to think of <em>forever</em>. But there is a little hymn you used +to teach me that I cannot help thinking of—I often think of it—it was +the first I ever learned:</p> + +<p class="poem1">‘'Twas God, my child, that made them all</p> +<p class="poem2">By His almighty skill;</p> +<p class="poem1">He keeps them that they do not fall,</p> +<p class="poem2">And rules them by His will.</p> +<p class="poem1">How very great that God must be!’ ”</p> +<p class="poem3">—<span class="sc">Hymns for Infant Minds</span>.</p> + +<p>“Do you remember learning that hymn?” said his mother; “I should have +thought it had been too long ago.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, mamma. I remember once very distinctly, you had drawn up the +blind that I might look at the stars, and you leaned over my crib, and +taught me that verse. Mamma, even when I did not love God, I used to +like to hear <em>you</em> tell me Bible stories and hymns sometimes, but I +did not think much of them after they were over; but now, almost every +thing reminds me of something in the Bible; or seems a type or a figure +of some of our heavenly Father's dealings with us.”</p> + +<p>“That is what the Apostle says,” replied Mrs. Mortimer: “ ‘The weapons +of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling +down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing +that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into +captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.’ Your imaginations +before were not according to the will of God; you never saw any thing +lovely in Him, but now He has become ‘altogether lovely’ in your eyes; +every imagination that is contrary to His will is subdued, and all +brought into obedience to Him. And are you not far happier?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed I am; oh, how much more happy!” said Louis: “but, dear mamma, +I do not wish you to think that I am always so happy, because that +would not be true. Very often, I seem almost to forget that I am a +child of God, and then, nothing awakens those happy feelings.”</p> + +<p>“I do not suppose you are always so happy, my dear boy. It is too +often the case with Christians, that instead of drawing their pleasures +from the fountain of life, they imagine that they can make cisterns of +their own; they look to the comforts around them, to the friends God has +given them, for satisfaction; and numberless other things have a tendency +to draw their minds from their heavenly Father, which must inevitably +destroy their peace of mind. But how sad it should ever be so! we have +only ourselves to blame that we are not always happy. A Christian should +be the most joyous creature that breathes.”</p> + +<p>“Dear mamma, how many pleasant conversations I have had with you!” +said Louis, affectionately kissing his mother's hand, as it lay on his +arm. “They have been some of my sweetest hours. It makes me so happy to +talk of God's love to me.”</p> + +<p>“An inexhaustible subject,” said his mother: “ ‘Then they that feared the +Lord, spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it; +and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared +the Lord, and thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the +Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.’</p> + +<p>“Our favorite poet has expressed your feelings very beautifully:</p> + +<p class="poem1">‘Oh, days of heaven, and nights of equal praise,</p> +<p class="poem1">Serene and peaceful as those heavenly days</p> +<p class="poem1">When souls drawn upward, in communion sweet</p> +<p class="poem1">Enjoy the stillness of some close retreat;</p> +<p class="poem1">Discourse, as if released and safe at home,</p> +<p class="poem1">Of dangers past and wonders yet to come;</p> +<p class="poem1">And spread the sacred treasures of the breast</p> +<p class="poem1">Upon the lap of covenanted rest.’ ”</p> +<p class="poem3">—<span class="sc">Cowper's</span> “<em>Conversation</em>”.</p> + +<p>“Come, I think I must order you in,” said Mr. Mortimer, who came up +with the others, just as these lines were finished. “These nocturnal +perambulations will not improve your health, my love; and it is past +prayer-time already. What a sweet night!”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid I have been a little imprudent, but it was a temptation +when the dear boys pressed me so earnestly; our first night at home too, +after so long a separation.”</p> + +<p>“Mamma's very carefully wrapped up,” said Neville.</p> + +<p>“And it's so deliciously warm,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“Well, let us not increase the evil,” said Mr. Mortimer.</p> + +<p>They presently re-entered the drawing-room, and the servants being +summoned, Mr. Mortimer read prayers, and the boys went to bed.</p> + +<p>The weather being generally wet for the next fortnight, all the in-door +resources were drawn upon by the young people of the Priory, and time +seldom hung heavily on their hands. I do not mean to say that there was +never a moment wasted; on the contrary, Louis had many lazy fits. It +must be allowed that in holiday time, when no one is expected to do +much regularly, there are great temptations to be idle, and boys are +apt to forget that it is not particularly for parents and teachers' +good that they are exhorted to make the most of their time.</p> + +<p>Louis' father and mother gave him many gentle reminders of his failing, +and many were the struggles which he had with his dreamy indolence. +Sometimes, when in accordance with a plan laid down by his mother's +advice, he sat down to study for a stated time, he would open the book, +and, after leaning over it for half an hour, find that he had built +himself a nice little parsonage and school, and established himself +a most laborious and useful minister in the prettiest of villages. At +other times he was a missionary, or an eminent writer, and occasionally +a member of Parliament. Then, at other times, he must draw the plan of a +cottage or church, or put down a few verses; and sometimes, when he heard +the clock strike the hour that summoned him to his studies, he had some +excessively interesting story to finish, or very much preferred some other +occupation.</p> + +<p>“Now, Louis, my dear, there is ten o'clock.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, mamma, I will go directly.”</p> + +<p>“Directly,” in some persons' vocabulary, being an ambiguous term, +another quarter of an hour saw Louis in the same place, quite absorbed.</p> + +<p>“Louis, Louis!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, mamma.” And Louis got up, book and all, and walked across the +room, reading all the way. After knocking his head against the door, +and walking into the library instead of into the school-room, he at +last found himself at the table where his writing-desk stood, without +any further excuse, but there he stood for a minute or two reading, +and then, still continuing, felt for his key, and slipped it along the +front of his desk for some time in the most absent and fruitless manner. +Being obliged, at length, to lay aside the book, he unlocked the desk, +and opening it, laid the dear volume thereon, and read while he carried +his desk to another table. Then a few books were fetched in the same +dawdling way, Louis all the while persuading himself—foolish boy—that +he was merely occupying the time of walking across the room in reading. +A few minutes more, and a chair was dragged along, and Louis seated. +Then he reluctantly laid his book down open beside him and commenced. +It would be tiresome to say how often when the dictionary or something +else had to be referred to, a half page or more of the story was read, +and to remark how equally Louis enjoyed his amusement and profited by +his study. He was finally overwhelmed with confusion when his father, +entering the room, came and looked over his shoulder, making some remark +on the economy of time exhibited in thus ingeniously blending together +his work and play without profiting by either.</p> + +<p>“But indeed, papa, I don't know how it is; I made up my mind to be +very industrious, and I was very steady yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“You put me in mind of a story of a man who made a vow to abstain from +frequenting beer-shops, and who, on the first day of his resolution, +passed several successively, until he came to the last that lay on his +way home, when he stopped and exclaimed, ‘Well done, Resolution! I'll +treat you for this,’ and walked in.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, papa!” exclaimed Louis, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Don't you think this looks very much like treating resolution?” +said his father, taking up the open book.</p> + +<p>“I can't tell how it is, papa,” said Louis, looking ashamed. “I assure +you I did not mean to waste time; I cannot help being interested in +stories, and unless I leave off reading them altogether, I don't know +what to do.”</p> + +<p>“As reading stories is not a duty,” said his father, “I would certainly +advise your leaving off reading them if they interfere with what is so +clearly one; but do you not think there is any way of arranging your +affairs so as to prevent a harmless recreation from doing this?”</p> + +<p>“I can't depend upon myself, papa. If it were Reginald, he could +throw his book down directly, and do at once what he ought, and so +would Neville, but it is quite a trouble to me sometimes even to +bring my thoughts to bear upon dry studies, particularly mathematics, +which I hate.”</p> + +<p>“I allow there is some difference of constitution; Reginald is not so +fond of reading as you are, and has naturally more power of turning his +attention from one subject to another; but this power may be acquired, +and if you grow up with this inclination to attend only to those things +for which you take fancies and fits, you will not be a very useful +member of society; for it must always be remembered that consistency +is essential to a useful character, and that without it, though many +may love, few will respect you.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I could be like Neville; he is like a clock, and never lets any +one thing interfere with another, and he always has time for all he wants +to do, and is never in a hurry and flurry as I am; I think he has nothing +to struggle with.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, my dear Louis, he has. Neville has as many faults as the +generality of boys, but you must not forget how much longer he has +begun the good fight than yourself; and the earlier we begin to +struggle against the corruptions of our nature, the easier the task +is; but, Louis, instead of wishing yourself like Neville, or any one +else, think how you may approach most nearly to the high standard of +excellence which is placed before us all.”</p> + +<p>“But, father, how can I? What must I do?” sighed Louis. “You cannot +tell how difficult it is to keep good resolutions. I fear I shall +never be any better.”</p> + +<p>“What is the grace of God, my boy?” said Mr. Mortimer, laying his hand +on Louis' shoulder; “tell me, what is the grace of God?”</p> + +<p>“God's favor and help,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“And to whom is this promised?”</p> + +<p>“To all who will ask for it, father.”</p> + +<p>“And will you say you can do nothing? Oh, my dear son! God is a God of +all grace, and can give to each of us what we need for every emergency. +Without Him, we can, indeed, do <em>nothing</em>, but with <em>Him</em> we may do +<em>all things</em>; and blessed be His name for this unspeakable gift by which +He works in man a gradual restoration to more than his primeval condition. +Called with a holy calling, my boy, seek to glorify God in every little +affair of life; take your religion into these unpleasant studies, and +you will find them pleasures.”</p> + +<p>“But, father, there is one thing I want to say. Often when I pray, +I do not seem able to do things that I wish and ought.”</p> + +<p>“There may be two reasons for that,” replied his father. “The first, that +you are not sufficiently in earnest in your petitions; and next, that you +imagine that your prayers are to do all, without any exertion on your +part—that the mere fact of having asked the help of the Almighty will +insure you a supernatural ease and delight in performing these duties, +forgetting that, while we are in this world we have to fight, to run +steadily forward, not to sit still and expect all to be smooth for us. +We must show diligence unto the end—we must watch as well as pray. +You remember the parable of the withered hand?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, father.”</p> + +<p>“And you remember that our Lord commanded the man to stretch forth his +hand. He might have pleaded that it was powerless; but no, the Lord had +given him power at the moment he desired him to exert it; and just so to +every Christian, God is a God of all grace, and will give to each of us +the peculiar grace we need; but we must not lock it up and imagine it +to be efficacious without exertion on our part.”</p> + +<p>Louis was silent for some minutes. At length he turned his face up to +his father, and said—</p> + +<p>“What would you advise me to do?”</p> + +<p>“What do you think yourself would be best?” said his father. “Think +always <em>after</em> earnest prayer for divine guidance, what seems right +to do, what the Bible says, and how it will be to the glory of your +Saviour; then, when you have made up your mind as to the rectitude +of any plan of action, let your movements be prompt and decided, +and do not leave the silly heart any room to suggest its excuses and +modifications. Your judgment may sometimes err, but it is better for +the judgment than the conscience to be in fault. Be assured that if +you thus acknowledge God in all your ways, He will direct your paths.”</p> + +<p>Louis paused another moment, and said—</p> + +<p>“Will you take that book, father, and not let me have it any more to-day, +as it has interfered so much with my study; and I will try to be more +industrious. I will finish my Prometheus and Euclid, and the projection +of my map, and then, perhaps, I shall be ready for the reading.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Mortimer shook his head as he held up his watch before his +son's eyes—</p> + +<p>“Too late, Louis. The time is lost, and something must be missed to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Then, papa, I will do my Greek, and go to the reading, and then, +instead of amusing myself after lunch, I will do the other things—and +please take that book away with you.”</p> + +<p>“I had rather leave it,” said Mr. Mortimer. “You must learn to act for +yourself and by yourself. You do not expect to be always a boy, and if +these weaknesses are not checked now, you will grow up a weak man, sadly +dependent upon external influences and circumstances. Put the book out +of your way by all means, but let it be your own act. And now I will +leave you to do your work, for I see you have done very little, and +that little very ill.”</p> + +<p>When his father had left the room, Louis put the book on a shelf, and, +turning his back to it, set himself to work with earnest determination. +He rewrote what he had done so badly, took great pains with the new +edition, and had the satisfaction of receiving his father's approval +of his work in the evening. After lunch his disagreeable Euclid was +completed, and the map finished, and Louis refrained steadily from +looking at the book for the rest of the day; nor did he, though sorely +inclined, open it the next day until he could do so with a safe +conscience.</p> + +<p>For the remainder of the holidays Louis adhered to his resolution; +but I do not mean to say he trusted on his own resolution: that he +had found, by painful experience, to be a broken reed. In dependence +upon an Almighty helper, he steadily endeavored from day to day to +perform what was required of him in his station and circumstances, +and found his reward in peace of mind and consciousness of growing +in grace.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XIII">Chapter XIII.</p> + + +<p>It seems, by common consent, established among school-boys, that school +and school-masters are necessary evils, only endurable because incurable, +and that, as a matter of course, the return to school must be looked on +as a species of martyrdom, the victims of which are unanimously opposed +to the usual persuasives that school-days are the happiest, and that +they will wish themselves back again before they have left it long. +We will not attempt to account for this perversity of opinion in the +minds of the individuals alluded to, nor have we any intention of +instituting an inquiry as to the probability of the origin of this +repugnance to scholastic life being in the natural opposition of man's +mind to discipline or order, and the tendency therein to dislike all +that is especially arranged and placed before him plainly for his +benefit; but I am sure that most of those among my readers who either +have been, or are school-boys at this moment, will agree with me in +declaring that, returning to school, after the vacation, is a dismal +affair, and that, during the first week or fortnight, certain rebellious +feelings are prominent, which it would be treason to breathe.</p> + +<p>The close of the holidays had arrived, and it was decided that Louis +should return to school with his brother, notwithstanding his great +wish to the contrary; but now his principles were firmer, his father +was of opinion that mixing with a large party of boys was more calculated +to supply what was wanting in his character than staying at home with his +mother and sister, and, consequently, a day or two after the reopening +of Ashfield House, Reginald and Louis were placed by their father safely +in a coach that started from Norwich, and, in a rather sorrowful mood, +began their long journey.</p> + +<p>I have no adventures to mention; romantic incidents are rarely met +with in a school-boy's life; nor was there any thing remarkable to +relate in the day and a half's travel, beyond the stoppage for meals, +and the changes of vehicle. Louis and his brother generally patronized +the top of the coach, but as they drew near Bristol, Louis grew so sleepy +and tired, from the length of the journey, as well as the imperfect +slumber obtained inside the preceding night, that he preferred changing +his quarters, to the risk of falling from his perch above. It so happened +that the coach was empty inside, and Louis indulged himself by stretching +at full length on one of the seats, and soon lost the recollection of +his troubles in sleep. How long he had slept he could not tell, when the +stopping of the coach disturbed him, and rising lazily, he looked out to +see where they were. Instead, however, of the “White Lion,” in Bristol, +or the “Roadside Inn,” with the four waiting horses, there was opposite +the window a pretty house, standing in a moderately sized garden, gay +with countless flowers, green grass, and waving trees. It was such +a house as Louis with his romance loved; low and old-fashioned, +with a broad glass door in the centre, on one side of which was a +long casement-window, and on the other, two thick sashes. The house, +extending to some length, displayed among the evergreen shrubs, +delicate roses and honey-suckles, a variety of odd windows, from +the elegant French to the deep old-fashioned bay; and over the front, +almost entirely concealing the rough gray stucco, was a vine, the +young grapes of which fell gracefully over the little bedroom windows, +suggesting the idea, how very pleasant it would be, when the fruit was +ripe, to obtain it at so little trouble. Louis especially noticed the +sheltering trees, that grew to a great height close behind the house, +and the long shadows thrown by the evening sun across the smooth +green lawn.</p> + +<p>While he was admiring the little prospect before him, a maid-servant, +assisted by the guard of the coach, appeared at the door, carrying +a black trunk, and behind followed another elderly servant, with a +carpet-bag and basket. It was very evident that another passenger +might be expected, and a few seconds more threw considerable light +on the doubt enveloping the expected personage. The glass door before +mentioned, opened into a low square hall, and at the further end, just +as the carpet-bag reached the garden gate, appeared a group, of which, +till it arrived at the door, little could be discerned but some white +frocks. Presently, however, a pleasant middle-aged gentleman came out, +holding by the hand a tearful-looking little boy, seemingly about nine +or ten years old. The shade of his cap was pulled down very far over +his forehead, but enough of his face was visible to betray some very +showery inclinations. Two little girls, one older and the other younger, +clung round him; the little one was weeping bitterly. When they reached +the gate, the gentleman shook the boy's hand, and gave him in charge +of the guard, to see him safely into a coach to convey him to +Ashfield House.</p> + +<p>“No fear of that, sir,” replied the guard, opening the coach door, +and putting in the bag and basket. “I daresay these young gentlemen +would let him ride with them: they are for Dr. Wilkinson's.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” said the gentleman, looking at Reginald, and then following +the jerk of the guard's thumb at Louis; “perhaps you will share your +fly with my son?” Reginald replied that they would be most happy. The +gentleman thanked him, and turning to his little boy, who was hugging +his youngest sister at the moment, said cheerfully, “Well, Charles, +this is pleasant; here are some school-fellows already. You will have +time to make friends before you reach the doctor's. Come, my boy.”</p> + +<p>Charles had burst into a torrent of fresh tears, and sobbing his +“Good-byes,” got into the coach very quickly.</p> + +<p>“Come, come, you mustn't be a baby,” said his father, squeezing both +his hands; and he shut the coach door himself.</p> + +<p>“Good-bye, Charlie,” said the little girls.</p> + +<p>“Good-bye, master Charles,” said the servants.</p> + +<p>“I shall be so glad when Christmas comes,” sobbed the little one.</p> + +<p>The coach rolled away, amid the adieus and blessings poured on the +disconsolate boy, who watched his home eagerly as long as he could +see it. There they were all—father, sisters, and servants, watching +at the gate till the coach was out of sight. For some time, Louis did +not attempt to console his new companion, who threw himself into the +opposite corner, and burying his face in his handkerchief, sobbed +passionately, without any effort at self-control. At length, the +violence of his grief abating, Louis gently spoke to him, asking if +he had ever been away from home before. At first, Charles was very +reserved, and only answered Louis' questions; but by degrees his sobs +decreased, and from declaring that he could not see the reason of +his being sent away from home, he at last talked freely to Louis +of his father, sisters, and home; and asked Louis of his. Louis was +ready enough to enlarge on these topics, and entered into an enthusiastic +description of home and its pleasures, and before they had reached their +journey's end, they had become very good friends.</p> + +<p>Charles had informed Louis that his father was a clergyman, and that +his home was the parsonage house; and enlarged very much on the pleasure +of being taught by his father. There was something in his manner of +expressing himself that often surprised Louis, and made him think that +he must be older than he appeared. Before they reached Bristol, they had +agreed to be “great friends,” and to help each other as much as possible. +Charles had evidently been very carefully brought up, and Louis found +that they had many things in common. They decided to be companions on +Sunday, and to be together whenever they could.</p> + +<p>Between seven and eight o'clock, the coach stopped in Bristol, where +Reginald joined his brother; and after a few minutes spent in taking +a hasty tea, the three boys were consigned to a suitable conveyance, +and drove on to Dr. Wilkinson's.</p> + +<p>Reginald had a mortal aversion to tears in any boy but Louis, and had +consequently taken an antipathy to his new school-fellow, besides caring +very little about so small a boy. He was just civil to him, and his +manner bringing out all Charles's shyness, he became very silent, +and scarcely any thing was said during the ride from Bristol to +Ashfield House.</p> + +<p>It would be of little use describing the interesting appearance that +Ashfield House presented when the three young gentlemen arrived there. +Such descriptions are generally skipped; consequently, I leave it to my +reader's imagination to picture how romantic the edifice looked, with +the last faint yellow daylight glowing on its front, and the first few +stars peeping out on the green park.</p> + +<p>Our young gentlemen, be assured, noticed nothing but the very dismal +impression that they were once more at school. Inquiring if the doctor +were to be seen, they were informed that he was expected in a few +minutes, as it was nearly prayer-time; and accordingly Reginald +marshalled the way without a word to the school-room. There was no +one in the hall or school-room, but a murmur from the half-open door +of the adjoining class-room drew them in that direction. The room was +nearly full, for besides the first and second classes there were many +belonging to the third class, and one or two others who had either +arrived late, or taken advantage of the little additional license +given the first few days to stay beyond their usual bedtime. It was +too dark to distinguish faces, but the figure of Frank Digby, who had +managed with great pains to climb the mantelpiece, and was delivering +an oration, would have been unmistakable if even he had been silent;—who +but Frank Digby could have had spirit to do it the third night after +the opening of the school?</p> + +<p class="quote"> +“Gentlemen and ladies,” began the merry-andrew; “I beg your +pardon, the Lady Louisa not having arrived, and Miss Maria +Matheson being in bed, I ought to have omitted that term—but, +gentlemen, I take this opportunity, gentlemen, the opportunity +of the eleventh demi-anniversary of our delightful reunion. +Gentlemen, I am aware that some of you have not been fortunate +enough to see eleven, but some among us have seen more. I, +gentlemen, have seen eleven at this auspicious moment. I may +say it is the proudest moment of my life to be able to stand +on this mantelpiece and look down on you all, to feel myself +enrolled a member of such an august corps. I may say I feel +myself elevated at this present moment, but as, gentlemen, +there is no saying, in the precarious situation I am now +placed, how long I may be in a position to contemplate the +elegance of his majesty and court, I hasten to propose that +his majesty's health be eaten in plum-cake, and that if I +fall somebody will catch me. +</p> + +<p class="quote">“With kind regards to all,</p> + +<p class="quote"> “Believe me your attached school-fellow,</p> + +<p class="quote"> +“<span class="sc">Frank Digby</span>.”</p> + +<p>A little on one side of the fireplace, which was not far from the open +window, Trevannion was leaning back in a chair that he had tipped on +the hind legs till the back touched the wall behind him, his own legs +being stretched out on another poised in like manner on the two side +legs; this elegant and easy attitude being chosen partly for the +convenience of speaking to Salisbury, who was nicely balanced on +the window-sill, eating plum-cake. As the young gentleman concluded +his delectable harangue, he made an involuntary leap from his narrow +pedestal, plunging on the top of Trevannion's legs, and, tumbling over +him, struck with some violence against Salisbury, who was thrown out +of the window by the same concussion that brought his more fastidious +compeer to the ground, chairs and all. There was a burst of merriment +at this unexpected catastrophe, but nothing could exceed the mirth of +the author of the mischief, who sat in unextinguishable laughter on the +floor, to the imminent danger of his person when the enraged sufferers +recovered their legs.</p> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="442" height="528" src="images/lsd06.png" id="lsd06.png" + title="The finale to Digby's speech." + alt="A boy fallen to the floor with other boys looking on."> +</p> + +<h4>The finale to Digby's speech.</h4> + +<p>“Really! Digby,” exclaimed Trevannion, angrily, “this foolery is +unbearable. You deserve that we should give you a thrashing; if it +were not beneath me, I most certainly would.”</p> + +<p>“You—ha! ha!” returned Frank: “ha! ha!—you must stoop to—ha! ha!—you +must stoop to conquer—for, oh! oh! I can't get up. Pardon me, my dear +fellow, but—oh! ha! ha!—you did look so ridiculous.”</p> + +<p>“Get up, you grinning donkey!” said Salisbury, who, in spite of his +wrath, could not help laughing.</p> + +<p>“Trevannion's legs!” exclaimed Frank, in a choking fit of laughter.</p> + +<p>“Get up, Digby,” exclaimed Trevannion, kicking him; “or I'll shake some +of this nonsense out of you.”</p> + +<p>“Do be rational, Frank,” said Hamilton's voice from a corner; “you are +like a great baby.”</p> + +<p>How long Frank might have sat on the floor, and what direful events +might have transpired, I cannot pretend to say, for just at this +juncture the further door opened, and Dr. Wilkinson entered, bearing +a candle in his hand. Frank very speedily found his legs, and retired +into a corner to giggle unseen. The light thus suddenly introduced +brought Reginald and his brother into notice, and one or two near the +door recognizing them, pressed forward to speak to them, and before +the doctor had fairly attained his place, Reginald had run the gauntlet +of welcomes through all his school-fellows—and Louis, half-way on the +same errand, was forcibly arrested by something scarcely short of an +embrace from Hamilton, who expressed himself as surprised as pleased +at his appearance, and in whose glistening eyes, as well as the friendly +looks of those around, Louis experienced some relief from the almost +insupportable sense of dulness that had oppressed him ever since his +entrance into the house. But now, the doctor having opened his book, +the young gentlemen were obliged to separate and form into their places. +Hamilton kept Louis by him, and Louis beckoned the sorrowful little boy +who had accompanied him towards them.</p> + +<p>“Who is that?” asked the doctor, as the child moved shyly towards Louis.</p> + +<p>“A new boy, sir,” said one.</p> + +<p>“What is your name?” said the doctor. “Come here. Oh! I see, it is +Clifton, is it not?—how do you do?”</p> + +<p>Charles had reached Dr. Wilkinson by this time, and, encouraged by +his kind tone, and the sympathizing though slightly quizzical gaze +on his very tearful face, replied to his queries in a low, quick tone.</p> + +<p>“When did you come?” asked the doctor.</p> + +<p>“He came with us, sir,” said Reginald, stepping forward.</p> + +<p>“Mortimer here!” said the doctor. “How do you do? and Louis, too, +I presume—where is he? I am very glad to see you again,” he added, +as Louis came forward with a blushing but not miserable countenance. +He then spoke to the other new-comers, and then, commanding silence, +read prayers.</p> + +<p>The young gentlemen were just retiring, when Dr. Wilkinson desired them +to stay a moment—“I have one request to make, young gentlemen,” he said, +gravely; “that is, I particularly wish when Mr. Ferrers returns that no +allusion be made to any thing gone by, and that you treat him as one +worthy to be among you.”</p> + +<p>The doctor paused as he spoke, and glanced along the row of faces, +many of which looked sullen and cloudy: most of them avoided their +master's eye, and looked intently on the ground. Dr. Wilkinson sought +Hamilton's eye, but Hamilton, though perfectly conscious of the fact, +was very busily engaged in a deep meditation on the texture of Louis' +jacket.</p> + +<p>“Hamilton.”</p> + +<p>“Sir,” replied Hamilton, reluctantly raising his eyes.</p> + +<p>“I look to you, as the head of the school, to set the example. I am +grieved to see so little Christian spirit among you. Why should you +feel more aggrieved than the injured party, who has, I am sure, +heartily forgiven all, and will wish no further notice to be taken +of what has passed?”</p> + +<p>Louis looked up acquiescently, and slipped his hand into Hamilton's. +A slight pressure was returned, and Hamilton, bowing to the doctor, +led the way out of the room.</p> + +<p>On the way up stairs many rebellious comments were made on the +doctor's speech, and some invoked tremendous penalties on themselves +if they had any thing to do with him or any like him. Hamilton was +quite silent, neither checking nor exciting the malcontents. He put +his hand into Louis' arm, and, walking up stairs with him, wished him +a warm good-night, and marched off to his own apartment.</p> + +<p>This evening, as there were one or two new-comers, an usher was present +in the dormitory to insure the orderly appropriation of the several +couches; and, to Louis' great satisfaction, he was able to get quietly +into bed—where, feeling very dull and sad, he covered his head over +and unconsciously performed a crying duet with his new friend.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the usher departed than Frank Digby popped his head +out of bed:</p> + +<p>“I don't know,” said he, “whether any one expects a feast to-night, +from a few unlucky remarks which fell from me this morning; if so, +gentlemen, I wish immediately to dispel the pleasing delusion, +assuring you of the melancholy fact, that my golden pippins have +fallen victims to Gruffy's rapacity.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a shame!” exclaimed one.</p> + +<p>“What's that, Frank?” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“How did Gruffy get hold of them?” asked Meredith: “I thought you +were more than her match.”</p> + +<p>“Why, the fact is, her olfactory nerves becoming strongly excited, +she insisted upon having a search, and after snuffing about, she +came near my hiding-place, and found the little black portmanteau:</p> + +<p>“ ‘Upon my word, Mr. Digby,’ said she, ‘I am surprised at your +dirtiness—putting apples under your pillow!’ and insisted on +having the key or the apples. I disclaimed all ideas of apples, +but quite failed in persuading her that I had Russian leather-covered +books inside, that were placed there to enable me to pursue my studies +at the first dawn of day. You should have heard her: ‘Did I suppose +she was an idiot, and couldn't smell apples!’ and oh—nobody knows +how much more. But I should have carried my point if ill-luck hadn't +brought Fudge in the way, and the harpy carried off my treasures.”</p> + +<p>Frank paused, and then added, in a tone that set every one laughing, +“It's a pity she can't be transported into heathen mythology; she'd +have made an excellent dragon. Hercules would never have been so +successful if she'd been that of Hesperia. I'll be even with her yet; +but there's something very forlorn in one's troubles beginning directly.”</p> + +<p>The next morning brought with it the stern reality of school. Louis +was dreaming that he was in Dashwood with Charles Clifton, when the +bell-man came into the breakfast-room, crying out that the golden +pippins belonging to his attached school-fellow, Frank Digby, were +lost, stolen, or strayed; and that he would be even with any who +should find them, and bring them to the Hesperides; and he was in +the act of proving, more to his own satisfaction than to that of the +bell-man, that the books in the library were what he wanted, when +Reginald discovered them,—i.e., the golden apples,—peeping from +under his pillow, and shook him violently for his deceit.</p> + +<p>“Louis, Louis!—the bell, the bell.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It's much better laid out with ‘Maister,’ Frank,” suggested Meredith.</p> + +<p>“And then Fudge will be so black about it,” said Reginald. +“Come, up with you, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“<em>To be sure</em>,” 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.”</p> + +<p>“For my part,” said Frank, “I have been longing for an opportunity of +putting Fudge in a passion. 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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson was engaged the greater part of the morning in arranging +the different classes 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 class. Even the doctor paused once or twice +in his examination, and looked earnestly on the great forehead and small +pale face of the child.</p> + +<p>“Why, how old are you?” said he, at length.</p> + +<p>“Twelve, sir,” replied Charles, gravely.</p> + +<p>“Very little of your age. Have you ever been at school before?”</p> + +<p>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 class.</p> + +<p>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 class, 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.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XIV">Chapter XIV.</p> + + +<p>The first long dreary week had passed: 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 +class-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 assistance 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 Casson +before getting his own lessons ready.</p> + +<p>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' embarrassment. 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 protegé—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.</p> + +<p>“What a burst of eloquence!” exclaimed Frank, who, on the first sound +of the kingly voice, had begun to attitudinize; while Trevannion gazed +on his friend with a quiet, gentlemanly air of inquiry, that was not to +be put out of countenance by any circumstance 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!”</p> + +<p>“Three cheers for his majesty's speech,” cried Salisbury.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Considering that the speeches of Edward the Great usually savor +of Spartan brevity,” said Smith, “we couldn't have hoped for such +a masterpiece.”</p> + +<p>“You don't understand his most gracious majesty,” said Frank; “depend +upon it he's a veritable cameleon.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>Ferrers grasped Hamilton's hand and looked in his face, astonished and +overcome with gratitude 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—</p> + +<p>“You are very late this half. We have expected you every day.”</p> + +<p>He then sat down and went on telling Ferrers about the new-comers, +and the present condition of the first class, 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.</p> + +<p>“His majesty's taken Fudge's hint,” said Frank, in a low, +discontented tone.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Trevannion won't, you'll see,” muttered Peters.</p> + +<p>“Be kind enough to lend me your lexicon, Salisbury,” said Trevannion, +who had, since Hamilton's notice of Ferrers, assumed 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 assist in +the transition of the thick volume, but all his politeness obtained +was a haughty, cold stare, and a determined rejection of assistance. +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 gratitude 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.</p> + +<p>“Your royal clemency is most praiseworthy, most magnanimous Edward,” +said Frank Digby.</p> + +<p>“Worthy of you, Hamilton,” said Trevannion, sneeringly. “Ferrers is +a fit companion and associate for gentlemen.”</p> + +<p>“My manners not bearing any comparison with yours,” replied Hamilton, +coolly, “I am not so chary of contamination.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You had better take lessons of the old woman over the way,” +said Salisbury; “she only charges twopence <em>extra for them as +learns manners</em>.”</p> + +<p>“A good suggestion,” said Trevannion, laughing; “will you pay for me, +Hamilton?”</p> + +<p>“Willingly,” replied Hamilton, in a low, deep tone, “if, on inquiry, +I find her good manners are the result of good feeling.”</p> + +<p>“I am excessively indebted to you,” replied Trevannion, coloring; +“and feel exceedingly honored by the solicitude of Ferrers' friend.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How could we?” “Is it likely?” “No, indeed.” “I dare say!” “Very fine!” +sounded on all sides.</p> + +<p>“Hear me to the end,” said Hamilton; “I have not much to say.”</p> + +<p>“Two speeches in one night!” said Jones. “Never was such condescension.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton took no notice of the jeering remarks round him, but having +obtained a little silence, continued—</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“A very desirable position; rather too much for imagination,” +remarked Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“As he would have been. He wouldn't have been merciful!” +exclaimed Meredith.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I shall say nothing more,” said Hamilton. “I do not often make +a request.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I! oh, I wish just what Hamilton has said—you know I wished it +long ago.”</p> + +<p>“What Louis says shall be the law,” said Jones. “We won't refuse him +any thing.”</p> + +<p>“Especially in this matter,” said Salisbury. “He's a brick, and so is +his majesty, after all. My best endeavors for your side, Louis.”</p> + +<p>“And mine,” said Jones.</p> + +<p>“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 Casson, 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.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XV">Chapter XV.</p> + + +<p>“Where is Louis Mortimer?” asked Hamilton, the next Saturday afternoon, +about a quarter of an hour after dinner. “Does any one know where +Louis Mortimer is?”</p> + +<p>“Here I am, Hamilton, <em>prèt à vous servir</em>, as Monsieur Gregoire would +say!” cried Louis, starting from behind the school-room door.</p> + +<p>“Are you engaged this afternoon?”</p> + +<p>“Never, when you want me!” exclaimed Louis.</p> + +<p>Hamilton looked gratified, but checked the expression as soon as he +was aware of it.</p> + +<p>“That is not right, Louis; I never wish, and never ought, to be an +excuse for breaking an engagement.”</p> + +<p>“But suppose I make your possible requirements a condition of my +engagements,” said Louis, archly; “you have no objection to that, +have you?”</p> + +<p>“Only I cannot imagine such a case.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“To whom were you engaged in default of my sufferance?”</p> + +<p>“I was going to stay with Casson,” replied Louis, hesitatingly. “He has +a cold and headache, and he asked me if I would stay with him in the +class-room, where he is obliged to stay while we are out.”</p> + +<p>“Casson!” said Hamilton, contemptuously; “you were not talking to him +just now?”</p> + +<p>“No; I was only listening to Ferrers. He was telling me about a wager +Frank had just laid with Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>“How is it you prefer Casson to your friend Clifton?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Hamilton, I don't much like Casson; but he asked me, poor fellow. +Charlie's engaged to West—our days are Sunday, Monday, and Thursday.”</p> + +<p>“Which of you is first now?”</p> + +<p>“Charles is, to-day,” said Louis; “he is so very clever, Hamilton.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Louis looked gravely in Hamilton's face, and put his other hand on that +he held. Hamilton drew his own quickly away.</p> + +<p>“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 <em>Damon</em> and <em>Pythia</em> in this touching manner, to so large an +audience. It partakes slightly of the absurd.”</p> + +<p>Louis colored, and seemed a little hurt; but he replied, “I am afraid +I am very girlish sometimes.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Are we going to the downs?” asked Louis.</p> + +<p>Before Hamilton could answer, Frank Digby, one of the large audience +alluded to, came up. “Of course,” he replied; “Hamilton is one of our +party.”</p> + +<p>“One of your party?” asked Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Your majesty's oblivious of the fact,” said Frank, “that among the +many offices, honorary and distinctive, held by your most gracious +self, the presidency of the ‘Ashfield Cricket Club’ is not altogether +one of the most insignificant.”</p> + +<p>“We will thank our faithful amanuensis to become our deputy this +afternoon,” said Hamilton; “having a great desire to refresh ourself +with a quiet discourse on the beauties of Nature.”</p> + +<p>“No cricket this afternoon, Hamilton!” cried Louis; “I shall be so +much disappointed if you go!”</p> + +<p>“<em>No cricket!</em>” exclaimed Frank: “we will enter into a conspiracy, and +dethrone Edward, if he refuses to come <em>instanter</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Dethrone me by all means, this afternoon,” said Hamilton; “my deposition +will save me a great deal of trouble. I am only afraid that my freedom +from state affairs would be of short duration; my subjects appear to be +able to do so little without me.”</p> + +<p>“Hear him!” exclaimed Jones, laughing; “hear king Log!”</p> + +<p>“No favoritism!” cried Smith; “I bar all partiality. We'll treat you in +the Gaveston fashion, Louis, if you don't persuade your master to accede +to our reasonable demands.”</p> + +<p>“That would be treason against my own comforts,” said Louis, laughing, +and struggling unsuccessfully to rise from the ground, where he had been +playfully thrown by Salisbury. “To the rescue! your majesty; I cry help!”</p> + +<p>“To the rescue!” shouted Reginald, pouncing suddenly upon Salisbury, and +diverting his attention from Louis who would have recovered his feet, but +for the intervention of one or two of the party.</p> + +<p>“Your majesty perceives,” said Frank, “that a rebellion is already +broken out. A word from you may compose all.”</p> + +<p>“I have engaged to walk with Louis Mortimer, and I declare I will not +stir anywhere without him,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“We cannot do without you, Hamilton,” said Trevannion, who had just +joined the council. “You are engaged for all the meetings.”</p> + +<p>“Which meetings have no right to be convened without the concurrence +of the president;—eh, Mr. Secretary?” rejoined Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Of course you can please yourself,” said Trevannion, proudly.</p> + +<p>“Let Louis get up, Jones,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Does your majesty concede, or not?” said Jones, who was sitting +upon Louis.</p> + +<p>“I will answer when you let him get up.”</p> + +<p>Jones suffered Louis to rise, breathless and hot with his laughing +exertions to free himself from durance vile.</p> + +<p>“I will come, on condition that Louis comes too.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly,” said Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“And join our game, mind,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” exclaimed Smith; “that's decidedly another affair. You can't play, +Sir Piers, can you?”</p> + +<p>“He can learn,” said Hamilton, who was perfectly aware of his ignorance.</p> + +<p>“I've not the smallest objection,” said Jones, “as I'm on the opposition +side.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I,” cried Salisbury; “though I should be a loser, as is probable.”</p> + +<p>“Really, Hamilton,” exclaimed Trevannion, sulkily, “it's impossible! +He'll only be in the way. I never saw such a fuss about a boy; it's +quite absurd. If you want him, let him look on.”</p> + +<p>“I don't like cricket,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Humbug!” exclaimed Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“I shall be in the way, as Trevannion says,” continued Louis; “I am +sure I shall never learn.”</p> + +<p>“ ‘<em>Patientia et perseverantia omnia vincunt</em>,’ ” remarked Frank; +“which may be freely translated in three ways:</p> + +<p class="poem1">‘If a weary task you find it,</p> +<p class="poem1">Persevere, and never mind it;’</p> + +<p>or,</p> + +<p class="poem1">‘Never say die;’</p> + +<p>or, thirdly,</p> + +<p class="poem1">‘If at first you don't succeed,—try, try again,’ ”</p> + +<p>“Louisa, I am ashamed for you,” said Hamilton; “and insist +on the exhibition of a more becoming spirit.”</p> + +<p>“That's right, Hamilton,” cried Reginald; “make him learn.”</p> + +<p>Louis pleaded as much as he dared, in dread of a few thumps, +friendly in intent, but vigorous in execution, from Salisbury, +and a second shaking from Hamilton, but all in vain, and they +sallied forth. Trevannion fastened on Hamilton, and grumbled +ineffectual remonstrances till they reached a convenient spot +for their game. Here, under the active supervision of Hamilton, +Salisbury, and Reginald, Louis was duly initiated; and after a +couple of hours' play they returned home, Louis being in some +doubt as to whether his fingers were not all broken by the +concussion of a cricket-ball, but otherwise more favorably +disposed towards the game than heretofore. He was, likewise, +not a little gratified by the evident interest most of the +players took in his progress. Hamilton had entirely devoted +himself to his instruction, encouraged him when he made an +effort, and laughed at his cowardliness, and Salisbury had +been scarcely less kind.</p> + +<p>As they entered the playground, Salisbury held up a silver +pencil-case to Frank:</p> + +<p>“Remember, Frank,” said he, warningly.</p> + +<p>“Do you think I've forgotten?” said Frank; “my memory's not quite +so treacherous, Mr. Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>“What's that, Salisbury?” said Jones.</p> + +<p>“Only my wager.”</p> + +<p>“Wager!” repeated Hamilton. “What absurdity is Frank about to +perpetrate now?”</p> + +<p>“He is going to make Casson swallow some medicine of his own +concoction. My pencil-case against his purse, contents and all, +he isn't able to do it. Casson's too sharp.”</p> + +<p>“I am surprised,” said Hamilton, “that Frank is not above playing +tricks on that low boy. I thought you had had enough of it, Frank.”</p> + +<p>Frank laughed;—“No, he has foiled me regularly twice lately, and +I am determined to pay him off for shamming this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“I think it is real,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Then he has all the more need of medicine,” said Frank; “and if he +supposes it, my physic will do him as much good as any one else's.”</p> + +<p>“You'll certainly get yourself into some serious scrape some day +with these practical jokes, Frank,” said Hamilton. “It is a most +ungentlemanly propensity.”</p> + +<p>“Hear, hear,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“What's that? Who goes there?” said Frank, directing the attention +of the company to the figure of a tall woman neatly dressed in black +silk, with an old-fashioned bonnet of the coal-scuttle species, who +was crossing from the house to the playground at the moment; the lady +in question being no other than the housekeeper, clothes-mender, &c., +to Dr. Wilkinson introduced by Mr. Frank Digby as Gruffy, more properly +rejoicing in the name of Mrs. Guppy.</p> + +<p>“It's Gruffy, isn't it? Where is she going, I wonder.”</p> + +<p>Without waiting for an answer, Frank flew round the house, and +disappeared in the forbidden regions of the kitchen.</p> + +<p>“What is he after?” said Meredith. “I suspect we shall have some +fun to-night.”</p> + +<p>“I do wish Frank wouldn't be so fond of such nonsense,” said Hamilton, +angrily. “Come, Louis, and take a turn till the tea-bell rings.”</p> + +<p>They had taken two or three turns up and down in front of the +school-room, when the bell rang, and Frank Digby came back full +of glee.</p> + +<p>“I've done it, Salisbury,” he cried, as he threw his hat in the +air. “I've done it. I shall kill two birds with one stone. I'm sure +to win; it's all settled; only I must be allowed to put the school-room +clock forward half an hour.”</p> + +<p>“That wasn't in the bargain,” said Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“It wasn't out of it, at any rate,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“It's all fair,” said several voices; “he may do it which way +he pleases.”</p> + +<p>“Remember, <em>tace</em>,” said Frank. “<em>Tace</em> is the candle that +lights Casson to bed to-night.”</p> + +<p>“I promise nothing, Frank,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Nevertheless you'll keep it,” said Frank, laughing.</p> + +<p>When tea was over, Frank disappeared rather mysteriously.</p> + +<p>Salisbury had just begun to make use of one of the pile of books he had +brought to the table in the class-room, when a notification was brought +to him from the school-room, that Mrs. Guppy wanted to speak to him.</p> + +<p>“Bother take her!” he exclaimed. “Why can't she come and speak to me? +Interrupting a fellow at his work! Don't take my place; I shall be back +presently.”</p> + +<p>Some time, however, elapsed, and no Salisbury. Now and then a few +wonderments were expressed as to how Frank's wager would be won, and +as to what Mrs. Guppy could want with Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“Where is Frank, I wonder?” said one. “Just see, Peters, if Casson's +gone yet.”</p> + +<p>Peters departed, and returned with the news that Casson had gone to bed +a little while before.</p> + +<p>“The farce has begun, I suspect,” said Meredith. “It's more than half +an hour since Salisbury went,—and depend upon it, wherever he is, +there is Frank.”</p> + +<p>At this moment Salisbury rushed into the room, and throwing himself +in a sitting posture on the floor, with his back against the wall as +if completely exhausted, laughed on without uttering a word, till his +mirth became so infectious, that nearly all the room joined him.</p> + +<p>“Well, Salisbury!” “Well, Salisbury!” “What is it?” “Tell us.” “Have +done laughing, do, you wretch, you merry-andrew.” “Do be sensible.”</p> + +<p>“Sensible!” groaned Salisbury, laying his head against a form; +“oh, hold me, somebody—I'm quite knocked up with laughing. It's +enough to make a fellow insensible for the rest of his life.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what is it, madcap?” said Reginald, jumping up from his seat, +and approaching him in a threatening attitude.</p> + +<p>“Frank Digby!” said Salisbury, going off into another paroxysm +of laughter.</p> + +<p>“Shake him into a little sense, Mortimer,” said Jones.</p> + +<p>“Come, Salisbury, what is it?” said several more, coming up to him.</p> + +<p>Salisbury sat upright and wiped his eyes.</p> + +<p>“It was the clearest case of stabbing a man with his own sword I ever +saw. I don't know whether I shall ever get it out for laughing, but +I'll try.”</p> + +<p>Louis looked up at Hamilton, rather anxious to get nearer to Salisbury, +but Hamilton wrote on as if determined neither to let Louis move, nor +to pay any attention himself, and Louis dared not ask.</p> + +<p>“Well, you know, Mrs. Guppy sent for me. I went off in a beautiful humor, +as you may imagine, and found her ladyship in a great dressing-gown, +false front, and spectacles, surrounded by little boys in various stages +of Saturday night's going to bed, tucking up Casson very comfortably.</p> + +<p>“ ‘Oh, Mr. Salisbury,’ said she, ‘I'll speak with you presently,—will +you be so good as to wait there a minute?’</p> + +<p>“Well, I thought she looked very odd, but she spoke just the same +as ever; and being very cross, I said, ‘I am in a hurry; perhaps +when you've done you'll call on me in the study,’ Whereupon her +ladyship comes straight out of the room, and says on the landing, +in Frank Digby's voice, ‘Know me by this token, <em>I am mixing a +black draught by the light of a Latin candle</em>.’ ”</p> + +<p>Salisbury burst out into a fresh fit of laughter, in which he was +joined by all present except Hamilton, who steadily pursued his work +with an unmoved countenance.</p> + +<p>“Well, you may imagine,” said Salisbury, when he had recovered himself, +“I wasn't in a hurry then. I came back and waited behind the door very +patiently. You never saw any thing so exact—every motion and tone. He +had pulled the curls over his eyes, and tied up his face with a great +handkerchief over the cap, as Gruffy has been doing lately when she +had the face-ache, and he went about among the little chaps in such +a motherly, bustling way, it was quite affecting. Sally, who helped +him, hadn't the least idea it wasn't Gruffy. However, the best of it +is to come,” said Salisbury, pausing a moment to recover the mirth +which the recollection produced:—“He was stirring up a concoction +of cold tea, ink and water, slate-pencil dust, sugar, mustard, and +salt, when I thought” (Salisbury's voice trembled violently) “that I +heard a step I ought to know, and I had hardly time to get completely +behind the door when it was widely opened, and in walked the doctor!”</p> + +<p>A burst of uproarious mirth drowned the voice of the speaker. There +was a broad smile on Hamilton's face, though he did not raise his head. +As soon as Salisbury could speak, he continued:</p> + +<p>“ ‘Oh!’ said I to myself, ‘it's all up with you, Mr. Frank,’ and I +felt a little desirous of concealing my small proportions as much +as might be. What Frank might feel I can't say, but he seemed to +be very busy, and, as he turned round to the doctor, put up his +handkerchief to his face.</p> + +<p>“ ‘Does your face ache, Mrs. Guppy?’ says the doctor; and—imagine the +impudence of the boy—he answered, it was a little troublesome. ‘How +is Clarke this evening?—I hear he has been asleep this afternoon.’ +I imagine Frank has as much idea of the identity of Clarke as I have—I +don't even know who he is, much less that he was ill—but he answered +just as Gruffy would do, with her handkerchief up to her mouth, ‘Rather +better, sir, I think—he was asleep when I saw him last, and I didn't +disturb him.’ ‘Hem,’ said the doctor, ‘and who's this?’ ”</p> + +<p>The audience was here so convulsed with laughter that Salisbury could +not proceed; Louis could not help joining the laugh, though rather +checked by the immovable gravity of Hamilton's countenance.</p> + +<p>“Really, Hamilton,” he said, “I wonder how Frank could tell such +stories.”</p> + +<p>“He doesn't think them so,” said Hamilton, abruptly.</p> + +<p>“Well, Salisbury!” “Well, Salisbury!” exclaimed several impatient +voices. “The impudence of the fellow.” “How will he ever get out +of it?” “Get on, Salisbury.” “The idea of joking with the doctor.” +“Go on, Salisbury.” “What a capital fellow he'd make for one of those +escaping heroes in romances—he'd never stay to have his head cut off.”</p> + +<p>“Well, and the doctor says, ‘Who's this, Mrs. Guppy? Casson? How—what's +the matter with you? How long have you been here?’ ‘Just come to bed, +sir,’ says Casson; and then the doctor makes a few inquiries about +his terrible headache, et cetera; and Mrs. Guppy had a twinge of the +toothache, and could only let the doctor know by little and little how +she had thought it better to put him to bed.</p> + +<p>“ ‘And that is medicine for him?’</p> + +<p>“The doctor looked very suspiciously at the cup, I fancy, for his tone +was rather short and sulky. Frank seemed a little daunted, but he soon +got up his spirits again, and, stirring up the mess, was just going to +give it to Casson, when, lo! another strange footfall was heard; doctor +turned round (I was in a state of fright, I assure you, lest he should +discover me) and in marched the real Simon Pure! It was a picture—oh! +if I had been an artist:—there stood Gruffy, in her best black silk, +looking more puzzled than angry; Frank—I couldn't see what he looked +like, but I'll suppose it, as he says—and doctor turning from one +to the other with a face as red as a turkey-cock, and looking so +magnificent!”</p> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="463" height="563" src="images/lsd07.png" id="lsd07.png" + title="The counterfeit Mrs. Guppy." + alt="A boy in bed being attended to by a ‘woman’, the headmaster, and other boys."> +</p> + +<h4>The counterfeit Mrs. Guppy.</h4> + +<p>“Poor Frank!” exclaimed several laughing voices.</p> + +<p>“Well, at last Fudge found words, and in such a tone, exclaimed, +‘<span class="sc">Mrs. Guppy</span>! who is <span class="sc">this</span>, then?’ Then she stormed out; ‘Ay, +sir, who is it, indeed? perhaps you will inquire.’ I didn't see what +followed, for my range of vision was rather circumscribed—but I imagine +that doctor pulled off part of Frank's disguise, for the next words I +heard were, ‘<em>Digby</em>, this is <em>intolerable</em>!’ uttered in the doctor's +most magnificent anger—‘What is the meaning of this?’ Frank said +something about <em>a wager</em> and <em>a little fun, meaning no harm</em>, et cetera; +and Fudge gave him such a lecture, finishing off by declaring, that +‘if he persisted in perpetrating such senseless follies he should find +some other place to do so in than his house.’ All the little boys were +laughing, but doctor stopped them all with a thundering ‘<span class="sc">Silence</span>!’ and +then he asked what Frank had in that cup. ‘Cold tea, sir,’ said Digby, +quite meekly. ‘And what's this at the bottom?’ ‘Sugar, sir,’ I saw the +doctor's face—it was not one to be trifled with, but there seemed +a sort of grim smile there, too, when he gave the cup to Frank and +insisted upon his drinking it all up; and Digby did it, too—he dared +not refuse.”</p> + +<p>Another peal of laughter rang through the room, in which Hamilton +joined heartily.</p> + +<p>“Then,” continued Salisbury, “doctor said he hoped he would feel +a little better for his dose—and, becoming as grave as before, he +desired he would return Mrs. Guppy's things, and beg her pardon for +his impertinence.”</p> + +<p>“He didn't do so, surely?” said Jones.</p> + +<p>“He did, though,” replied Salisbury; “and I wouldn't have been him if +he'd been obstinate; but he added—I wondered how even <em>he</em> dared—<em>I've +saved you a little trouble, ma'am, there are six of them in bed</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! oh! disgraceful!” exclaimed Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“What did Fudge say?” asked Smith.</p> + +<p>“ ‘<span class="sc">This to my face, sir</span>!’ and then, what he was going to do I don't know, +but Frank was quite frightened, and begged pardon so very humbly that +at last Fudge let him off with five hundred lines of Virgil to be done +before Wednesday evening, and then sent him to bed—and there he is, +for he was too much alarmed to play any more tricks.”</p> + +<p>“I'd have given something to have seen it,” cried one, when the laugh +was a little over.</p> + +<p>“I think,” said Jones, “all things considered, that the doctor was +tolerably lenient.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! Digby's a little bit of a favorite, I fancy,” said Meredith.</p> + +<p>“Not a bit,” said Reginald. “What do you say, Hamilton?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing,” said Hamilton, shortly.</p> + +<p>“One would think you never liked a joke, Hamilton,” said Peters.</p> + +<p>“Nor do I, when it is so low as to be practical,” said Hamilton. +“I feel no sympathy whatever with him.”</p> + +<p>The event furnished idle conversation enough for that evening, and it +was long before it was forgotten; and, in spite of Frank's reiterated +boast that he did not care, and his apparent participation in the +mirth occasioned by his failure, it required the utmost exercise of +his habitual good-humor to bear equally the untiring teasing of his +school-fellows, and the still more trying coldness and sarcasm of +his master, whose manner very perceptibly altered towards him for +some time after. Casson took care that no one in the lower school +should be ignorant of Frank's defeat, and stimulated the little boys +to tease him—but this impertinence, being an insult to the dignity of +the seniors, was revenged by them as a body, and the juvenile tormentors +were too much awe-struck and alarmed to venture on a repetition of their +offence.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XVI">Chapter XVI.</p> + + +<p>During Louis' frequent walks with Hamilton, it must not be supposed +that his home and home-doings were left out of the conversation; before +very long, Hamilton had made an intimate mental acquaintance with all +his little friend's family, their habits of life, and every other +interesting particular Louis could remember. Hamilton was an excellent +listener, and never laughed at Louis' fondness for home, and many were +the extracts from home-letters with which he was favored; nay, sometimes +whole letters were inflicted on him.</p> + +<p>Among the many delightful topics of home history, Louis dwelt on few +with more pleasure and enthusiasm than the social musical evenings, +and said so much on them, that Hamilton's curiosity was at length +aroused, after hearing Louis sing two or three times, to wonder what +a madrigal could be like. Louis tried to satisfy this craving by +singing the treble part, and descanting eloquently on the manner in +which the other parts ought to come in; but all in vain he repeated, +“There now, Hamilton, you see this is the <em>contralto</em> part; and when +this bit of the <em>soprano</em> is sung, it comes in so beautifully, and the +bass is crossing it, and playing hide and seek with the tenor.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton was obtuse, but at length, by fagging very hard with one +or two boys in the school-room, and getting one of the ushers, who +generally performed a second in all the musical efforts in the school, +to make some kind of bass, Louis presented his choir one evening in the +playground, and made them sing, to the great rapture of the audience.</p> + +<p>After this exhibition, the whole school seemed to have a fever for +madrigals; nothing was heard about the playground but scraps of that +which Louis had taken pains to drill into his party; and one or two +came to Louis and Reginald to learn to take a second part. In play-hours, +nothing seemed thought of but part-singing, and suddenly the propriety +of giving a grand public concert was started; and after a serious debate, +a singing-class was established, Louis being declared president, or +master of the choir.</p> + +<p>We will not say how fussy Louis was on the occasion; but he went about +very busily trying the voices of his school-fellows for a day or two +after his appointment, and picking out the best tones for his pupils. +Casson owned a very fine singing voice, though it was one of the most +rude in speaking, and having been partially initiated in the mystery +before, by Louis was declared a treasure. Frank Digby was another +valuable acquisition; for, joined to an extremely soft, full <em>contralto</em> +voice, he possessed, in common with his many accomplishments, a refined +ear and almost intuitive power of chiming in melodiously with any thing. +Salisbury was a very respectable bass, as things went; and Reginald, who +was certainly incapacitated for singing treble, declared his intention of +assisting him, being quite confident that his voice would be a desirable +adjunct. The members of the class having at last been decided on, a +subscription was raised, and Hamilton was commissioned to purchase what +was necessary, the first convenient opportunity; and accordingly, the +next half-holiday, he obtained leave for Louis to accompany him, and +set off on his commission. He had scarcely left the school-room when +Trevannion met him, and volunteered to accompany him.</p> + +<p>“I shall be very glad of your company,” said Hamilton; “I am going to +choose the music. You may stare when I talk of choosing music—it is +well I have so powerful an auxiliary, or I am afraid I should not give +much satisfaction to our committee of taste.”</p> + +<p>“What powerful auxiliary are you depending on?” said Trevannion; +“I shall be a poor one.”</p> + +<p>“You—oh, yes!” exclaimed Hamilton; “a very poor one, I suspect. +I was speaking of Louis Mortimer; he is going with me.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” said Trevannion, coldly; “you will not want me, then!”</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked Hamilton. “We shall, I assure you, be very glad of +your company.”</p> + +<p>“So will Hutton and Salisbury,” said Trevannion; “and I can endure my +own company when I am not wanted;”as he spoke, he walked away.</p> + +<p>Hamilton turned, and looked after his retreating figure, as, drawn up +to its full height, it quickly disappeared in the crowd of boys, who +were chaffering with the old cake-man. His puzzled countenance soon +resumed its accustomed gravity, and with a slight curl of the lip, +he laid his hand on Louis' arm, and drew him on.</p> + +<p>“Trevannion is offended,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“He's welcome,” was the rejoinder.</p> + +<p>“But it is on my account, Hamilton,” said Louis, anxiously; +“I cannot bear that you should quarrel with him for me.”</p> + +<p>“I have not quarrelled,” said Hamilton, coldly. “If he chooses +to be offended, I can't help it.”</p> + +<p>“But he is an older friend than I am in two senses—let me go after +him and tell him I am not going. I can go with you another afternoon.”</p> + +<p>Louis drew his arm away as he spoke, and was starting off, when +Hamilton seized him quite roughly, and exclaimed in an angry tone, +“You shall do no such thing, Louis! Does he suppose I am to have no +one else but himself for my friend—<em>friend</em>, indeed!” he repeated. +“It's all indolence, Louis.”</p> + +<p>Louis looked up half alarmed, startled at his vehemence.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” said Hamilton, relaxing his hold, and laughing as he spoke, +“perhaps if I had not been so lazy, I should have found a more suitable +friend before; as it is, I do not yet find Trevannion indispensable—by +no means,” he added, scornfully.</p> + +<p>“Dear Hamilton,” said Louis, “I shall be quite unhappy if I think I am +the cause of your thinking ill of Trevannion. You used to be such great +friends.”</p> + +<p>“None the worse, perhaps, because we are aware of a common absence +of perfection in each other,” replied Hamilton, whose countenance had +gradually regained its calmness. “It is foolish to be angry, Louis, +but I was; and now let there be an end of it—I don't mean to forsake +you for all the Trevannions in Christendom.”</p> + +<p>They had by this time reached the playground gates, and were here +overtaken by Frank Digby, who had before engaged to be one of the +party.</p> + +<p>“Better late than never,” said Louis, in reply to his breathless +excuses. “I had my doubts whether your pressing engagements with +Maister Dunn would allow you to accompany us.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I got rid of him pretty soon,” said Frank; “only just as I had +wedged myself out of the phalanx, who should appear but Thally.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Who?</em>” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Tharah,” repeated Frank.</p> + +<p>“Sally Simmons, the boot-cleaner, Louis,” said Hamilton; +“you are up to nothing yet.”</p> + +<p>“She's a queer stick,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“What a strange description of a woman!” remarked Louis. +“It is as clear as a person being a brick.”</p> + +<p>“And so it is,” replied Frank; “only it's just the reverse.”</p> + +<p>“Up comes Thally with my Sunday boots as bright as her fair hands +could make them, and wanted me to look at a hole she had scraped in +them, nor, though I promised to give her my opinion of her handiwork +when I came back, was I allowed to depart till she had permission +to take them to her ‘fayther.’ ”</p> + +<p>Nothing worthy of record passed during the walk to Bristol till +the trio reached College Green. Here Louis began to look out for +music-shops, while Frank entertained his companions with a running +commentary on the shops, carriages, and people. It was a clear, bright +day, and Clifton seemed to have poured itself out in the Green.</p> + +<p>“Look there, Hamilton, there's a whiskered don! What a pair of +moustaches! Hamilton, where is your eye-glass? Here's Trevannion's +shadow—was there ever such a Paris! Good gracious! as the ladies say, +what a frightful bonnet! Isn't that a love of a silk, Louis? Now, +Hamilton, did you ever see such a guy?”</p> + +<p>Hamilton was annoyed at these remarks, made by no means in a low tone, +and, in his eagerness to change the conversation and get further from +Frank, he unfortunately ran against a lady who was getting out of a +carriage just drawn up in front of a large linen-draper's shop, much +to the indignation of a young gentleman who attended her.</p> + +<p>Hamilton begged pardon, with a crimson face; and, as the lady kindly +assured him she was not hurt, Louis recognized in her his quondam +friend, Mrs. Paget, and darted forward to claim her acquaintance.</p> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="465" height="561" src="images/lsd08.png" id="lsd08.png" + title="The meeting with Mrs. Paget." + alt="Two boys looking on as a lady exits a carriage."> +</p> + +<h4>The meeting with Mrs. Paget.</h4> + +<p>“What, Louis! my little Master Louis!” exclaimed the lady; +“I did not expect to see you. Where have you come from?”</p> + +<p>“I am at school, ma'am, at Dr. Wilkinson's, and I had leave to come +out with Hamilton this afternoon. This is Hamilton, ma'am—Hamilton, +this is Mrs. Paget.”</p> + +<p>“Our rencontre, Mr. Hamilton,” said the lady, “has been most fortunate; +for without this contretemps I should have been quite ignorant of Master +Louis' being so near—you must come and see me, dear. Mr. Hamilton, I +must take him home with me this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“It is impossible, ma'am,” said Hamilton, bluntly; “I am answerable +for him, and he must go back with me.”</p> + +<p>“Can you be so inexorable?” said Mrs. Paget. “Will you come, too, and +Mr. Francis Digby—I beg your pardon, Mr. Frank, I did not see you.”</p> + +<p>“I beg yours, ma'am,” replied the affable Frank, with a most engaging +bow; “for I was so taken up with the tempting display on the green this +afternoon, that I only became aware this moment of my approximation to +yourself.”</p> + +<p>“The shops are very gay, certainly; but I should have thought that +you young gentlemen would not have cared much for the display. Now, +a tailor's shop would have been much more in your taste.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, ma'am, we came out with the express purpose of buying a silk +for the Lady Louisa.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder any lady should commission you to buy any thing for her.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” replied Frank, “I am renowned for my taste; and Hamilton is +equally well qualified. Can you recommend us a good milliner, ma'am?”</p> + +<p>“I am going to look at some bonnets,” said the lady. “But, Mr. Frank, I +half suspect you are quizzing. What Lady Louisa are you speaking of?”</p> + +<p>Frank had drawn up his face into a very grave and confidential twist, +when Mrs. Paget's equerry, the young gentleman before mentioned, offered +his arm, and, giving Frank a withering look, warned the lady of the time.</p> + +<p>“You are right. It is getting late,” she said. “Good-bye, dear boy. +Where are you now? Dr. Williams?”</p> + +<p>“Dr. Wilkinson's, Ashfield House,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Henry, will you remember the address?” said the lady.</p> + +<p>The young gentleman grunted some kind of acquiescence; and, +after due adieus, Mrs. Paget walked into the shop.</p> + +<p>“Frank, I'm ashamed of you,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“I am sure,” replied Frank, “I've been doing all the work; +I'm a walking exhibition of entertainment for man and beast.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton would not laugh, and, finding all remonstrances +unavailing, he quickened his pace and walked on in silence +till they reached the music-seller's, where, after some +deliberation, they obtained the requisite music, and, after +a few more errands, began to retrace their steps.</p> + +<p>The walk home was very merry. Louis, having unfastened the bundle, +tried over some of the songs, and taught Frank readily the contralto +of two. Then he wanted to try Hamilton, but this in the open air +Hamilton stoutly resisted, though he promised to make an effort at +some future time. After Frank and Louis had sung their duets several +times over to their own satisfaction while sitting under a hedge, +all the party grew silent: there was something so beautiful in the +stillness and brightness, that none felt inclined to disturb it. +At last, Louis suddenly began Eve's hymn:</p> + +<p class="poem1">“How cheerful along the gay mead</p> +<p class="poem2">The daisy and cowslip appear!</p> +<p class="poem1">The flocks, as they carelessly feed,</p> +<p class="poem2">Rejoice in the spring of the year;</p> +<p class="poem1">The myrtles that shade the gay bowers,</p> +<p class="poem2">The herbage that springs from the sod,</p> +<p class="poem1">Trees, plants, cooling fruits, and sweet flowers,</p> +<p class="poem2">All rise to the praise of my God.</p> +<p class="poem1"> </p> +<p class="poem1">“Shall man, the great master of all,</p> +<p class="poem2">The only insensible prove?</p> +<p class="poem1">Forbid it, fair gratitude's call!</p> +<p class="poem2">Forbid it, devotion and love!</p> +<p class="poem1"><span class="sc">Thee</span>, Lord, who such wonders canst raise,</p> +<p class="poem2">And still canst destroy with a nod,</p> +<p class="poem1">My lips shall incessantly praise,</p> +<p class="poem2">My soul shall be wrapped in my God.”</p> +<p class="poem3">—<span class="sc">Dr. Arne</span>.</p> + +<p>Frank joined in the latter part of the first verse, but was silent +in the second.</p> + +<p>“Why did you not go on, Frank?” asked Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“It was too sweet,” said Frank. “Louis, I envy you your thoughts.”</p> + +<p>“Do you?” said Louis, looking up quickly in his cousin's face, with +a bright expression of pleasure.</p> + +<p>“When you began that song,” continued Frank, “I was thinking of +those lines,</p> + +<p class="poem1">‘These are Thy glorious works, Parent of good,</p> +<p class="poem1">Almighty, Thine this universal frame,</p> +<p class="poem1">Thus wondrous fair; Thyself how wondrous then!’ ”</p> + +<p>“ ‘Thyself how wondrous then!’ ” repeated Hamilton, reverentially.</p> + +<p>“I don't know how it is, Louis,” said Frank; “in cathedrals, and +in beautiful scenery, when a grave fit comes over me, I sometimes +think I should like to be religious.”</p> + +<p>Louis squeezed his hand, but did not speak.</p> + +<p>“Take care, Frank,” said Hamilton with some emotion. “Be very, very +careful not to mistake sentiment for religion. I am sure it is so easy +to imagine the emotion excited by beauty of sight or sound, religious, +that we cannot, be too careful in examining the <em>reason</em> of such +feelings.”</p> + +<p>“But how, Hamilton?” said Frank. “You would not check such impressions?”</p> + +<p>“No; it is better that our thoughts should be carried by beauty to the +source of all beauty; but to a poetical, susceptible imagination this +is often the case where there is not the least vital religion, Frank. +The deist will gaze on the splendid landscape, and bow in reverence +to the God of nature, but a Christian's thoughts should fly to his +God at all times; the light and beauty of the scenes of nature should +be within himself. When a person's whole religion consists in these +transient emotions, he ought to mistrust it, Digby.”</p> + +<p>“But, dear Hamilton,” said Louis, after a few minutes' silence, +“we ought to be thankful when God gives us the power of enjoying +the beautiful things He has made. Would it not be ungrateful to +check every happy feeling of gratitude and joy for the power to see, +and hear, and enjoy, with gladness and thankfulness, the loveliness +and blessings around?”</p> + +<p>“The height of ingratitude, dear Louis,” said Hamilton, emphatically. +“But I am sure you understand me.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure,” said Louis. “Many good gifts our Almighty Father has +given us, and one perfect gift, and the good gifts should lead us to +think more of the perfect <span class="sc">one</span>. I often have thought, Hamilton, of that +little girl's nice remark that I read to you last Sunday, about the +good and perfect gifts.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton did not reply, and for a minute or two longer they sat in +silence, when the report of a gun at a little distance roused them, +and almost at the same instant, a little bird Louis had been watching +as it flew into a large tree in front of them, fell wounded from branch +to branch, until it rested on the lowest, where a flutter among the +leaves told of its helpless sufferings.</p> + +<p>“I must get it, Hamilton!” cried Louis, starting up. “It is wounded.”</p> + +<p>“The branch is too high,” said Hamilton. “I dare say the poor thing is +dying; we cannot do it any good.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed I must try!” exclaimed Louis, scrambling partly up the immense +trunk of the tree, and slipping down much more quickly. “I wish there +were something to catch hold of, or to rest one's foot against.”</p> + +<p>“You'll never get up,” said Hamilton, laughing; “if you must get it, +mount my shoulders.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke he came under the tree, and Louis, availing himself of +the proffered assistance, succeeded in reaching and bringing down the +wounded bird, which he did with many expressions of gratitude to Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“I am sure you ought to be obliged,” said Frank. “Royalty lending itself +out as a ladder is an unheard-of anomaly. Pray, what are you going to do +with cock-sparrow now you have got him?”</p> + +<p>Louis only replied by laying some grass and leaves in the bottom of +his cap, and putting the bird on this extempore bed. He then seized +Hamilton's arm and urged him forward. Hamilton responded to Louis' +anxiety with some queries on the expediency of assisting wounded +birds if pleasant walks were to be thereby curtailed, and Frank, +after suggesting, to Louis' horror, the propriety of making a pie +of his favorite, walked on, singing,</p> + +<p class="poem1">“A little cock-sparrow sat upon a tree,”</p> + +<p>which, with variations, lasted till they reached the playground gates, +where Louis ran off to find Clifton, that he might enter into proper +arrangements for due attendance on his sparrow's wants.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XVII">Chapter XVII.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin; but he that +refraineth his lips is wise.”—<em>Prov.</em> x. 19. +</p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> </p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, +and not thine own lips.”—<em>Prov.</em> xxvii. 2. +</p> + + +<p>We are now considering Louis Mortimer under prosperity; a state +in which it is much more difficult to be watchful, than in that +of adversity. When he first came to school, his struggle was to +be consistent in maintaining his principles against ridicule and +fear of his fellow-creatures' judgment. In that he nearly failed; +and then came the hard trial we have related, the furnace from +whose fires he came so bright: and another trial awaited him, but +different still.</p> + +<p>By the beauty of conduct Divine grace <em>alone</em> had enabled him to observe, +he now won the regard of the majority of his school-fellows; and no one +meddled with him or his opinions. He was loved by many; liked by most, +and unmolested by the rest. We are told, “When a man's ways please the +Lord, even his enemies are at peace with him;”and this was Louis' +case. If a few remarks were now and then made on the singularity and +stiffness of his notions, the countenance of the seniors, and the +general estimation in which he was held, prevented any annoyance or +interference. His feet were now on smooth ground, and the sky was +bright above his head; and he began to forget that a storm had +ever been.</p> + +<p>One day between school-hours, when Louis and his brother were diligently +drilling the chorus, they were summoned to the drawing-room, where they +found the doctor standing talking with a lady, in the large bay-window. +Her face was turned towards the prospect beyond, and she did not see +them enter; and near her, leaning on the top of a high-backed chair, +stood a tall gentlemanly youth, whom Louis immediately recognized as +Mrs. Paget's esquire. The lady was speaking as they entered, and her +gentle lady-like tones fell very pleasantly on Louis' ears, and made +him sure he should like her, if even the words she had chosen had been +otherwise.</p> + +<p>“I have been quite curious to see him; my sister has said so much, +poor little fellow!”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson at this moment became aware of the presence of his pupils, +and, turning round, introduced them to the lady, and the lady in turn +to them, as Mrs. Norman.</p> + +<p>“I am personally a stranger to you, Master Mortimer,” said Mrs. Norman; +“but I have often heard of you. You know Mrs. Paget?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes!” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>“She is my sister, and, not being able to come herself to-day, she +commissioned me to bring an invitation for you and your brother to +spend the rest of this day with her, if Dr. Wilkinson will kindly +allow it.”</p> + +<p class="img"> +<img width="447" height="551" src="images/lsd09.png" id="lsd09.png" + title="The invitation." + alt="A lady being directed to a particular boy."> +</p> + +<h4>The invitation.</h4> + +<p>Louis looked at Dr. Wilkinson; and Reginald answered for himself—</p> + +<p>“I am much obliged, ma'am; and, if you please, thank Mrs. Paget +for me, but as it is not a half-holiday, I shall not be able to +come this afternoon. I shall be very glad to come when school is +over, if Dr. Wilkinson will allow me.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson smiled. “Mrs. Norman will, I am sure, excuse a +school-boy's anxiety to retain a hard-earned place in his class,” +he said. “I have given my permission, you may do as you please.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Paget will be so much disappointed,” said Mrs. Norman; +“are you anxious about your class, too, Master Louis?”</p> + +<p>Louis blushed, hesitated, and then looked from Reginald to the doctor, +but Dr. Wilkinson gave no assistance. Louis demurred a little; for he +had a place to lose that he had gained only the day before, and that, +probably, he might not be able to gain from Clifton for the rest of the +half-year. But at length, on another persuasive remark from Mrs. Norman, +he accepted the invitation in rather a confused manner; and, it being +decided that Reginald was to join them at dinner, he went away to make +some alteration in his dress. When he returned, Mrs. Norman carried +him off in her carriage, which was waiting at the door, having first +introduced him to her companion, as her son, Henry Norman.</p> + +<p>During the ride to Clifton, Louis became very communicative. He liked +Mrs. Norman very much, she was so very sweet, and now and then made +little remarks that reminded Louis of home; and then he was sure she +liked him; even if he had not guessed that the few words he first heard +from her lips referred to him, her very kind full eyes and affectionate +manner spoke of unusual interest, and Louis felt very anxious to rise +in her estimation. Things that are not sinful in themselves, become +sins from the accompanying motives; the desire of favor in the eyes +of so excellent a person was not wrong, had it been mixed with a wish +to adorn the doctrine of Christ, and thankfulness for the love and favor +given; but now Louis talked of things which, though he really believed +them, and of feelings which, though he had once really experienced them, +were not now the breathings of a heart that overflowed with all its +fulness of gratitude. He had quickness enough to see what was most +precious in his new friend's sight, and tried to ingratiate himself +with her, by dwelling on these subjects, and showing how much he had +felt on them. <em>Had felt</em>, for he had “left his first love.”</p> + +<p>Let it not be supposed that Louis meant to deceive—he deceived himself +as much as any one; but he was in that sad state when a Christian has +backslidden so far as to live on the remembrance of old joys, instead +of the actual possession of new.</p> + +<p>The carriage stopped, at length, at a house in York Crescent, where the +trio alighted. Mrs. Norman led Louis up stairs into the drawing-room, +while her son, who had scarcely spoken a word during the drive, stayed +a minute or two at the house-door, and then ran down the nearest flight +of steps leading to the carriage-road, jumped into the carriage, which +was just driving off, and paid a visit to the stables.</p> + +<p>The room into which Louis entered was very large, and littered so +with all descriptions of chairs, stools, and non-descript elegancies, +that it required some little ingenuity to reach the further end without +upsetting the one, or being overthrown by the others. Near one of the +three windows, reclining on a sofa, was Mrs. Paget, who welcomed Louis +with her usual warmth.</p> + +<p>“You see,” said she, “I am a prisoner. I sprained my ankle the very +day I saw you; and I am positively forbidden to walk. But where is +Master Reginald?”</p> + +<p>Louis informed Mrs. Paget of his brother's intentions, and, after +expressing her regrets at his non-appearance, the lady continued:</p> + +<p>“Now, sit near me, and let us have a little talk; I want to hear +how you are going on, and how many prizes you are likely to get. +But, perhaps, my dear, you would like to go on the downs, or into +the town, or to——Where's Henry, I wonder: where is Mr. Norman?” +she asked of a servant who came to remove a little tray that stood +beside her.</p> + +<p>“Just gone round to the stables, ma'am.”</p> + +<p>“Dear, how unfortunate! You can't think what a beautiful little horse +he has; I tell him it is quite a lady's horse. He will show it to you. +I can't think how he could go away this afternoon. You'll be very dull, +my dear—but my sister will take you out.”</p> + +<p>Louis assured her he should enjoy sitting with her.</p> + +<p>“That is very kind of you; very few of your age would care about +staying with a lame, fidgety, old woman.”</p> + +<p>Louis protested against the two last epithets, and as Mrs. Norman +had left the room he began talking of the pleasant ride he had had +with her, and how much he loved her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Paget warmly admitted every thing, only adding that in some +things she was a little too particular.</p> + +<p>“But, dear me! you must be very hungry,” she exclaimed, interrupting +herself. “How could I forget? Just ring the bell, dear boy—there's +lunch down stairs. Oh, never mind, here is Charlotte.”</p> + +<p>As she spoke, Mrs. Norman re-entered, and took Louis down to lunch.</p> + +<p>When he returned to the drawing-room, Mrs. Paget had her sofa moved +so as to face the window, and a little table was placed in front of +her. A low armchair was near her for Louis, and another quite in the +window Mrs. Norman took possession of, when she had provided herself +with some work.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a beautiful view!” exclaimed Louis, as he looked for the +first time out of the window. “How very, very beautiful! I think this +is the pleasantest situation in Clifton.”</p> + +<p>“It is very beautiful,” said Mrs. Norman. “But you have a magnificent +prospect at Dr. Wilkinson's.”</p> + +<p>“Dr. Wilkinson's is a very nice place, I believe, is it not?” said +Mrs. Paget. “It is a pity such a pretty place should be a school.”</p> + +<p>“Nay,” said Mrs. Norman, smiling; “why should you grudge the poor +boys their pleasure?”</p> + +<p>“I don't think they appreciate it,” said Mrs. Paget; “and, poor +fellows, they are always so miserable that they might as well be +miserable somewhere else.”</p> + +<p>“We are not at all miserable after the first week,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“I thought you were not to go to school again, my dear,” said +Mrs. Paget.</p> + +<p>“So I thought, myself, but papa wished me to go, and he is the +best judge.”</p> + +<p>“Well, dear it's a very nice thing that you are wise enough to see +it,—and you are happy?”</p> + +<p>“I should be very ungrateful not to be so ma'am; Dr. Wilkinson and +all the boys are so kind to me this half. It is so different from +the first quarter spent at school.”</p> + +<p>“They are kind, are they? Well, I dare say; they couldn't help it, +I'm sure,” replied Mrs. Paget. “I suppose you will have the medal +again this half year. I am sure you ought to have it to make up.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but I shouldn't have it to make up for last half, ma'am,” +said Louis, smiling.</p> + +<p>“But you will get it, I dare say,” said the lady.</p> + +<p>“I don't know,” said Louis; “perhaps—I think I have a very good +chance yet, but we never can tell exactly what Dr. Wilkinson thinks +about us. There are only one or two I am afraid of.”</p> + +<p>“I should think you needn't be afraid of any,” said Mrs. Paget. “I +told you, Charlotte, about that story we heard at Heronhurst last +summer—dear boy—you know he bore—”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” interrupted Mrs. Norman. “You have a large number of +school-fellows, Master Louis,” she added.</p> + +<p>“Yes, ma'am, there are seventy-six of us this half, so many that +we hardly know the names of the lower school.”</p> + +<p>“Is that M. <em>Ferrar</em> or <em>Ferrers</em> there still?” asked Mrs. Paget.</p> + +<p>“Yes, ma'am, and he is so much improved, you cannot think.”</p> + +<p>Louis looked very earnestly at her as she spoke, and she put her +hand on his forehead, stroking his hair off, while she replied,</p> + +<p>“He is very happy in having so kind a friend, I am sure; he ought +to have been expelled.”</p> + +<p>“Oh no, ma'am—I think kindness was much the best way,” said Louis; +and remembering how incautiously he had spoken of him before, he said +all that he could in his praise.</p> + +<p>The conversation then turned upon the school in general, and it +was astonishing to watch how much Louis said indirectly in his own +praise, and how nearly every thing seemed to turn in the direction +of <em>dear self</em>, in the history of his lessons, progress, and rivals—and +even when it branched off to his friends, among whom in the first rank +stood Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“You would so like Hamilton, he is so kind to me. I told you about him +before,” said Louis, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Is that the young gentleman who had charge of you the other day?” +asked Mrs. Paget.</p> + +<p>Louis answered in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>“I did not much like him, only one doesn't judge people fairly +at first, often.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Hamilton's such a good creature!” exclaimed Louis, in his energy +letting fall one end of a skein of silk he was holding. He gathered it +up, apologized, and resumed his defence of his friend.</p> + +<p>“He is, perhaps, a little blunt, but he is so sincere, and so steady +and kind, Dr. Wilkinson is very, <em>very</em> fond of him, I know; he +makes me sit by him every night, and I learn my lessons with him. +I am sure if it were not for him I should be terribly behind Clifton.”</p> + +<p>“I saw them coming out of Redland Chapel yesterday morning,” said +Mrs. Paget. “At least I saw Mr. Hamilton, but I did not see you.”</p> + +<p>Louis informed her of the division of the school on Sunday, and she +continued,</p> + +<p>“I noticed a very aristocratic young gentleman with Mr. Hamilton—quite +a contrast, so very handsome and elegant; who was he?”</p> + +<p>“Was he tall?” asked Louis; “and dressed in black, with a light +waistcoat?”</p> + +<p>“I don't know what waistcoat he had,” said Mrs. Paget, laughing. +“His dress was in perfect gentlemanly taste. He was, I should think, +tall for his age, and had dark hair and eyes.”</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt it was Trevannion; he is the handsomest fellow in the +school, except Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>“That he is not,” said Mrs. Paget, significantly.</p> + +<p>Louis blushed, and felt rather foolish, certainly not wholly insensible +to the injudicious hint.</p> + +<p>“Only Fred Salisbury is so different: he is not elegant, and yet he +is not awkward; he is rough and ready, and says all kinds of vulgar +things. He is very much liked among us, but I don't think Trevannion +is, though he gets his own way a great deal: he thinks nobody is equal +to himself, I know, but I am sure he is not a favorite.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?” said Mrs. Paget.</p> + +<p>“He is so very selfish, and so contemptuous, and so dreadfully offended +if Hamilton does not treat him with the deference he wants. I think we +know more of each other than any one else does, and no one would think, +in company, when Trevannion is smiling and talking so cleverly, that he +is so unamiable.”</p> + +<p>“He does not look like an ill-tempered person,” said the lady.</p> + +<p>“I don't think he is what is generally called an ill-tempered person; +for he never puts himself into passions, nor does he seem to mind many +things that make others very angry. But he is sometimes dreadfully +disdainful and haughty when any one offends him, and especially when +Hamilton seems to like anybody as well as himself. Only last Saturday +he was so much affronted because Hamilton had asked leave for me to go +into Bristol with him. When he found I was coming, he wouldn't go with +us. I think he is very jealous of me, though I begged Hamilton to let +me stay at home, and I was just going after him to call him back, only +Hamilton wouldn't let me. I did not like to see such old friends quarrel. +I am sure I would very gladly have stayed at home to keep peace.”</p> + +<p>“I am quite sure of that,” said Mrs. Paget. “But how came your perfect +Mr. Hamilton to choose such a friend?”</p> + +<p>“I have often wondered,” said Louis; “and last Saturday, when that +happened that I told you of just now, and Hamilton (he is so kind) +said he wouldn't give me up for anybody, he said he thought he made +Trevannion his friend because he was too lazy to find another for +himself.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Too lazy to find another?</em>” repeated Mrs. Paget.</p> + +<p>“Hamilton does not like taking trouble, generally,” said Louis; +“it is his greatest fault, I think. He takes things as they come. +I have often wished he would concern himself a little more about +the wrong things that go on among us. You know it would be of no +use my speaking about them, though I try sometimes; it is so much +easier to do right when the great boys support you.”</p> + +<p>“So it is, dear,” said Mrs. Paget, kindly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Norman had scarcely spoken during the whole conversation, though +she had once or twice laid down her work and looked very gravely at +Louis; but he had not noticed it; for he was so elated with himself, +and the relations of his own importance at school, and the idea of his +superiority above his school-fellows, that there was no room for any +thing else in his head, and he went on with the firm conviction that +both the ladies were, like every one else, extremely delighted and +interested in him and his sentiments. There had been another auditor +in the room almost ever since the beginning of the long chat, and that +was Henry Norman, who, when he had seen his horse and lunched, entered +the room unperceived by Louis or Mrs. Paget, and passed noiselessly +along to the furthest window, where he sat, with a book, hid by the +curtains from a careless glance. A few words caught his ear as he +was finding out his place; and, whether the matter of the first page +required deep consideration and digestion or not, we cannot pretend +to determine, not knowing the nature of the chosen volume, but it is +certain that that leaf was not turned over that afternoon, and the +eyes that professed to convey its meaning to the mind of the reader +not unfrequently wandered on the hills in the distant prospect, or, +on being recalled, on the nearer objects of Mrs. Paget's sofa—the +skein of silk and the pair of hands, which were the only portions +visible to him of the loquacious little visitor. That he was listening +with interest of an equivocal nature might be gathered from the +frequent, impatient knitting of the brow, biting of the lips, and +sudden laying down of the book altogether; but there he sat till Louis, +having flown off from Hamilton to the general school failings, had +finished relating the history of Frank Digby's memorable Saturday +night's exploit, and concluded by an emphatic delivery of his upright +sentiments on the heinousness of practical jokes. He paused a minute +to take breath, after a Philippic that elicited a small dose of +flattery from Mrs. Paget, and, with a face flushed with satisfaction +and excitement, stooped to pick up a fallen pair of scissors, when +Mrs. Norman, laying down her work looked again at him and uttered a +sound indicative of an intention of speaking. This time Louis was +fully aware of an expression in her countenance far from satisfactory, +but she had not time to express her sentiments, for at this moment +Reginald was announced, and a general move took place. Henry Norman +came forward and welcomed him, and then took him and Louis out on +the Crescent till dinner-time. Here they were joined by some of +Norman's acquaintances, whom he introduced to his visitors. Louis +thought uncomfortably, for a few minutes, of Mrs. Norman's look of +disapprobation; but he persuaded himself that there was nothing meant +by it, and soon became very lively. There was something he did not like +about Norman, who, though perfectly well-bred and attentive, showed a +degree of indifference and disregard to any thing he said or did, that +did not altogether suit Louis' present state of mind. If Louis addressed +him, he listened very politely, but with a slight, sarcastic smile, and +either returned a very short and cool reply, or, if the remark did not +require one, an inclination of the head, and turned immediately to one +of his other companions. Reginald did not much fancy him; but, upon the +whole, they managed to pass the time very pleasantly till they were +summoned to dinner.</p> + +<p>Several persons came in in the evening, and Louis was called upon by +Mrs. Paget to sing, “<em>Where the bee sucks</em>.” This led to other +songs, and Louis attracted the notice of a musical gentleman, who was +much pleased with him, and who gave him a general invitation to his +house. Louis was in the midst of his thanks when Reginald summoned him +to go home, and, in spite of Mrs. Paget's remonstrances and offers of +her carriage, carried his point.</p> + +<p>“Well, Louis, how did you get on?” said Reginald, as they were walking +home; “I think you must have been dreadfully bored with holding skeins +and talking fine for Mrs. Paget's edification for two hours at least, +to say nothing of all the stuffing you have had this evening.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I have been very happy,” said Louis. “Do you know Mr. Fraser has +invited me to his musical parties?”</p> + +<p>“I wish you joy, I am sure. What a nice woman Mrs. Norman seems!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Louis, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“<em>Yes</em>—that sounds very much like <em>no</em>,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“I did not mean it.” Louis recalled her manner lately towards him, +and mentally went over the conversation of the day.</p> + +<p>“Well, what's the matter?” asked Reginald.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid I have been very foolish; I talk so foolishly sometimes, +Reginald—I said so many foolish things this afternoon. I don't think +Mrs. Norman likes me.”</p> + +<p>“Rubbish! stuff and nonsense! Just like you, Louis, always imagining +somebody's displeased with you—I won't hear a word more; I have no +patience with you.”</p> + +<p>“Then you don't think she seemed vexed with me?”</p> + +<p>“Not I; and if she were, what's the odds? What difference need she make +in your happiness? What a wretched creature you'll make of yourself, +Louis, if you think so much of the opinion of every one—a person, too, +you may never see again.”</p> + +<p>Louis was relieved, and talked on other matters with his brother till +they reached home. He was a little annoyed to hear that Hamilton had +expressed considerable vexation at his going with Mrs. Norman before +afternoon school, and this, combined with the excitement and vanity +under which he labored, disturbed considerably the tranquillity of +his slumbers, and prevented his earnestly seeking that aid he so much +needed.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">Chapter XVIII.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful +spirit concealeth the matter.”—<em>Prov.</em> xi. 13. +</p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> </p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love, but he that +repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”—<em>Prov.</em> xvii. 9. +</p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> </p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“When pride cometh, then cometh shame.”—<em>Prov.</em> xi. 2. +</p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> </p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“A haughty spirit goeth before a fall.”—<em>Prov.</em> xvi. 18. +</p> + + +<p>Perhaps those who have read the first part of the story of Louis +Mortimer will remember that I there endeavored to explain the nature +of the Christian's warfare, and that I stated that there were sad +periods when the Christian, too confident in his own strength, perhaps +too much inclined to exult in his victories as evincing some latent +power in <em>himself</em>, becomes less watchful, and gradually falls back +in his glorious course. It is certain, that if we do not advance +we go back, and oh, how sad it is that redeemed sinners, called by +so holy a name as that of Christian, should, in any degree, forget +to whom they owe all their might to do well, as well as their final +salvation, that they should relax, in the least, their prayers, their +efforts in the strength of the Holy Spirit to press forward towards +the mark of the prize of their high calling. It is not that all those +who thus sadly backslide are allowed to fall into open sin. Many, by +the great mercy of their Lord, are preserved from thus dishonoring +His holy name and cause; but alas! too often is there a falling off +in devotion, in singleness of heart, in perseverance, in watchfulness +against besetting sins, when the prayers are fewer and colder, the +praises fainter, and the Christian, after languishing for a time +in this divided state, hardly making an effort to return, becomes +conscious, to his alarm, how far he has wandered, and feels with +our sweet poet, in the bitterness of his spirit,</p> + + +<p class="poem1">“Where is the blessedness I knew,</p> +<p class="poem2">When first I saw the Lord?</p> +<p class="poem1">Where is the soul-refreshing view</p> +<p class="poem2">Of Jesus and His word?</p> +<br> +<p class="poem1">“The peaceful hours I once enjoyed</p> +<p class="poem2">How sweet their memory still!</p> +<p class="poem1">But they have left an <em>aching void</em></p> +<p class="poem2"><em>The world can never fill</em>.”</p> + +<p>For the next fortnight the singing class was indefatigable, and owing +to the cultivated taste of Louis and Reginald, and the superior musical +education of one or two others, among whom Mr. Witworth and Frank were +not the least in importance, the members at length considered themselves +competent to exhibit before an audience.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, after Dr. Wilkinson had been favored with a specimen +of their skill, his permission was obtained to invite such of their +friends as they chose.</p> + +<p>Tickets of admission, which had been prepared before-hand, were then +sent out in various directions, accompanied by notes of invitation. +As soon as Mrs. Paget's arrived at its destination, a most kind answer +was dispatched to Louis as president, adding a request to be allowed +to provide refreshment for the performers; and, as her proposal was +hailed with three cheers, and gracefully accepted by Louis, on the +morning of the eventful day came grapes, peaches, biscuits, and wine, +which were very elegantly set out in the class-room by the committee.</p> + +<p>The concert passed off as propitiously as could be wished. Hamilton, +who, from utter want of ear, was totally incapacitated for singing, +acted the part of steward with Trevannion, Meredith, and one or two +others, with great decorum, and actually stood near Mrs. Paget during +part of the performance, listening quietly to Louis' praises with such +evident interest, that a few words of commendation he uttered quite +won the lady's heart, though she had certainly been prejudiced against +him before. It was remarked by some, that the doctor did not seem much +pleased with Louis' manners on this occasion; for, when Mrs. Paget, +between the parts, began to praise Louis' extraordinary musical +talents (as she was pleased to call them), and to relate how much +he pleased the company at her house, Dr. Wilkinson coolly replied, +that he considered he had been well taught, but doubted his having +more than an average good taste and general ability; and as his eye +turned upon Louis, who was moving rather affectedly and conceitedly +from rank to rank on his way to the refreshment-room, his forehead +wrinkled ominously, and his lips became more tightly compressed. He +was observed to watch Louis for a minute, and then turn suddenly away +as if disgusted.</p> + +<p>The madrigal concert took place about the end of the quarter, and on the +following Saturday afternoon, the monotony of Ashfield House was varied +by the arrival of a new scholar, in the person of Mr. Henry Norman, who +was placed as a parlor boarder with the doctor.</p> + +<p>When Hamilton and Louis returned from the playground together, +they discovered this young gentleman sitting on the table, carefully +balancing the doctor's chair with one of his feet, deeply immersed +in the contents of a new book with only partially cut leaves, left +by accident on the table. His back was turned towards them, and he +was so engrossed in the twofold occupation of reading and keeping the +heavy chair from falling, that he did not notice their entrance, and +Louis, not recognizing his figure at first, nor knowing that he was +expected, left the business of welcoming the stranger to his senior.</p> + +<p>“Our new school-fellow, Louis, I suppose,” said Hamilton, in a low tone, +as he scrutinized the lengthy figure before him. “I know that fellow, +Louis—he is a friend of yours.”</p> + +<p>Before Louis had time to answer, the low murmur had disturbed +Norman; and, looking up without altering his position in the least, +he acknowledged his acquaintance with Louis by a nod, and a careless +“How do you do?”</p> + +<p>Louis advanced directly with a warm welcome and out-stretched hand +that was met by two fingers of Norman's left hand, tendered in a +manner so offensive to Hamilton that he debated whether he should +turn the intruder out of window, or walk himself out of the door; +and concluded by drawing back in disdainful anger.</p> + +<p>Louis was not so ready to take offence, though he was sensitive +enough to feel a little hurt; and, turning round to his friend, +introduced Norman to him.</p> + +<p>Norman took a steady quick glance at Hamilton, and, though his lips +were full of propriety, there was something like a sarcastic smile +in his eyes.</p> + +<p>“You are not altogether a stranger to me, Mr. Hamilton, though, +I imagine, I am to you,” he said, as he allowed the chair to regain +its legs, and got off the table, throwing the book on another, +several yards distant.</p> + +<p>“I must confess you have the advantage of me,” said Hamilton, +coldly. “I was not aware that I had the honor of being known +to you.”</p> + +<p>“I assure you, then, that you had that honor.—Dear me!” he +added, as he threw himself into the doctor's chair, stretching +out his legs to their utmost length: “absurd of me to sit on that +table, when I might have initiated myself so admirably into the +art of reading made easy. Comfortable chair this of Fudge's—I beg +his pardon, Dr. Wilkinson's. I am so accustomed to that elegant +<em>nom du guerre</em> that I occasionally forget myself. The old +gentleman knows how to make himself comfortable; I suppose that +book belongs to him. I took the liberty of cutting a few leaves.”</p> + +<p>“Which will be a peculiar satisfaction to him, doubtless,” said +Hamilton; “and perhaps you may have the pleasure of hearing so +from his own lips.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Verbum sat</em>,” replied Norman. “It is a peculiar gratification, +Mr. Hamilton, to discover that your natural good sense is overcoming +your usual disinclination to notice those things which are not +<em>comme il faut</em> in your school-fellows, thereby depriving them of the +aid of your countenance and example in their little endeavors; and +I feel peculiar satisfaction in thus early becoming the recipient of +the good services bestowed by the blunt sincerity and kindliness +of your nature.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton crimsoned and stared; but there was nothing insolent in the +tone; it was inexplicable. That something was meant he could not doubt; +and presently, perceiving that Louis was uncomfortable and embarrassed, +he said haughtily,</p> + +<p>“I really am at a loss to understand you, sir; but your manner towards +your friend and mine is particularly unpleasant. What you may have +been used to I cannot pretend to know; but, whatever it be, you will +be kind enough to remember that here we are accustomed to the society +of gentlemen, and to treat each other as such.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Mr. Hamilton,” said Norman, blandly, slightly moving as if to +arrest Hamilton's progress towards the door, “you entirely misunderstand +me. Master Mortimer and I now understand each other better. Indeed, I am +laid under a weighty obligation to Master Louis for my acquaintance with +your royal self and various members of your court; and could not possibly +have any intention of quarrelling with so kind a benefactor. As for you, +I have made up my mind to know and like you. Shake hands, will you?”</p> + +<p>Hamilton hesitatingly touched the proffered hand, and looking at his +watch at the same moment, wondered to Louis why tea was not ready.</p> + +<p>“There's the bell!” exclaimed Louis; and seizing Hamilton's arm, +he hurried off, leaving Norman to follow at his leisure, as neither +Hamilton nor himself felt at all inclined to be ceremonious.</p> + +<p>Louis felt a little afraid of Norman, though he did not exactly +know why.</p> + +<p>Norman did not follow them immediately; and Hamilton had nearly +emptied his first cup of tea when he came in, in company with +Trevannion and Frank Digby, the latter of whom had a marvellous +facility for making acquaintances on the shortest notice. They +sat down at the end of one of the three long tables, and continued +laughing and talking the whole of the tea-time, after which Norman +went to his own tea with the doctor.</p> + +<p>“So, Louis, Norman's come!” exclaimed Reginald, pouncing upon his +brother just as he reached the school-room door.</p> + +<p>“Is he a friend of yours?” asked Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“He is, and he is not. Make that riddle out at your leisure,” +replied Reginald, gayly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that settles the matter!” said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“What matter?” asked Louis.</p> + +<p>A look of the most withering description was the only answer +Louis received; it was enough, however, to deter him from +repeating his question.</p> + +<p>Happily, Reginald did not see it.</p> + +<p>“How do you like our new-comer, Trevannion?” asked Hamilton, +linking his arm in his friend's, preparatory to a short, after-tea +turn in the playground. “There is something very peculiar about +him—insolent, I think.”</p> + +<p>“He's a nice fellow, in my opinion,” said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“A very knowing chap,” said Salisbury. “Has he been here before?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Frank Digby; “but somebody's been kind enough to give +the full particulars, history, and lives, peccadilloes, <em>et cetera</em>, +<em>et cetera</em>, <em>et cetera</em>, of the gentlemen, generally, and individually, +at Ashfield Academy. Why, Hamilton, he called Trevannion and Salisbury +by their names, without any introduction, and is as much up to every +thing here as yourself, I believe.”</p> + +<p>“I don't much fancy him,” said Hamilton; “and strongly suspect he won't +add much to our comfort.”</p> + +<p>“He doesn't like your pet, I suppose, then,” said Trevannion, +marking the slight color that rose in Hamilton's face. “He told +me of your strange rencontre in the class-room; he has taken a +fancy, I am sure, to you.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton did not look particularly delighted, and changed the subject +to one on which he and Trevannion conversed most amicably till past +their usual time for re-entering the study.</p> + +<p>Norman did not come among them that evening till prayer-time; and, +to his great satisfaction, Louis saw very little of him for the next +day or two.</p> + +<p>One day, during the first week of Norman's initiation, at the close +of the morning school, a party similar in size and kind to that which +had the honor of greeting Louis on his arrival the preceding half-year, +was assembled on the raised end of the school-room. Frank and Salisbury +were both of them seated on the top of a desk; the former, generally +silent, relieved himself by sundry twists and contortions, smacking of +the lips, sighs, and turnings of the eyes, varied by a few occasional +thumps administered to Salisbury, who sat by him, apparently unconscious +of the bellicose attitude of his neighbor, listening attentively, with +a mixed expression of concern and anger on his honest countenance, to +Norman, who, on this occasion, was the principal speaker. Louis was +in the room, at his desk, hunting for a top; but too intent upon his +search, and too far off to hear more of the topics that engrossed so +much attention, than a few words that conveyed no impression to him, +being simply, “Ferrers—my aunt—clever—hypocritical.”</p> + +<p>Just as he had given up all hope of finding his top, Hamilton came up +to him. “Louis,” said he, “if Trevannion goes out with me, I shall have +time to hear your Herodotus before afternoon school, directly after +dinner, mind.”</p> + +<p>“I shan't forget;—oh, Hamilton, you haven't such a thing as another +top, have you? Reginald's broken two of mine, and I can't find my other.”</p> + +<p>“I do happen to have taken care of yours for you, you careless boy. +Here is my desk-key, you will find it there; you can give me the key +after dinner.”</p> + +<p>With many thanks, Louis proceeded to Hamilton's desk, and Hamilton went +up to Trevannion, who was one of the party at the upper end of the room. +Louis was now so near the speakers, as to be unavoidably within hearing +of all that passed; and, astonished by the first few words, he proceeded +no further in his errand than putting the key into the lock.</p> + +<p>“Are you inclined for a walk, Trevannion?” asked Hamilton, as he +reached him.</p> + +<p>Trevannion was leaning against the doctor's desk, in a more perturbed +state than his calm self usually exhibited. As Hamilton spoke, he turned +round, stared, and drew himself proudly up, replying, in a tone of great +bitterness, “Thank you, Mr. Hamilton, but perhaps if you <em>will</em> take the +trouble, you may find some one better suited to you than myself.”</p> + +<p>“What is the matter?” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Some of your friends appear to have better memories than yourself,” +replied Trevannion, folding his arms, and assuming an indifferent air; +“you will, perhaps, not find mine quite so capricious; I am much obliged +for all favors bestowed, Mr. Hamilton. Perhaps you considered me too +lazy to look out for another friend; I am active enough, I assure you, +to provide myself with one, and to release you from the irksome ties +your indolence has imposed upon you.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton looked, as he was, seriously annoyed. He did not remember the +expression that had given so much offence, and was quite at a loss to +understand the mystery:—he looked from one to the other for explanation; +at one time inclined to walk away as proudly as Trevannion could have +done; at another, his more moderate feelings triumphing, urged him into +an inquiry.</p> + +<p>“I really cannot understand you,” he said, at length; “do explain +yourself. If I have done any thing to offend you, let me know what +it is, and, if reasonable, I am willing to apologize.”</p> + +<p>Trevannion sneered. “Apologies can do little good—eh, Norman?”</p> + +<p>“If you know what this is, Norman,” said Hamilton, “I must beg you +to enlighten me.”</p> + +<p>“I have no business to interfere,” said Norman, carelessly.</p> + +<p>“What a tragedy scene! What's the matter?” cried Reginald Mortimer, +who came up at the moment. “You lazy-bones of a Louis! where are you?”</p> + +<p>“The matter is simply this,” said Frank Digby: “Norman has heard from +a veracious source that Mr. Hamilton once said, in confidence (between +you and me, you know), that the reason he retained Mr. Philip Trevannion +in the rank of first bosom-friend, was because he was too lazy to look +out for one better suited to his tastes: consequently, as Mr. Trevannion +can aver that Mr. Hamilton never confided this matter to him, it is +certain that some one has betrayed confidence reposed in him—oh, yes! +oh, yes!”</p> + +<p>“What a fuss about a nonsensical report!” exclaimed Reginald. +“Do you believe it?”</p> + +<p>“Does he deny it?” said Trevannion, tuning to Hamilton.</p> + +<p>Hamilton's color rose; and, after a little pause, in which he carefully +considered what he had said, he replied, “No, I do not deny having said +something like this one day when Trevannion and I had fallen out; but +how much it was more than a momentary fit of anger our long friendship +ought to decide. Trevannion, we have been friends too long for such a +silly thing as this to separate us. I am very sorry it should ever have +escaped my lips; but if every thing we say in a moment of impatience and +vexation were repeated and minded, there would be very little friendship +in the world. Come, Trevannion, shake hands, and forget it for auld lang +syne, as I will do when any one brings such a tale to me.”</p> + +<p>As Hamilton spoke, his eye rested on Norman, fired with indignation, +and lighted a second on the principal offender, but no longer, for he +did not wish to draw Louis into notice.</p> + +<p>“It may seem a little nonsensical matter to you, Hamilton,” said +Trevannion, putting his hand behind him; “but these little things +exhibit more than the greatest professions. I am not too lazy to +cure myself of old habits, if you are.”</p> + +<p>“I never make professions,” said Hamilton, proudly; “and I have done.”</p> + +<p>He was turning away, when a sudden motion from Jones arrested him. +Jones had been standing silently by Trevannion, and now, leaping over +a desk, seized Louis, and dragged him in the centre of the group, to +the great astonishment of both himself and his brother, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>“Here's the offender, the tell-tale, the hypocrite, the meek good boy, +so anxious of Ferrers' reputation!”</p> + +<p>“What do you want with me?” exclaimed Louis angrily, struggling to free +himself from his captor.</p> + +<p>“Hands off! Leave him alone, Jones,” shouted Reginald. “What's all +this about?”</p> + +<p>“Do let him go,” said Hamilton. “Can't you let him alone?”</p> + +<p>“He's the traitor, Hamilton.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton could not deny it, for it could have been no one else.</p> + +<p>“Well, it is past, and the punishment he has in his own feelings will +be enough,” he said. “Let him alone.”</p> + +<p>“Louis, <em>you</em> haven't been telling tales and making mischief?” +cried Reginald.</p> + +<p>“I don't know,” said Louis. “I said something to Mrs. Paget, I believe—I +didn't know there was any harm. Hamilton didn't say he didn't want any +thing said about it.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Didn't say!</em>” echoed Jones, scornfully.</p> + +<p>Hamilton's look was more in reproach than anger. Louis felt struck to +the heart with shame and anger; but so much had he lately been nursed +in conceit and self-sufficiency, that he drove away the better impulse; +and, instead of at once acknowledging himself in the wrong and begging +pardon, he stood still, endeavoring to look unconcerned, repeating, +“I didn't mean any harm.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Louis!” exclaimed Reginald, reproachfully, “I didn't think +you could.”</p> + +<p>“Let the boy go, Jones,” said Hamilton, trying to remove the grasp +from Louis' shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Not so fast, an't please your majesty,” said Jones: “I like to see +hypocrites unmasked. Here, gentlemen, forsooth, here in this soonified +youth, the anxious warden of Ferrers' reputation, you see the young +gentleman who not only tells the story, but gives the name of the +party concerned to a dear, good, gossiping soul—”</p> + +<p>“Gently, gently there, Jones,” remarked Norman.</p> + +<p>“A gossiping old soul,” repeated Jones, “who'd have the greatest +delight in retailing the news, with decorations and additions, all +over the kingdom with the greatest possible speed.”</p> + +<p>“I don't believe a word of that, Jones,” said Reginald. +“It is impossible!”</p> + +<p>“What! is it impossible?” asked Jones, giving Louis a shake.</p> + +<p>“What business have you to question me?”</p> + +<p>“Did you?” repeated Jones, with another shake.</p> + +<p>“Fair questioning, Jones,” cried Reginald. “No coercion, if you please.”</p> + +<p>“Hold him back, Mason, if you please. Norman, will you hold him back? +Now, Louis, if you don't answer I'll give you a thrashing.”</p> + +<p>“You and I are friends, Mortimer,” said Salisbury, jumping off the +desk and coming close up to Reginald; “but I mean to have fair play +in this matter. He shan't be hurt—but, if you interfere till they've +done questioning him, I shall help them to hold you back.”</p> + +<p>“Don't meddle with it, Salisbury,” said Hamilton; “it's nobody's affair.”</p> + +<p>“Nobody's affair, indeed!” exclaimed Frank. “Here we've been making a +<em>cher ami</em>, a <em>rara avis</em>, or something or other of this boy, because he +professed to be something superior to us all—and now, when we find +he has been telling tales of all of us, we are told it's <em>nobody's +affair</em>. He's been obtaining credit upon false pretences. We're the +strongest party, and we'll do what we please.”</p> + +<p>Reginald restrained himself with a violent effort, and Jones proceeded.</p> + +<p>“Now, sir, answer directly—is this impossible?”</p> + +<p>Louis felt very much inclined to cry, but he replied without tears +very reluctantly, “Mrs. Paget would make me tell her some things—she +had heard almost all from others. I don't know how the name slipped +out; I didn't mean to tell, I am sure.”</p> + +<p>“<span class="sc">What</span>?” said Hamilton; “you tell <em>that</em> story, Louis!”</p> + +<p>Louis felt that Hamilton despised him; and perhaps, had they known +all the circumstances relative to the Heronhurst disclosure, the clamor +would not have been so great; so much evil is done by repeating a small +matter, exaggerated, as these repetitions usually are, according to the +feelings of the speaker. But in every case now bearing so unexpectedly +down upon him, had Louis, thoughtless of himself, been less anxious for +admiration, he would not have committed himself; had he not attracted +Norman's attention by his folly and conceit, the circumstance of his +having disclosed the name of the offender, at Heronhurst, would, most +probably, not only have been unknown to his school-fellows, but to +Norman also.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Hamilton, I didn't tell all the story!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“No, only just enough to appear magnanimous,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Seeing that such is the case,” continued Jones, “it cannot be a +matter of great astonishment, that the same meek crocodile should +also deliver to the same tender mercy various particulars of minor +import respecting sundry others of his school-fellows; among which, +we discover the private conversation of an intimate and too indulgent +friend. Upon my word, young gentleman, I've a great mind to make you +kiss Ferrers' shoes. Where's Ferrers?”</p> + +<p>Jones turned round with his victim towards the door, perceiving that +Ferrers was not in the room, but neither Hamilton nor Reginald would +permit matters to proceed further.</p> + +<p>“Let him go,” said Norman; “it is not worth while taking so much trouble +about it. You know whom you have to deal with, and will be careful.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks to you,” said Hamilton in a tone of the most cutting irony.</p> + +<p>He released Louis, and stood still till he saw him safely in the +playground, whither he was followed by the hisses and exclamations +of his inquisitors, and then turned in the opposite direction to +the class-room.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Hamilton!” exclaimed Norman, “may I ask what your words meant +just now?”</p> + +<p>“You may,” said Hamilton, turning round and eyeing the speaker from +head to foot, with the most contemptuous indifference. “You are at +liberty to put whatever construction you please upon them; and perhaps +it will save trouble if I inform you at once that I never fight.”</p> + +<p>“Then, sir,” said Norman, whose anger was rising beyond control, +“you should weigh your words a little more cautiously, if you are +so cowardly.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton deigned no reply, and proceeded to the class-room, where +he shut himself up, leaving the field clear for Reginald, who, +before long, was engaged in a pitched battle with Norman.</p> + +<p>Louis retreated to his play-fellows who were yet unconscious of +his disgrace with the higher powers; and, after playing for a little +while, wandered about by himself, too uneasy and sick at heart to +amuse himself. He found now, alas! that he was alone; that he had +lost all pleasure in holy things; and, conscious of his falling away, +he was now afraid to pray,—foolish boy. And thus it is—Satan tempts +us to do wrong, and then tempts us to doubt God's willingness to +forgive us, in order that, being without grace and strength, we may +fall yet deeper.</p> + +<p>As Louis wandered along, he heard sounds familiar enough to him, +which portended a deadly fray, and when he came upon the combatants, +he discovered that one of them was his own brother. He knew it was +useless to attempt to stop the fight, and he wandered away again, +and cried a little, for he thought that something would happen, and +he and Reginald would be placed together in some unpleasant situation; +and he dreaded Dr. Wilkinson's hearing of either affair.</p> + +<p>I must be excused for stopping my story to remark here, that in this +world, it is certain that we have great influence on one another, and +that for this influence we are responsible. Had Louis' school-fellows +acted more kindly, endeavoring to set before him the fault of tattling, +the effect would have been to raise a feeling of gratitude in his mind, +which would have been far more effectual in preventing the recurrence +of the fault, than the plan of repudiation they had adopted. Had they, +even after a day or two's penance, given him an opening into their +good graces, he would not have felt, as he did, that he had lost his +character, and it was “no use caring about it,” and so gone from bad +to worse, till his name was associated with those of the worst boys +in the school. It may be said, How can school-boys be expected to have +so much consideration? but this a school-boy may do. He may mentally +put himself in the position of the delinquent, and considering how he +would wish to be treated, act accordingly.</p> + +<p>Every thing seemed to go wrong with Louis that day. The Herodotus +that Hamilton was to have heard, was scarcely looked at; and Louis +lost two or three places in his class. Hamilton never noticed him, +and even Reginald was offended with him. Louis tried to brave it out, +and sung in a low tone, whistled, and finally, when he was roughly +desired to be quiet, walked into the school-room, and finished his +evening with Casson and Churchill.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XIX">Chapter XIX</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good +manners.”—1 <em>Cor.</em> xv. 32. +</p> + + +<p>For the next few days Louis was regularly sent to Coventry, and +though Hamilton took no part in any thing that was said against him, +his manner had so entirely changed, and his tone was so cold when he +addressed or answered him, that Louis needed no further demonstration +to feel assured of the great difference in the feeling with which he +was regarded. Clifton alone remained unchanged, but he was so much +absorbed in his dear classics that he had hardly time to notice that +any thing was the matter: and as Reginald, thoroughly disappointed, +was also highly displeased with his brother, Louis was either thrown +entirely upon his own resources, or driven to seek the society of the +lower school; and, as he was in a very unhappy state, and could not +bear to be left alone, he naturally chose the latter. For the first +two days he struggled to assume an independent air, and, changing his +place of his own accord from Hamilton to Clifton, talked incessantly, +though nearly unheeded by the latter, to show how perfectly well able +he was to do his own business without assistance. Hamilton missed him, +and glanced down the table with a gaze of mingled disappointment and +displeasure. A few words from him might have recalled Louis, but they +were not spoken, and the only impression conveyed to the poor truant +was, that the friend he most cared about, in common with the rest, +considered him beneath his notice.</p> + +<p>The third evening some affair was to be taken into consideration, of +which the proceedings were intended to be kept very secret. Louis was +sitting by Clifton, when Trevannion, who was to open the business, +entered with a folded paper and a pencil in one hand, and took his +place at the head of the long table. He looked down the table, and +his eyes meeting Louis', he laid down his pencil, and taking up a +book, began, or pretended to begin, to read.</p> + +<p>“Hey! What's that, Trevannion?” asked Salisbury. “Are we to be prepared +with a choice quotation from Thucydides, or is it a hint that we are to +remember duty first and pleasure afterwards?”</p> + +<p>“Rather,” said Frank, “that some people have long ears and tongues.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” said Trevannion, looking over the top of his book, +“Louis Mortimer will have the civility to hasten his studies +this evening, as we have pressing business to perform.”</p> + +<p>“And why need I prevent it?” said Louis, crimsoning.</p> + +<p>“Simply for this reason,” said Trevannion, “that we do not choose +to have every thing that passes our lips this night carried over the +country; therefore, Master Louis, we can dispense with your company.”</p> + +<p>“Without so much circumlocution, either,” said Jones. “We like your +room better than your company just now, Louis Mortimer; so please +to decamp.”</p> + +<p>“Evaporate!” said Meredith.</p> + +<p>“I have my lessons to learn,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Is there any moral or physical impossibility in your lessons being +learned in the school-room?” asked Smith.</p> + +<p>“I don't choose.”</p> + +<p>“Don't choose!” repeated Jones. “We'll see about that. Do you choose +to go quietly, or to be turned out, eh?”</p> + +<p>“You have no right to do it,” exclaimed Louis. “I have as much right +to be here as you.”</p> + +<p>“Ho, ho!” exclaimed Jones. “You'll find might is right here, my pretty +young gentleman. Salisbury, will you have the kindness to put the door +between us and his impertinence?”</p> + +<p>“The procacity of the juvenile is progressing,” remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>Hamilton was not in the room, and there was no one to assist +Reginald in his resistance to the numbers by whom he was soon +overpowered, and in a few minutes, in spite of his exertions, +he found himself turned out with Louis, whom he had vainly +endeavored to defend.</p> + +<p>Boiling with fury, Reginald at first attempted to kick open the door, +and then, being called to his senses by the interference of the usher +in the room, walked into the playground, and getting in at one of the +class-room windows, opened the door to Louis before his antagonists +had recovered from their surprise.</p> + +<p>There was another scuffle, which was at length settled by the usher's +taking Louis' side, and desiring him to go in; but Louis found the study +so thoroughly uncomfortable, that in a few minutes he returned to the +school-room, and seated himself, in a restless, idle mood, by Casson.</p> + +<p>The idle conversation of an idle, uprincipled boy is sure to be of a +hurtful description, and after Casson had heard Louis' grievances, and +condoled with him in the fashion of encouraging him in all that was bad, +the discourse fell upon Casson's last school, and many things Louis heard +and learned of which he had remained, till then, in blissful ignorance. +One or two ushers usually sat with the boys in the evening. One of these +was an elderly man, uncouth and ungainly in person, and possessed of a +very unfortunate temper, that was irritated in every possible manner by +those whose duty it was to have soothed the infirmities and considered +the trials of one whose life was spent in their service. Louis had felt +a great pity for the poor solitary man who never seemed to have a friend, +and now and then had spared a few minutes of his play-time to talk to +him, and would ask to be allowed to cut the pencil that was employed so +constantly in ruling the ciphering books; and when his flowers were in +bloom, a half-open rosebud was usually presented to Mr. Garthorpe to +put in his button-hole on Sunday morning. The poor usher loved Louis +as warmly as any one else in that house, nor would he have believed +that “that good lad,” as he called him, could have spent a great part +of an evening in laughing at practical jokes played off on him, though +Louis could not yet be prevailed upon to take part in them.</p> + +<p>The next few days were spent as might be expected. Louis had now put +himself under the guidance of some of the worst boys in the school, +and the consequence was (for the downward path is easy) the neglect of +all that was good, and the connivance at, if not actual participation +in all that was wrong. His place was lost, his lessons so ill prepared, +that, as formerly, he was kept in day after day, and Casson, his chief +adviser, persuaded him that Mr. Danby was unjust and tyrannical, and +instigated him to impertinence as a retaliation. Louis was miserable, +for miserable must he be who sins against light.</p> + +<p>It was not long before Dr. Wilkinson became aware of a change in Louis' +conduct, and he took an early opportunity of speaking very seriously to +him on the subject. Louis was very humble, and longed to throw open all +his troubles to his master, the only person who had spoken kindly and +sensibly to him since his disgrace, yet foolishly afraid to declare the +whole truth to him, especially as, by the doctor's recommendation to him +to follow the example of his friends Hamilton and Clifton, he found that +his master was not aware that Hamilton was so much displeased with him. +Unhappily, Dr. Wilkinson did not know of Louis' intimacy with Casson, +nor had Casson been long enough with him to enable him to know more of +him than as an idle, troublesome dunce. The doctor's admonitions were +so far beneficial to Louis, that besides producing decidedly better +behavior for a few days, they were instrumental in restraining him +afterwards from the commission of many things which might have been +both hurtful to his well-doing and future peace of mind; but unassisted +by prayerful efforts on Louis' part, they could go no further than this; +and as he had not strength of mind to shake off his evil companions, he +soon fell back into much of his idle, giddy habits, and was classed with +some of the worst boys by those of the upper school who had formerly so +unwisely flattered and spoiled him. Oh, had they known how often his sad, +restless, though at times reckless mind, yearned for a little kindness +from them, that he might feel that every chance of retrieving their +esteem had not gone! Once, after standing some time by Hamilton, he +ventured to ask if he were still offended with him. Hamilton coldly +disclaimed any idea of offence, and declining all discussion on the +matter, hinted that Louis' conduct was too disreputable to be noticed. +Louis turned from him with a proud resolve never to speak to Hamilton +again. Hamilton's conscience smote him when he saw him a short time +after in company with Casson and Harris, whispering and laughing in a +corner, at no good, assuredly; but though he inwardly felt that he had +forced Louis, in some measure, to take refuge with these boys, he was +too proud to stoop from his throne of dignity to save him.</p> + +<p>That day, when the boys returned from their walk, they entered at the +back of the playground from a lane, on the opposite side of which lay +some fields belonging to Dr. Wilkinson, and close on the edge of the +field nearest to the ditch bounding the lane, were some out-houses, +consisting of a cow-house, stables, and barn. As the lane was public +property, the boys were forbidden to wander beyond the boundary of +their playground, which on this side was a high wall, a wooden door +shutting out all communication with any thing beyond. Notwithstanding +the prohibition regarding this lane, there were now and then excursions +over the wall in the direction of the cottage of an old woman, who kept +a small day-school, and sold bull's-eyes and gingerbread, with other +dainties of a doubtful description, and who was, more than all, willing, +for “a consideration,” to perform any hazardous errand for the young +gentlemen. Other sallies of a still more doubtful character occasionally +took place, and Dr. Wilkinson felt sure that his orchard had been robbed +more than once, though by what hands he did not always discover. On this +day the boys had just entered from the lane, and, as the ushers had not +been careful in seeing the door closed, it stood open for some time, +while several of the boys availed themselves of the crowd of their +school-fellows near it to slip out on their various errands to old +Mary Simmons. Louis had been collecting mineralogical specimens during +his walk, all of which he had consigned to the depths of a large green +baize bag which he carried with him. He stopped a few minutes near +the gate to talk about his treasures to Clifton, who had been walking +with him, but the concourse becoming rather greater than Clifton found +convenient, he presently moved away, and Louis was following him, his +bag in one hand and two unpromising-looking stones in the other, when +Casson arrested him with,</p> + +<p>“I say, Louis, what a famous bag—lend it us a minute. I'm going to +old mother Simmons's; it would hold half her shop.”</p> + +<p>“There are stones in it,” said Louis, drawing back.</p> + +<p>Casson verbally execrated the stones, and, declaring it was of no +consequence, snatched the bag out of Louis' hand and ran away.</p> + +<p>Rather startled by this abrupt manner of proceeding, Louis followed +Casson to the verge of the lane, and waited there till he came back.</p> + +<p>“I haven't eaten your bag, you see, but I can't spare it till we get in.”</p> + +<p>“But are the stones there?” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“To be sure; what do you suppose I've done with them? What a famous +receptacle! I say, Louis, did you ever see the inside of the stable +over the way?”</p> + +<p>“No—I am not very fond of stables.”</p> + +<p>“But I suspect there's something worth seeing there,” said Casson; +and he proceeded to tell Louis, under a promise of the strictest +secrecy, in a manner so exceedingly vulgar and improper that I do +not choose to write it, that he believed that the doctor kept his +winter apples in the loft of that stable, and concluded by hinting +that some of them meant to find them out and help themselves. “We +used to do it regularly at old Stennett's, where I went before, +Louis,” he continued. “It's such fun: you must lend us your green +bag, and come with us.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! Casson, how can you think such a thing of me!” exclaimed Louis, +shrinking back.</p> + +<p>The exclamation was so loud that Casson laid his hand upon his mouth +with a muttered angry ejaculation.</p> + +<p>“One would think I had spoken of breaking open a house,” said Casson.</p> + +<p>“It's stealing,” said Louis, in a tone of anger.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense.”</p> + +<p>“I tell you, Casson, it is—don't talk to me any more about it—I +wish I had never known you!”</p> + +<p>Casson burst out laughing. “What a ninny you are!” he exclaimed. +“You are as easily frightened as a bird with a pop-gun. And now, +I suppose, you will go with this nice little story to some good +friend and make something interesting and romantic out of nothing.”</p> + +<p>“Is it <em>really</em> nonsense?” said Louis, after a pause. “Tell me, +Casson, truly, did you mean nothing just now?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing, upon honor,” said the unprincipled boy. “I wanted to see +you horrified.”</p> + +<p>Louis looked doubtfully at him. “Well, please give me my bag.”</p> + +<p>“What a hurry you are in!—you must wait till I've unloaded.”</p> + +<p>Louis followed him to the school-room, but, Casson's crowded desk not +holding all the contents of the bag, he was obliged, notwithstanding his +anxiety, to wait for his property for a day or two, at the expiration of +which time it was returned to him, and borrowed the next day for another +expedition to Mary Simmons.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XX">Chapter XX.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub-cen"> +“Open rebuke is better than secret love.” +</p> + + +<p>It now wanted little more than three weeks to the holidays. +Sticks for notching were in great request, and “days” cut in +paper were fastened to the testers of the several beds, to mark +more securely the weary time that must elapse before the joyful +breaking-up. Reginald and Louis had jointly decorated theirs +with an elegant drawing of Dashwood Priory, with a coach and +four in the distance, which drawing would remain uninjured till +even the last of the twenty-eight strips of paper had been detached, +when the owners tore the remainder for excess of joy. The subjects +for examination had already been given out, and those who had any +interest at stake had already commissioned Maister Dunn for candles, +and begun to rise early and sit late, or as late us was allowed, at +their various studies. It was with some little dismay that Louis +looked down the long list of subjects for the examination of his +class, for he felt that, though (thanks to Hamilton at first, +and latterly some degree of perseverance on his own part) he had +made some progress during the half-year: his friend Clifton's +indefatigable industry had placed him so far first, that it +would be almost impossible to hope for any advantage.</p> + +<p>Hamilton was now busily engaged in the composition of a prize poem +in Latin, besides the many other things with which (to use his own +expression) he found it necessary “to cram himself”; for, however +easy, comparatively, he had found his post the preceding half-year, +he had now competitors sufficiently emulous and talented in Norman +and Frank Digby—the latter of whom had shown a moderate degree of +diligence during the half-year, and now, exerting to the utmost the +great powers with which he was gifted, bid fair, if not to distance +all his rivals, at least to claim the lion's share of the honors +held out.</p> + +<p>As Hamilton scarcely allowed himself time to run once round the +playground in the day, it cannot be supposed that even had he +condescended to notice Louis he would have found much time to +attend to him. More than once, however, he looked rather anxiously +down the long table where Louis now sat (Reginald having insisted +on his leaving the school-room and his companions to their fate), +and, apparently satisfied that he was doing something, resumed his +own work. Louis' mind was more than ever occupied now—every moment +was taken up with lessons of one kind or another. The first waking +thoughts, which were formerly, at least, a consciousness of the +presence of his Maker, were now so mixed up with Latin verses, +English translations, French plays, ancient and modern history, +that a very short time sufficed for his cold prayer—and then +poured in the whole flood of daily business, only checked by as +cold a semblance of a petition at night. The former half-year the +case, though similar in many respects, differed in the greatest +essential. Louis was not less diligent than now, but he was more +prayerful; he had not more time, but he used it better; he did not +leave his religion for a few minutes at night and morning, and forget +it for the rest of the day; he did not shut up his Bible, and scarcely +look at it from Sunday to Sunday. He who waits closely upon his God +is sure to be enabled to serve him in the beauty of holiness: and +those who thought at all about Louis could not but be struck with +the wide difference between the gentle, humble, happy-looking boy, +who bore so meekly what was unkindly done and spoken, and the equally +industrious, but fevered, restless, anxious, and now rather irritable +being, who toiled on day after day almost beyond his strength.</p> + +<p>The first day of the examination, Charles Clifton and Louis were +walking together, between school-hours, settling the order in which +their labors were to be undertaken. As they turned the corner of +the playground, near the kitchen, they encountered Harris, Casson, +and Churchill, who, with Sally Simmons and her basket of apples, +blocked up a narrow passage between the side of the house and the +kitchen-garden wall.</p> + +<p>“Aint they beauties, Louis?” said Churchill, at the sight. The mention +of apples sufficiently disturbed Louis in the present company, and he +made a violent effort to get past Harris, who was, however, so much +engaged in choosing an apple from the basket, that he did not move +an inch. Finding it useless at present to attempt the pass, Louis was +turning back, when Sally offered the basket to him, with “Mathter Louis, +you mutht hide it; I donnoh what mathter would thay.”</p> + +<p>“There are plenty more where they came from, Sally,” said Casson.</p> + +<p>“Here'th a nithe one, thir,” said Sally, looking in Louis' alarmed +face, and pointing to one of the apples.</p> + +<p>“They are not yours to give, Sally,” said Louis, stepping back against +the wall. “Harris, Casson, Churchill, don't take them—it's dishonest.”</p> + +<p>Sally protested in great dismay, that it was only one or two, and +Dr. Wilkinson wouldn't mind.</p> + +<p>“You know he would, Sally, or why did you say I was to hide it?” +said Louis.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to tell him you have given away any?” asked Clifton.</p> + +<p>“Not she; she knows better—don't you, Sally?” said Casson.</p> + +<p>“You are not to be trusted,” said Clifton.</p> + +<p>“Mathter Louis, you won't be going and making mithchief?” said the girl.</p> + +<p>“If he does,” ejaculated Harris, “I'll—”</p> + +<p>What he would do Louis never heard, for he had by this time freed himself +from the basket and run away, followed more leisurely by Clifton.</p> + +<p>“I am sure,” he said, when Clifton rejoined him, “that Sally Simmons +ought not to be employed here; she is always doing forbidden things +for the boys.”</p> + +<p>“If you know of any thing wrong in her, why don't you tell Dr. Wilkinson?” +said Charles.</p> + +<p>“The next thing I know of, I shall. But I should get the boys into such +a scrape,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“If they are bad boys they deserve it,” replied Clifton; “my father +says, if we conceal evil, when we may remove it by mentioning it, we +make ourselves partners in it.”</p> + +<p>“The boys would call me a sneak if I did,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>Charles looked at Louis in simple wonderment. “That wouldn't hinder +you from doing what is right, would it? What does it matter what such +fellows as those think or say?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but I shouldn't like to get them into a scrape,” repeated Louis, +uneasily.</p> + +<p>“Why don't you tell your friend Hamilton of it, and ask his advice?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Clifton! surely you know that Hamilton won't speak to me.”</p> + +<p>“No, I didn't,” said Clifton, in a tone of surprise. “Why not? he used +to be so fond of you.”</p> + +<p>“He's offended now,” replied Louis, looking down.</p> + +<p>“He doesn't like me, I know,” said Charles; “but he used to be so very +fond of you.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Used</em>—that's long ago,” said Louis, with a suppressed sigh.</p> + +<p>“Well, but,” remarked Clifton, without showing the least curiosity +to discover the cause of Louis' quarrel with Hamilton, “if you can't +consult him, ask your brother.”</p> + +<p>“I know very well what Reginald would do; he wouldn't think it right +to tell of them, or of her either.”</p> + +<p>“Then, Louis, make up your own mind.”</p> + +<p>“It's not so easily done,” replied Louis; “oh, Charlie, I wish I were +like you!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, why?” said Charles, gravely; “you have a great many more friends, +and are much better liked than I am. I have no friend but you—not that +I care at all about it, but I should think you would.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; but I wish I <em>could</em> make up my mind. I am not half so happy +as you are, for I cannot make up my mind to do a thing because it is +right. You only think about that and do it at once; and because I have +so many friends, and even care about pleasing those I do not like, I am +always getting into scrapes, and always doing wrong. I think there never +was anybody so bad as I am. I wish papa hadn't sent me to school.”</p> + +<p>“I like you very much,” said Clifton; “and I am sure you have done me +good—on Sunday, at least.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, it is much easier to know and talk of what is right than to do it,” +replied Louis, sighing very deeply. “Oh, <em>domum, dulce domum!</em> But there +is Reginald, and I must go and ask him a question.”</p> + +<hr class="exsmall"> + +<p>For several days after this occurrence, Louis was too busy, and too much +with his brother, to see much of his evil advisers; and very pleased in +having, as he imagined, thus got rid of them. The examination was going +on in earnest; Louis had now nearly regained his old place, and was, on +the whole, favorably reported of: but Clifton was not to be overcome. +Thoroughly prepared, and thoroughly understanding all he had learned, +he kept the first place undaunted by any difficulty, and apparently +unexcited by the crisis; at least, Louis remarked to Reginald, that +Clifton was so cool, he didn't seem to care whether he won or not. +He had a little more color than usual, and the only beauty his face +possessed—his intelligent eyes—wore perhaps a keener and more anxious +expression, but this was not noticed by a casual observer; nor was +the violent palpitation of the heart, when the chances ran so closely +between him and the next, at the close of a two days' struggle for the +mathematical prize. There were few that congratulated him on his almost +unparalleled success; but few that did not respect his ability and +steadiness. Never once, from the first day he came to school, had he +on any occasion incurred the displeasure of his masters; and yet no +one cared for him, for he had lived only for himself.</p> + +<p>But to return to Louis. The mathematical contest was finished, and there +was a little lull before the second class would be again called on, and +Louis determined to spend this little interval of leisure in giving a +finishing scrutiny of the history likely to be in demand. Full of his +purposes, he burst into the class-room, where only Hamilton and Reginald +were, the former writing very fast, and the latter looking carefully +over an English essay he had just finished. Louis flew to the shelves +and ransacked them in vain: almost every book he wanted was gone. +At length, in despair, he asked Reginald if he knew who had Rollin's +History. Reginald absently replied in the negative, as he noted down +something in the page he was reading.</p> + +<p>“The books are always gone,” said Louis, pettishly. “I suppose Charlie +has it. He had it yesterday—he might as well let me have it to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Trevannion has it, I think,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“You may have mine,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>Louis stood still; he wanted the book very much, but was too proud +to accept the offer.</p> + +<p>“It is in my room,” continued Hamilton, without looking up.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, I don't want <em>yours</em>,” replied Louis, proudly, walking +out of the room.</p> + +<p>As he entered the school-room he confronted Dr. Wilkinson, who, having +given orders for a brisk walk, was inquiring for Hamilton. Louis had +scarcely taken his hand from the lock when Hamilton abruptly opened it +and came quickly out of the room.</p> + +<p>“You are the person I want,” said the doctor, laying his hand on his +arm. “Hamilton, I want you to come out with me this bright day.”</p> + +<p>“To-day, sir?” said Hamilton, whose countenance expressed any thing +but delight at the proposition.</p> + +<p>“And why put off till to-morrow what may be done to-day so well?” +said the doctor, smiling. “I suppose you have hopes of the weather +making a walk impracticable to-morrow: but I must have you all out, +or some of you will be laid up before you go home.”</p> + +<p>His eye fell upon Clifton, who was sitting with his elbows on a desk +close by, his fingers pushed through his hair, wholly absorbed in +“<em>Gibbon's Decline and Fall</em>.” Dr. Wilkinson addressed him twice, +but, producing no impression, he removed one of the props of his +head, and turned his face towards himself.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing there?”</p> + +<p>“History, sir,” said the boy, getting up mechanically, and looking +very much as if he were not pleased at the interruption.</p> + +<p>“I hear your name is very high in the list to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” replied Charles, gravely; and, as the doctor released him, +he settled down precisely in the same attitude, without showing the +least satisfaction at the notice he had received.</p> + +<p>Hamilton turned away with an impatient gesture.</p> + +<p>“Are you going immediately, sir?” he said. “Can you spare me a +few minutes?”</p> + +<p>“I shall be at the garden-gate in a quarter of an hour from this time,” +replied the doctor.</p> + +<p>“I will not fail, sir,” said Hamilton; and, crossing the room in +immense strides, he flew up stairs, and returned almost immediately +with a large volume under his arm. He made some inquiries of +Trevannion's whereabouts, and, learning that he was in the playground, +went in search of him. He very soon found him, walking briskly +up and down with Norman, making extracts from an old book in his +hand, and questioning his friend alternately. Hamilton and he had +scarcely exchanged a word since their quarrel, and it was with some +surprise that he saw Hamilton present himself, and still more, when +a request was made that he would exchange books.</p> + +<p>“I particularly want this just now,” he replied.</p> + +<p>“This is Rollin,” said Hamilton. “I should feel obliged if you would +exchange copies.”</p> + +<p>Trevannion opened his eyes wider, but after a second's pause, he took +Hamilton's and gave him his book in exchange, without any comment.</p> + +<p>“What a strange whim!” remarked Norman, when Hamilton had left them, +after shortly expressing his thanks.</p> + +<p>“What can he mean, Norman?” said Trevannion. “This is his own, too.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps some new way of trying to make up an old quarrel,” +said Norman, sneeringly.</p> + +<p>“I don't think so,” replied Trevannion; “he would not have tried +so odd a plan—no, there's something deeper than that.”</p> + +<p>“Are the histories alike?” asked Norman.</p> + +<p>“I believe so,” answered Trevannion; “if there's any advantage, I am +sure to have it, at any rate.”</p> + +<p>“You have a very high opinion of him.”</p> + +<p>“<span class="sc">Very</span>,” said Trevannion. “If Hamilton did mean this to make up our +quarrel, I am sure I shall be willing.”</p> + +<p>“Upon my word,” said Norman, “this is dignity.”</p> + +<p>Trevannion made no answer, for something had attracted his attention +on the opposite side of the playground.</p> + +<p>“Holloa! Norman, look there!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Where? what! oh, horror!” cried Norman.</p> + +<p>“There they are—they're hid; now, there they are again!—now look, +who is it? Stand behind this tree a minute—now let us look out.”</p> + +<p>Obedient to his instructions, Norman looked, and saw three boys drop +down one after another from the branch of a tree, that had evidently +assisted their descent from the playground wall, and then run across +the playground.</p> + +<p>“Who are they?” said Trevannion, putting up his eye-glass (which, +gentle reader, be it known he carried for use). “One is Churchill, +I'm sure! Who's that long fellow? Why, it's Harris, isn't it? It +can't be, surely!”</p> + +<p>“It is,” said Norman; “and the other's Casson.”</p> + +<p>“I'm sure they are at no good,” said Trevannion; “I shall make +a note of this remarkable occurrence.”</p> + +<p>So saying, he made a memorandum of the circumstance in his +pocket-book, and had just finished when the boys poured out +cloaked and great-coated, and informed him of the doctor's +desires.</p> + +<p>The reader will be at no loss to discover Hamilton's reason for +exchanging the books. As Louis was out, he took Dr. Wilkinson's +with him into the class-room, and sat down to finish the six last +words of his poem; and then, folding it neatly up, enveloped it in +half a sheet of writing-paper. He was just pressing the seal upon +the wax, when his watch, which he had laid open before him, warned +him that the last minutes of the quarter of an hour had arrived. +He just pushed his things together, and left them on the table; +and snatching up his hat as he ran through the hall, scarcely +arrived at the garden-gate in time to save his character for +punctuality.</p> + +<p>It so happened that Casson was Louis' companion during the walk, +and entertained him with a flowing account of all the vulgar tricks +he had been in the habit of playing at his former school. Louis could +not help laughing at them; nor would his vanity allow him to refrain +from boasting of—what he had before been properly ashamed—his own +share in some of Casson's late exploits. So afraid was he of seeming +inferior, even to a person he despised, and in those things which his +better feelings taught him equally to despise. Casson inwardly laughed +at Louis' boasted feats, as he had always done to others when Louis was +out of hearing; but he now quizzed him, stimulating him, by applauding +his spirit and ingenuity; and by the time they had reached the house, +Louis was in a thoroughly giddy humor, ready to try, at the risk of +disgrace, the new schemes to which he had just been listening.</p> + +<p>The boys stayed in the playground till the dinner-bell rang, which +was a few minutes after they had entered the playground; but these +few minutes sufficed for Louis, in his present humor, to get himself +in a scrape, the consequences of which, at the time, he certainly did +not contemplate. He had been complaining to Casson, in the beginning +of their walk, that he could not get “Rollin's History,” and, as Casson +persisted that it was in the study, Louis took him there to show him +his error, when they returned home.</p> + +<p>“Ha, ha! Mr. Louis Mortimer, who's right?” cried Casson, +holding up the book.</p> + +<p>“That can't be; I wonder how it got there,” said Louis, +approaching the table in a mystified manner. “These must +be Trevannion's things, I suppose; only Hamilton was writing +here; and here is his dictionary,—I wonder what he wanted +with it—he never said he had it—he let me suppose Trevannion +had it—kind of him—I suppose he wanted to prevent my getting +it; but I'll have it now—he's got one of his own.”</p> + +<p>“I'd be even with him,” said Casson; “what a heap of things! See, +here's an exercise of his; or a letter, I suppose—it's too neat +for an exercise. A good thick letter—sealed, too. I'll tell you +what, Louis—”</p> + +<p>Accordingly, what Casson did tell Louis was, what a “capital dodge” +it would be to abstract Hamilton's sealed packet, and to leave another +folded like it in its place.</p> + +<p>“We often used to trick the boys at old Stennett's with their +exercises,” continued he; “they never wrote in books there—we +used to tear the leaves out of the exercise-books, and write on +them. It was such jolly fun to see them open the paper and find +nothing in it, or only some rubbish.”</p> + +<p>“How did you do it?” asked Louis.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we doubled up a bit of an old exercise-book, and exchanged, that's +all!” replied Casson; “see, why here's half a sheet of paper, that'll +do for the cover; and now then, Louis, more paper—he'll never miss +it—that's it—fold it up just the size; how beautifully you have +done it!”</p> + +<p>“But there's no seal,” said Louis.</p> + +<p>“He'll forget he sealed it,” replied Casson; “oh, how jolly!—here's +a piece of sealing-wax—it is sealed with the top of a pencil-case.”</p> + +<p>“I have one just like that,” said Louis; “oh, no; here's E. H. on +this—that won't do, Casson.”</p> + +<p>Casson presently relieved this difficulty by discovering Hamilton's +pencil-case; and the paper was quickly sealed, when Louis began to +doubt:</p> + +<p>“But we don't know what it is, Casson.”</p> + +<p>“If it turns out to be any thing, send it by post, directed to him, +at his father's,” said Casson; “he'll get it safely enough.”</p> + +<p>The dinner-bell rang loudly at this moment, and with a little laugh +at the idea of the oddity of sending it to Hamilton's home, and a +strong feeling of doubt as to the wisdom of his proceeding, Louis +hastily exchanged the packets, and ran out of the room. On his way +to the dining-room he paused—</p> + +<p>“If it should be of any consequence, Casson,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Well, if it is, so much the better fun; he won't treat you so shabbily +another time.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, but—I don't want to revenge myself, and I don't like playing +tricks on Hamilton exactly, either: I think I must give it back.”</p> + +<p>“I thought you were such a dab at these kinds of things,” said Casson, +sneeringly.</p> + +<p>“What have I done with it now?” Louis exclaimed suddenly, as they +reached the dining-room door, after stopping a few seconds in the +hall to hang up his coat. “What can I have done with it? I must have +slipped it into my desk just now, when I put my Livy in.”</p> + +<p>He was not able to turn back then; and, in the mean time, Hamilton +had paid a hasty visit to the class-room, to collect his things, +and had locked up carefully the false packet; and Louis had not +courage to make any inquiries, though he hoped that he might have +found the right one, which, with all his care, he could not discover +himself. Louis had, in his hurry, left Rollin on the study-table, and +after school he ran into the room, and finding it in nearly the same +place where Hamilton had been guarding it for him, he carried it off, +and Hamilton, seeing the action, made no remark on the matter.</p> + +<p>The next evening, the Latin poems were sent in to the doctor's study +for comparison, and Hamilton's blank counterfeit was titled on the +cover, and dispatched with a degree of nervous anxiety that certainly +would not have been called forth by a subject so empty. Louis was +in an agony of remorse, when the truth burst on him. His only hope +was, that Hamilton might have found the right packet. He heard the +speculations around him as to the probability of success, and saw +the last paper put into Norman's hand to be carried away, but he +dared not say any thing. He had never dreamt of the importance of +the paper he had so carelessly dropped or mislaid, and would have +given all he possessed to have remembered what he had done with it.</p> + +<p>Nothing more was done that evening. Study had helped to drive away +the smaller qualms of conscience the day before; but he was now so +sick at heart, that he remained with his head on his hand doing +nothing, puzzling himself in vain to remember what he had done +with the poem.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XXI">Chapter XXI.</p> + + +<p>It was Saturday night when the manuscripts were delivered to the +doctor, and it was not till Monday that the absence of Hamilton's +poem was discovered. As much of Sunday as he was able, Louis spent +with Casson, trying to discover what could have become of the poem, +and in devising all manner of schemes for its recovery and restoration. +Little comfort he received from his tempter—Casson alternately laughed +at his fears, and blamed his cowardice—and, in order to escape this, +Louis affected to be indifferent to the consequences, concealing his +heaviness of heart under assumed mirth and unconcern. He had lately +spent many cold, careless Sabbaths, but one so utterly wretched as +this he could not remember.</p> + +<p>The boys had just left the dining-room on Monday, after dinner, when +a summons to the doctor's study came for Hamilton. As this was not an +uncommon occurrence, Hamilton betrayed neither curiosity nor uneasiness, +but quietly gave a few directions to his little brother, and then +leisurely left the room. He was soon in the presence of Dr. Wilkinson, +Mr. James Wilkinson, and an old gentleman who had a day or two before +been examining his class, and who usually assisted in the half-yearly +examinations. The countenances of these gentlemen were not very +promising, and he instantly saw that something unpleasant might +be expected. Before the doctor lay a number of folded papers, which +Hamilton recognized as the poems under consideration, and in his +hand was a blank sheet of paper, the envelope of which had fallen +on the floor.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Hamilton,” said the doctor, “I have sent for you to explain +this strange affair. Pray can you tell me what was in this envelope?” +He stooped, and, picking up the paper as he spoke, handed it to Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“My poem, sir,” replied Hamilton, quietly.</p> + +<p>“You are sure that is your writing?”</p> + +<p>“Quite,” said Hamilton, confidently.</p> + +<p>“I have been able to discover nothing more than this,” said the doctor, +with something like annoyance in his tone. “I do not know whether you +have been writing with invisible ink. This is a mistake, Hamilton,” +he added, turning the blank sheet in all directions. “Where is your +poem?”</p> + +<p>“That in <em>my</em> envelope, sir!” exclaimed Hamilton, reddening to the roots +of his hair. “In <em>my</em> envelope!” he reiterated, taking up the envelope +and re-examining it in a state of tremulous excitement. “I <em>cannot</em> have +made such a mistake—it is utterly impossible.”</p> + +<p>“I should say so—impossible, unconsciously, to make so great a mistake,” +said the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>“And equally so, sir, to make it <em>consciously</em>,” replied Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“But where is the poem?” asked Dr. Wilkinson.</p> + +<p>“I expected it was here,” said Hamilton—“and, as it is not, I cannot +answer that question, sir.” He again turned over the paper, but could +find no clue to the mystery.</p> + +<p>“Is the paper the same as you used?” asked Mr. James.</p> + +<p>“It is,” replied Hamilton; “and the seal is my own, as well as +the writing.”</p> + +<p>“What is the seal?” asked Dr. Berry, the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>“E.H. It belongs to this pencil-case,” answered Hamilton, producing +his pencil-case. “I always carry it about with me.”</p> + +<p>“That's awkward again,” said Dr. Berry, exchanging a look with Mr. James.</p> + +<p>“Have you never left your pencil-case about lately, nor lent it to any +one?” asked Dr. Wilkinson.</p> + +<p>Hamilton considered.</p> + +<p>“I believe I left it with all my things on the class-room table +last Friday, when I went out with you, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” said Dr. Berry, “what did you leave there?”</p> + +<p>“Some writing-paper, pens, a few books, and my poem, which I had +just finished.”</p> + +<p>“That was careless of you, Hamilton,” said Dr. Wilkinson.</p> + +<p>“I had only just sealed it in time to run after you, sir,” replied +Hamilton; “and, as every one was out, I thought there could be no +harm in leaving them there till I returned.”</p> + +<p>“How much paper did you leave there?” asked Mr. James.</p> + +<p>“About half a quire.”</p> + +<p>“<em>About</em> half a quire; then, I suppose, you do not know whether +any of that paper was taken while you were away?”</p> + +<p>“No, I do not,” replied Hamilton. “If any one changed it, it must +have been then; as, after I came home, it was locked up in my own +writing-desk till Saturday evening.”</p> + +<p>“It might have been changed on the way,” suggested Mr. James.</p> + +<p>Hamilton was silent for a few seconds, when he answered:</p> + +<p>“I do not think so; for I am sure this is my writing: I must +unwittingly have directed an empty packet.”</p> + +<p>“Unless,” said Dr. Wilkinson, quietly, “some one has imitated +your writing?”</p> + +<p>“I only know one who could,” replied Hamilton, coloring; “and, I +am confident, he was not the party: besides, sir, I do not think +there was time, between Norman's departure and his return, to have +done it, and that was the only time any one would have had after +I had directed it. I did not direct it till Saturday evening.”</p> + +<p>“But you said the boys were all out at the same time with yourself; +and, in fact, I know they were: I saw them going in as we turned +into the playground,” said Dr. Wilkinson. “Did no one stay at home? +Stay—<em>Friday</em>—Digby was at home; I remember he pleaded his cold.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson looked down on the paper he held: there was a strong +expression of suspicion in his countenance. The other gentlemen +exchanged looks, and Mr. James remarked, that he considered Frank +the probable culprit.</p> + +<p>“I am glad he does not hear you say so, sir,” exclaimed Hamilton. “I +am sure Digby would sooner put his own on the fire! I'd trust Frank's +honor as much as my own; and, I am sure, sir,” he added, turning to +Dr. Wilkinson, “<em>you</em> know Frank too well.”</p> + +<p>To Hamilton's annoyance, Dr. Wilkinson did not reply immediately.</p> + +<p>“Frank is too fond of practical jokes,” he said, at last; “I wish I +could give him a lesson he would remember. He will never be cured till +it touches him severely.”</p> + +<p>“But Frank would not joke on this, sir,” expostulated Hamilton. +“If he were not so high it might be so, but I'm sure it is not now.”</p> + +<p>“Well, there is no time now to consider of this any more,” said +Dr. Wilkinson, getting up. “I could bring forward many instances +of Digby's disregard of feelings and appearances when his fancy +for joking interferes. Dr. Berry, will you be kind enough to attend +to these for me, this afternoon? I shall be glad to call upon you +on Wednesday for my second class, if you can spare me the day.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Berry signified his ready acquiescence; and Dr. Wilkinson turned +to Hamilton:</p> + +<p>“It is just school-time,” he said; “but I wish you, after school, +to make a search in every desk for your poem. I do not imagine it +is destroyed. Mr. James will assist you. In the mean time, in the +event of your poem not being discovered, you had better rewrite it +as well as you can; I will give you till nine o'clock on the last +morning.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton bowed, thanked his master, and retired, exceedingly +uncomfortable. His own loss was slight compared with the vexation +he felt at any suspicion of Frank's honor being raised. A very +different surmise would now and then try to rise in his own mind, +but was vigorously opposed as ungenerous in the extreme. An idea +of the real culprit never once occurred to him, nor to any other +person. The first class being disengaged that afternoon, Hamilton +employed himself with the new edition of his poem, but his thoughts +wandered; and, had it not been for a good memory and the force of +habitual concentration, he would have found it almost impossible +to resume a task he had considered as finished, in circumstances +so very disagreeable to him.</p> + +<p>As soon as the business of the day was concluded Dr. Wilkinson +commanded every one to remain in his place, and then desired Hamilton +to begin the search, carefully refraining from mentioning the object +in quest. There was considerable excitement in the school when the +doctor's command was made known, and it was strictly enforced, that +no one should touch the desks till after the search had been made.</p> + +<p>“Frank Digby, come here!” shouted the doctor from his post. “Did I not +desire that none of those desks should be touched at present?”</p> + +<p>“I was only putting my slate away, sir,” said Frank, in much amazement.</p> + +<p>“I will not have your desk touched; stay here.”</p> + +<p>“What's in the wind?” muttered Jones, sulkily. “The magister's in +a splendid humor. What do you want in my desk, Hamilton?”</p> + +<p>“A trick has been played on me,” said Hamilton, hastily; “my poem has +been exchanged; but—” he added, hesitating, “I cannot bear this.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, Hamilton!” said Mr. James, who was turning over the contents +of Jones's desk. “There is nothing there.”</p> + +<p>“Stand back, and let Hamilton look, pray!” exclaimed Reginald Mortimer. +“What a shame it is!—you don't suspect <em>us</em>, Hamilton?”</p> + +<p>“<em>To be sure not!</em>” said Hamilton, warmly; “but I am desired to do this.”</p> + +<p>“So much the better,” said Salisbury; “you'll find mine locked, but here +are my keys: we'll go up to the doctor. I say, Hamilton, don't upset my +bottle of lemon kali, or my blue ink; you mightn't see them, perhaps, +among the other things.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton took the keys with some embarrassment, and the first class +moved in a body to the upper end of the room, where they remained +till every desk had been subjected to a fruitless ransacking.</p> + +<p>Louis' state of mind may be easily imagined. He had guessed the reason +of the doctor's command the instant it was given; and had also heard +the few words that passed between Hamilton and his friends. Oh! what +would he have given that he had considered before he committed such +folly! He could not bear to face Hamilton, and yet he must be near him +when his own desk was examined, for he dared not move from his place. +He had looked carefully there himself, but still he was afraid it might, +by chance, be there. He hardly dared look round, for fear he should +betray his secret; and yet his distress sadly longed for vent. “I did +not mean to do any harm,” was his reiterated thought; “I am sure, I +thought it was a letter—I did not mean it.” And then he wished to +confess his fault; but, with his usual vacillation of purpose, he +deferred it, till he should see how things went. It did seem strange +that, with all the lessons he had had, he should have put off his +confession; yet he dared not, and tried to quiet his conscience with, +“I shall tell Hamilton alone;”and, “It's no use telling, when I can't +find the poem.” But his trouble was tenfold increased when Hamilton +and Mr. James came near him, and finding his desk locked, inquired +who's it was, and where the keys were.</p> + +<p>Hamilton remarked in a low tone, not aware that Louis was so near, +“I suppose for form's sake we must look, but I am sure, poor fellow, +he has nothing to do with it.”</p> + +<p>Louis just then handed his key; and, as Hamilton's hand came in contact +with his, he was struck by its cold clamminess, and just looking at him, +noticed the troubled expression, and the almost tearful eyes that were +fixed on him. He attributed Louis' anxiety to his natural timidity, as +well as to his having probably overheard the remark on himself; and his +heart smote him, for he still loved him, and had felt once or twice +lately, that he had not done his duty towards him.</p> + +<p>The poem was not found. Louis ran out into the playground, despite the +cold and twilight, to cry; and hurried in again in a few minutes, for +fear of discovery. The members of the first class gathered round Hamilton +to learn the story and to condole with him, and even Trevannion made some +remark on the shamefulness of such a trick.</p> + +<p>“I am sure, whoever gets the prize will not feel comfortable unless your +poem is found and compared,” said Frank; “write away, Hamilton; no one +shall disturb you. I don't wonder Fudge was in such a passion.”</p> + +<p>Louis was very glad when bed-time came, and he could hide his tears and +misery under the bed-clothes. Reginald had been too busy to notice that +any thing was the matter with him; but Hamilton, occupied as he was, had +seen it, though Louis had kept out of his way as much as possible. He +dared not tell Reginald his trouble; and he felt afraid to pray—he did +not remember that, though our Heavenly Father knows all our thoughts and +wants, He requires that all our care and sin should be poured out before +Him. The Christian does not love sin; and when, through unwatchfulness +or neglect of prayer, he has been betrayed into the commission of it, +let him remember, that He alone can remove it and restore peace to his +wounded conscience, who has said, “Return, ye backsliding children, and +I will heal your backslidings.”</p> + +<hr class="exsmall"> + +<p>Louis got on very ill the next Wednesday, and Reginald, extremely vexed, +spoke very angrily to him. Louis answered as unkindly, and walked proudly +away from him to the other end of the school-room, where, in spite of +his abhorrence of such company, he was soon surrounded by his worst +companions. Hamilton was standing near Reginald at the time; he watched +Louis in his proud descent, and saw that, though he turned away with +an erect head and high words, his step soon grew more listless, and an +expression of indefinable weariness usurped the place of the independence +he had assumed.</p> + +<p>“Louis is unwell, I am sure, Reginald,” he said.</p> + +<p>“He is well enough,” said Reginald, abruptly; “but he is sadly altered: +I never saw a boy so changed. He is quite ill-tempered now, and so +horridly idle. Why, Hamilton, you'd never believe that in to-day's +examination in <em>Prometheus Vinctus</em>, he got down below Harris!—he's +positively at the bottom. He hardly answered any thing, and seemed +quite stupefied.”</p> + +<p>“The more reason to think he's not well,” said Hamilton; “for, to my +certain knowledge, he would have stood an examination on Prometheus +better than that, a week after we came back. Why, Harris and Peters, +and half the rest, are not to be compared with him.”</p> + +<p>“I know it,” said Reginald; “and that makes it the more vexatious. +It's bad enough to think that Clifton should get ahead of him, +but one may comfort one's self in the idea of his genius; but when +it comes to those donkeyfied ignorami, it is past endurance. He +has not tried a bit: I have seen him lately with his book before +him, dreaming about some wonderful story of some enchanted ass, or +some giantess Mamouka, I suppose; or imagining some new ode to some +incomprehensible, un-come-at-able Dulcinea. He is always shutting +himself up in his air-castles, and expecting that dry Latin and Greek, +and other such miserable facts, will penetrate his atmosphere.”</p> + +<p>“Don't be angry with him; something is the matter. You only drive +him to herd with those boys,” said Hamilton. “Look there!—there +they are!—oh, Reginald! it is not right to leave him with them.”</p> + +<p>“Speak to him yourself, Hamilton,” said Reginald, a little sobered. +“He will mind you. You have had a great deal to bear with him, but +I know you make allowances.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton did not reply, but he had determined on making the effort to +detach Louis from his evil counsellors, when the latter suddenly left +the room with Casson, and did not return till Hamilton had gone into +the class-room.</p> + +<p>Casson was the only one to whom Louis could relieve his mind on the +subject that weighed him down so heavily—and he had, at the time +Hamilton was watching him so intently, been whispering some of his +fears, only to be laughed at. Suddenly he paused—“Casson, just come +with me; I think I recollect—yes, surely—”</p> + +<p>He did not wait to conclude his sentence, but, pulling Casson into the +hall, sought his great-coat, dived to the bottom of the pocket, and, +to his great joy, drew forth Hamilton's poem.</p> + +<p>“It's here! it's here! it's here!” he cried. “How could I have put it +here without knowing? Oh, my dear Casson, I am <em>so</em> glad!”</p> + +<p>“Well, what now?” said Casson, rudely. “What good is it? What do you +mean to do with it?”</p> + +<p>“Give it back, of course—I think Hamilton will forgive me, and if not, +I <em>must</em> give it back to him, and then, perhaps, I shall be happy +again; for I have not been happy for a long, long while: I have been +very wrong,” he added, in a low, sorrowful tone.</p> + +<p>“If ever I saw such a sap in my life,” said Casson; “this comes of +all your fine boasting; a nice fellow you are—why you're afraid +of your own shadow! Do you know what you'll get if you give it back?”</p> + +<p>“Whatever happens,” said Louis, “I feel I have done wrong—wrong in +listening to you, too, Casson. Oh, if ever it please God to make me +happy again, I hope I shall be more careful! I have been afraid to +do right—I am afraid to think of all that has happened lately.”</p> + +<p>“I always thought you were a canting hypocrite,” said Casson, +sneeringly. “I never see that you religious people do any better +than any one else. Go and get a thrashing, as you deserve, for +your cowardice, only don't tell any lies about me. Remember it +was all your own doing.”</p> + +<p>Casson opened the hall-door as he spoke, and ran into the playground, +where most of the boys had assembled, the weather having cleared a +little for the first time for the last two days.</p> + +<p>Louis sat down on a chair to think what he should do, and the +long-restrained tears coursed slowly down his face. His first +and best thought was to go at once to Hamilton, acknowledge his +fault, and restore the poem. Then came the idea of renewed disgrace, +and his head sunk lower on his breast, and the parcel fell from his +powerless hands. So intense was his grief, that he was as unconscious +that Dr. Wilkinson passed through the hall while he sat there, as that +he had heard the conversation between himself and Casson; for, unknown +to them both, he had been in a recess of the hall, nearly covered by +the cloaks and coats, looking there for something in a little corner +closet. Louis at last took up the paper, and went to Hamilton's room; +but a servant was there, and he did not like to leave it. Next he +thought of the doctor's study, but he dared not venture to approach +it. At length, after wandering about from the bed-room to the +lass-room door several times, he ventured to peep into the latter +room, and, throwing the parcel in, ran to the playground as fast +as his feet could carry him.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XXII">Chapter XXII.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law +of Christ.”—<em>Gal.</em> vi. 2. +</p> + + +<p>As soon as Hamilton had decided that it was of no use following Louis, +he called his brother to him and marched with him into the class-room, +to explain, according to promise, some classical allusions that occurred +in his Latin grammar. Reginald took his arm, and several of the first +class, who saw them move, accompanied him, for the glass-door opening +at the moment, admitted more cold air than was agreeable to those who +did not feel inclined to visit the playground. They almost expected to +find the doctor in the study, as they knew he had been there a short +time before, but the sole occupant of the chamber was Frank Digby, who, +to the astonishment of all, was standing in a very disconsolate attitude +near the fireplace, leaning his head on the mantelpiece, and neither +moved nor spoke when they entered.</p> + +<p>“Holloa, Momus!” exclaimed Reginald, “what's the row? as Salisbury +would say; only, more properly we might ask, in your case, what do +the tranquillity and genteel pensiveness of your demeanor denote?”</p> + +<p>“We're going to have a change in the weather,” said Jones.</p> + +<p>“What's the matter, Frank?” asked Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“Nothing,” replied Frank, raising his head quickly, and endeavoring, +rather unsuccessfully, to smile, amid something that looked very +much like tears; at least, if we must not be allowed to hint at such +appearances, there was certainly much agitation in his countenance—so +unusual a phenomenon, that a dead silence followed the ghastly effort.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense,” said Hamilton, kindly; “you won't persuade me that nothing +is the matter, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing particular,” said Frank, fidgeting with a penny that lay on +the mantelpiece; “only the doctor has been giving me a lecture for the +good of my morals, that's all.”</p> + +<p>“A lecture?” repeated Norman.</p> + +<p>“What's been the matter, Frank?” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“A small moral discourse upon the sin and danger of practical jokes,” +said Frank, swallowing down such an evident degree of emotion as +convinced his auditors that the discourse had been no ordinary one. +“His hints were rather peculiar, Hamilton—too decided for so +quick-sighted a youth as myself. I don't wonder he has such a +horror of a joke; I should think the dear man never was guilty +of such a crime in his life himself; or he has a strong imagination; +or, perhaps, a bad opinion of your humble servant—all the same—the +cause doesn't much signify; the effect's what one looks at.”</p> + +<p>“Something dreadfully mysterious,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>Hamilton was silent. He watched anxiously Frank's varying countenance, +the twitching of which, as well as the thick, quick tone in which he +spoke, betrayed great excitement.</p> + +<p>“The fact is, I suppose, the doctor has reasons for his suspicions,” +continued Frank, still more quickly, while his face grew redder, and +his eyelids twinkled painfully, and the penny was fairly spun into +the fender.</p> + +<p>“I haven't been quite so sage as I might have been, and, perhaps, jokes +may not be quite gentlemanly—but,—but, Hamilton,—he thinks,—he +thinks—and almost said it—that <em>I changed your poem</em>.”</p> + +<p>“What a shame!” they cried.</p> + +<p>Frank stooped to pick up the penny, and was some minutes finding it. +When he rose, he said:</p> + +<p>“One will grow old in time, but it's hard to pay so dearly for good +spirits. However, you couldn't expect such a flow cheap, I suppose,” +he added, with a little laugh.</p> + +<p>“You must have mistaken him,” said Trevannion; “he couldn't have +meant it.”</p> + +<p>“I am not in the habit of taking offence at nothing,” replied Frank. +“Nay, I can be as purposely obtuse as any one when I choose, but one +couldn't be blind.”</p> + +<p>“What did he say?” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“I don't exactly remember—a heap about ‘pain inflicted,’ of +‘misconstructions being placed on motives,’ of ‘transgressions +against honor and kindliness;’ and then, when I was at a loss to +comprehend him, he said, ‘he could not understand the gratification +of seeing another disappointed and annoyed—when he discovered that +his school-fellow, whom he confidently trusted, had substituted a +blank sheet for a carefully, laboriously-written work;’ and then +I asked him if he supposed I had tricked Hamilton? and he said he +couldn't think of another who was so likely to do it as myself—that +‘the constant indulgence in these senseless follies was likely to +blunt the sense of honor,’ ‘that I must excuse him’—excuse him, +forsooth—‘if he spoke his mind on the subject;’ and then he raked +up an old affair, that happened ages ago, about an exercise—Salisbury, +you remember—you were the victim; but that was a paltry, every-day +affair, only he didn't seem to understand the difference. I'll back +the doctor up for as good a memory as any man in the three kingdoms. +I had forgotten that piece of moral turpitude, and might have been +excused for imagining that the caning I got then had wiped out the +offence. Hamilton,” he added, with a faltering voice, laying his +hand on Hamilton's shoulder—“you don't believe I did it?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure not, Frank,” said Hamilton, heartily shaking Frank's hand. +“I know you too well—I am as confident of you as I should be of myself +in the same case. Don't think any more of it. I am sure the doctor +doesn't believe it himself: he only wants to show what might be +thought if you get a character for playing tricks. I am excessively +vexed at this.”</p> + +<p>“I don't feel at all certain he believes me yet,” said Frank; “but +this I declare, that unless your poem is found, I will withdraw all +claim—I won't touch the prize for any consideration.”</p> + +<p>“Don't do that, Frank,” said Hamilton; “I'll give you some trouble yet +with my new one.”</p> + +<p>“If that gets it, so much the better,” said Frank, “and I dare say it +will; but you all hear—my mind is made up—I won't have a prize for +this poem unless it is gained over Hamilton's first.”</p> + +<p>“How came the doctor to begin this rigmarole?” asked Salisbury.</p> + +<p>Frank blushed, and replied, with a conscious laugh: “I did an abominably +foolish thing last night, in dipping all the bed-room candles that were +standing in the pantry, into a tempting basin of water; and Mrs. Guppy +was malicious because the candles sputtered and wouldn't light, and, +as usual, determined that I had done it; and Fudge taxed me with it +this morning.”</p> + +<p>“I wish,” said Hamilton, emphatically, “I could discover the author of +this shameful piece of business. It was vexatious enough in the first +place, but this is painful to us all. Frank, every one knows you.”</p> + +<p>“Doctor best of all,” put in Frank.</p> + +<p>“I will give myself up to discovering who has done it,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“You had better give yourself up to finishing your poem,” said Reginald; +“for it's my humble opinion if you haven't found it now, your eyes won't +discover the clue, if you were Argus himself.”</p> + +<p>The others then began a rather noisy debate on the impropriety of +their master's behavior; and little Alfred, finding his brother was +not speaking, ventured to remind him of his promise. Contrary to his +usual habit, Hamilton turned quite crossly to him:</p> + +<p>“What an idle fellow you are! Why don't you get <em>Lemprière</em> and find +them out for yourself?—you ought not to be beginning now.”</p> + +<p>“I tried, Edward, but I couldn't understand it, and it went out of my +head. I want to know about Cecropia again—I forget what country it was, +Edward,” said the child, timidly, noticing an ominous reddening of his +brother's face.</p> + +<p>“A great deal of use it is giving you any information, is it not, sir? +I have a great mind to make you write out every word I say. And pray +what else have you forgotten?”</p> + +<p>“Not <em>forgotten</em> any thing,” said Alfred, meekly; “but I wanted to +know, please Edward, who was Hannibal's father, and whether it was +true about Hannibal's making the rocks red hot, and pouring vinegar +on them? I don't think it could, for I don't know where he could +get so much.”</p> + +<p>“A great deal he carried in his own countenance,” said Frank, “and +the rest was made from the wine supplied for the Carthaginian officers. +There's nothing like white-wine vinegar, Alfred; and the Carthaginians +were renowned for parting with luxuries on an emergency.”</p> + +<p>“Now I know that's your nonsense,” said Alfred, looking very puzzled. +“And, please Edward, who was Philomela and—”</p> + +<p>“That's enough—one at a time!” exclaimed Hamilton; “get <em>Lemprière</em>, +and my Roman History, and you shall look them out with me. It's to be +hoped you are not dreaming of a prize.”</p> + +<p>“Poor infant!” said Salisbury; “it's hard work, I know, to remember +the difference between those heathen chaps.”</p> + +<p>Alfred had just brought the required books, and was opening them by +his brother's desire, and Hamilton was standing near him at the table, +when suddenly a packet was thrown into the room, and fell at his feet. +Changing color, he picked it up with the rapidity of lightning, and, +with an exclamation, rushed out of the room, before any one but Alfred +had seen the transaction. Louis had just gained the threshold of the +door leading to the playground, when Hamilton hailed him, and his long +strides gaining on Louis' terror-impeded steps, he presently reached +him, and, grasping him tightly by both arms, bore him back to the +class-room, sternly desiring two or three boys, who attempted to +follow, to stay behind. Louis did not make any resistance, and +Hamilton, after locking the door and putting the key into his pocket, +brought him irresistibly to the front of the fire, and, placing him +with his back against the table, opposite the assembled group, desired +him, under pain of instant punishment, to remain where he was.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter with him, Hamilton?” asked Reginald.</p> + +<p>“You shall see presently,” said Hamilton; “I mean to have some +inquiries answered: and please, Mortimer, however unpleasant it +may be to you, let us have fair play.”</p> + +<p>“I only stipulate it for Louis too,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“He shall have it,” said Hamilton, calmly; “but if he attempts to +move till I have done, I will carry him at once to Dr. Wilkinson.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton glanced at the windows, where five or six heads were +darkening the lower panes, in their eagerness to discover the +cause of Louis' forcible abduction; and, walking coolly up to +them, bolted them, and drew down both blinds. He then returned +to his place, and, drawing his coat-tails under his arms, arranged +himself with his back to the fire, exactly opposite to Louis, who +stood passively where he had been placed, very pale, but otherwise +showing little emotion.</p> + +<p>“Now, sir,” began Hamilton, “explain how you got this.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he produced, to the astonishment of his school-fellows, +the parcel—rubbed at the edges, but still the identical parcel, as +he proved, by breaking the seal, and showing the writing inside.</p> + +<p>“What! Louis Mortimer!” exclaimed Jones.</p> + +<p><em>“Et tu Brute!”</em> ejaculated Frank, in a tone of mingled surprise +and reproach.</p> + +<p>“Louis!” said Reginald, coloring deeply; “oh, Louis! How did you +find it, Hamilton?”</p> + +<p>“Did you not see it come in through the half-open door just now?” +said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“I fancied I saw something fly along,” said Meredith.</p> + +<p>“I thought I heard something fall,” said another.</p> + +<p>“Too cowardly to come openly,” said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>The room seemed to turn round with Louis.</p> + +<p>“How did you come by this?” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>There was no answer.</p> + +<p>“I will have an answer, Louis,” he said: “and if you don't give it +to me, you shall to Dr. Wilkinson!”</p> + +<p>Louis murmured something that no one heard.</p> + +<p>“What?” said Hamilton, sharply; “speak so as we can all hear. If you +have brought it back for some one else,” he added, in a softened tone, +“say so at once; only let me know who took it.”</p> + +<p>“I took it,” replied Louis, with a great effort.</p> + +<p>“You ungrateful viper!” exclaimed Jones.</p> + +<p>Hamilton appeared a little moved, but checking the emotion, continued:</p> + +<p>“You! for—your—own—especial—gratification? And pray, when might +you have accomplished that adroit and praiseworthy feat?”</p> + +<p>“Last Friday,” said Louis, in so low a tone, that nothing but the +silence that reigned could have made it audible.</p> + +<p>“And what was your motive?” asked Hamilton, leaning back against +the mantelpiece, and putting one foot on the fender behind him.</p> + +<p>“Only a little fun!”</p> + +<p>“Pretty respectable <em>fun</em>!” said Hamilton, contemptuously.</p> + +<p>“Gratitude might have restrained you, one would think,” said Jones, +“if nothing else would. A pretty return for all Hamilton's kindness, +to set to work to lose him his prize!”</p> + +<p>“I didn't, Jones,” said Louis, warmly; “I thought it was a letter; I +didn't mean any harm. And as to gratitude—when Hamilton was kind to +me, I was grateful—and I do feel grateful for his kindness now; but +he has been unkind enough lately to make me forget that.”</p> + +<p>“And reason enough he had,” said Meredith. “Unkind, indeed! why no one +else stood your friend when we found out what a tell-tale you were.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure nobody knew he was my friend then,” said Louis, assuming an +air of independence that ill became him. “Only last Friday, he let me +believe that Trevannion had the doctor's Rollin; he offered me his, but +I wasn't likely to take that, and—” Louis hesitated, for Hamilton's eye +was upon him so calmly and inquiringly; and Louis felt he was not likely +to have had such an idea in his head.</p> + +<p>“And what?” said Hamilton, quietly.</p> + +<p>“Nothing,” replied Louis; “I don't believe you knew, only it was rather +strange, Hamilton.”</p> + +<p>“What was strange?” said Hamilton, in the same unmoved tone.</p> + +<p>“Only when I came back into this room, I saw it on the table with your +things, and I thought you had it, perhaps,” said Louis, reluctantly. +“If it hadn't been for that, I shouldn't have come here, and shouldn't +have thought of playing the trick.”</p> + +<p>“You little—” exclaimed Trevannion. Not being able to find a genteel +epithet strong enough, he continued, “When Hamilton had just taken the +trouble of exchanging his own history with me, for your service! I see +it all now, Hamilton—you ungrateful boy!”</p> + +<p>“How should I know? he never said so,” replied Louis, touched to the +heart at this proof of his friend's kindness; and grieved very deeply +that he should have thought or said so unkind a thing of him in his +anger. “How am I to know what people think, if they don't speak, or +if I don't see them?”</p> + +<p>“And so you did it out of revenge?” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>Louis was silent for a minute, for he could not speak; but at last +he replied, in a quivering voice—</p> + +<p>“No; I told you I did it out of fun. I thought it was a letter, +and—and I have been very sorry I ever did any thing so foolish. +I should have brought it back sooner, but I could not remember +what I did with it.”</p> + +<p>“Why did you not tell me, at least, that you had taken it, Louis,” +said Hamilton, “when I was inquiring for it? It would have been +more open.”</p> + +<p>“I should have done it, I believe, if I had known how you would have +heard me—but it's not so easy when every one is against you. I brought +it only a few minutes after I found it.”</p> + +<p>“Who put such a thing into your head, Louis?” asked Reginald.</p> + +<p>Louis checked the answer he had nearly given, and remained silent.</p> + +<p>“Were you alone?” said Hamilton. “Were you the only one concerned +in this business?”</p> + +<p>“I was not alone,” replied Louis, rather proudly; “but I do not mean +to say who was with me. He was not to blame for what I did.”</p> + +<p>“How so?” asked Hamilton. “Didn't he put it into your head, and help +you to do it?”</p> + +<p>“You have no right to ask such questions,” said Louis, uneasily. +“He came in to help me find Rollin, and—that's all I shall tell you.”</p> + +<p>“What, Casson help you to find Rollin!” said Hamilton, quickly. +“He wouldn't know the book from a Lexicon.”</p> + +<p>“He did, however,” said Louis; then, becoming suddenly conscious, +from the intelligent glances exchanged among his judges, of the +admission he had made, he turned very red, and exclaimed,</p> + +<p>“It's very unfair!”</p> + +<p>“I knew he was your companion,” said Hamilton, rather scornfully. “You +have belonged to his set too much lately to suppose otherwise—and this +is the consequence.”</p> + +<p>“If it is, Hamilton,” said Louis, scarcely able to speak for the warmth +of his feelings, “you might have prevented it if you would. You wouldn't +forgive my speaking carelessly once—and no one that I cared for would +notice me. He was almost the only one who would speak to me. If you had +said one word, I shouldn't have been so bad. I thought you didn't care +about me, and I didn't mean to stay where I wasn't wanted.”</p> + +<p>The expression of Hamilton's face was not easy, and he drowned the end +of Louis' speech by knocking all the fire-irons down with a movement of +his poised foot.</p> + +<p>“It was a likely way to be wanted, I imagine,” said Jones, “to go on +as you have been doing. Besides, who is to know what's likely to be +safe with such a tell-tale—a traitor—in the camp as you are?”</p> + +<p>“If there hadn't been another as great,” said Louis, “you would never +have known of me; but you bear with him because you can't turn him out.”</p> + +<p>“Pray, sir!” exclaimed Norman, “whom do you mean?”</p> + +<p>Louis felt sorry he had allowed himself to say so much; but he stood +unshrinkingly before his interrogator, and replied:</p> + +<p>“I mean you, Norman: you know if you hadn't told tales of me this +wouldn't have happened.”</p> + +<p>What vengeance Louis might have drawn on himself by this ill-judged +speech we cannot tell, had not Hamilton stepped forward and interposed.</p> + +<p>There was a grim ghost of a smile on his face as he put his arm in +front of Louis.</p> + +<p>“Fair play, Norman,” he said; “I won't have him touched here. +You can go now.”</p> + +<p>As Louis left the room, Hamilton resumed his former attitude, +and seemed lost in a revery of an unpleasant description, while +a discussion on Louis' conduct was noisily carried on around him: +some declaring that Louis had done the deed from malicious motives, +others believing that it was merely a foolish joke of which he had +not calculated the consequences, and a third party attributing it +entirely to Casson's influence.</p> + +<p>“Vexed as I am to find Louis has been so foolish,” said Reginald, +“I am glad, Frank, that you will now be cleared. Hamilton, I am sure +you believe that Louis only intended a joke?”</p> + +<p>Hamilton nodded gravely.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you'll clear up the matter instanter, Hamilton?” +said Jones.</p> + +<p>“<em>Clear up the matter?</em> How! is it not clear enough already?” +said Hamilton, almost fiercely.</p> + +<p>“Clear to us, but not to the doctor,” said Meredith.</p> + +<p>“It's as clear as it's likely to be, then,” said Hamilton. “I intend +to send up this poem the last evening, and say nothing about it.”</p> + +<p>“A likely story!” exclaimed Jones.</p> + +<p>“If you don't, I shall, Hamilton,” said Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“Whoever breathes a word of the matter,” cried Hamilton, “ceases from +that moment to be a friend of mine. Whose business is it, I should like +to know—if I choose to throw that unhappy thing on the fire, who is the +loser but myself? What satisfaction can it be to any one to get that boy +into such a mess?”</p> + +<p>As Hamilton spoke he disdainfully flung the poem on the table, and +drew the fender, contents and all, on the floor with his fidgety foot.</p> + +<p>“The matter comes to this,” said Reginald: “it appears that either +Louis must be exposed, or Frank suffer for his delinquencies. It is +not, certainly, fair to Frank, and mustn't be, Hamilton, though Louis +is my brother.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton cast a bewildered look on Frank.</p> + +<p>“True, I had really forgotten Frank. It must be so, then,” he said, +in a lower tone.</p> + +<p>“No, Hamilton, no!” said Frank; “I won't have you tell of poor Louis. +I don't care a bit about Fudge's suspicions now, <em>you</em> all <em>know</em> I +am clear. Don't say a word about it, I beg.”</p> + +<p>“Frank, you're a fine fellow!” exclaimed Hamilton, grasping his hand; +“but I don't think it is quite fair.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” said Frank, gayly; “I owe him something for relieving +me from my situation; and, besides,” he added, more gravely, “Louis +deserves a little forbearance from us: none of us would have done +what he did, last half.”</p> + +<p>“You are right,” said Hamilton, warmly; “none of us would, but all of +us have forgotten that lately; even Ferrers, who ought, at least, to +have befriended him, has turned the cold shoulder to him. I feel quite +indignant with Ferrers.”</p> + +<p>“Ferrers had a little reason to doubt him,” said Trevannion.</p> + +<p>“What, for letting his name slip out by accident?” said Hamilton, +scornfully; “you heard how he let out Casson's just now—you wouldn't +blame him for that, I imagine?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Frank; “and I can tell you that Mrs. Paget (no offence to +her nephew) is one of those dear retailers of all descriptions of news, +that would worm a secret out of a toad in a stone, and Louis hasn't +ready wit enough to manage her.”</p> + +<p>“He has no presence of mind, and a little vanity,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“He is as vain as a peacock—a lump of vanity!” exclaimed Norman; +“without an atom of moral courage to stand any persuasion short of +being desired to put his head into the fire—a perfect coward!”</p> + +<p>“And where did you get your moral courage, Mr. Norman?” said Hamilton, +with deliberate gravity; “we may send you to the heathen for reproof:</p> + +<p class="poem1">‘If thou hast strength, 'twas heaven that strength bestowed,</p> +<p class="poem1">For know, vain man, thy valor is from God.’ ”</p> + +<p>Norman was on the point of speaking, but Hamilton continued in the +same calm, irresistible manner:</p> + +<p>“If Louis is vain, we are proud; and I should like to know which is +the worst,—having an exalted opinion of ourselves, or craving the +exalted opinion of others? We have not behaved well to Louis, poor +fellow! we first spoiled him by over-indulgence and flattery, and +when this recoils upon us, we visit all the evil heavily on him.”</p> + +<p>“I only want to remark,” said Meredith, “that we had a right to expect +more consistency in a professed saint.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps so,” said Hamilton; “yet, though I am sure Louis is a sincere +Christian, he is not free from faults, and had still a hard work to do +in overcoming them; and, because he has for a time forgotten that he +had this work to do, shall we cast him off as a reprobate? Remember it +was his former blameless conduct that made us expect more from him than +another: the Power that guided him then can restore him again. But we +have sadly forgotten that great duty, of bearing one another's burdens, +which he taught us so sweetly a few months ago. Let us forgive him,” +continued Hamilton, with tears in his eyes, “as we would be forgiven; +considering how we should act in temptation ourselves.”</p> + +<p>There was a dead silence, for Hamilton's address had something solemn +in it. He added, after a short pause—</p> + +<p>“I feel that we seniors have an immense responsibility: the power of +doing much good or harm lies with us. I have been far too selfish and +indifferent: Trevannion, will you forgive the thoughtless words that +so justly offended you, but which, I assure you, had only the meaning +of an angry emotion?”</p> + +<p>“Willingly!” said Trevannion, starting up to meet the proffered hand +of his friend; “I am sorry I should have been so much offended.”</p> + +<p>Reginald was making some acknowledgments to Hamilton and Frank, when a +messenger came to summon Hamilton to a short turn with the doctor, and +after gladly accepting Reginald's offer of performing his task towards +Alfred, he took up his poem, and went away full of deep thoughts and +regrets, that the late scene had called forth.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">Chapter XXIII.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast +fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn +to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and +receive us graciously; so will we render the calves of +our lips.”—<em>Hosea</em> xiv. 1, 2. +</p> + + +<p>When Louis left the class-room, his feelings of grief and shame were +almost too bitter for restraint; but he had learned lately to conceal +something of what he felt from those who were not likely to sympathize +with him; and finding some boys in the school-room, and being subjected +there to several disagreeable remarks and questions, he went into the +playground, in the hope of finding either relief in change of scene, +or a little more seclusion than he could hope for in-doors; and after +escaping from some tormentors, who met him at the door, in their anxiety +to know what Hamilton wanted with him, he went towards the side of the +playground that looked upon the lane, hardly caring where he was going, +or what became of him.</p> + +<p>The door was open, and disregarding, or more properly, forgetting, the +injunctions respecting it, he went up to it, and stood looking out into +the lane, till at last, one of his school-fellows discovering the open +door, came up, and asked him to keep watch for him, while he went on a +forbidden errand.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Dr. Wilkinson and Hamilton had, after a walk across the +grounds in front of the house, turned into the lane, making as large +a round as possible, on their way to the house. Hamilton was in a very +silent humor, and as his tutor was equally grave, very few words passed +between them during the first half of their walk; and if Hamilton had +thought at all about what he had undertaken so mechanically, he might +have wondered how the doctor could have wanted a companion, when he +was in so taciturn a humor.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the doctor remarked,—“Have you heard nothing of your poem, +Hamilton?”</p> + +<p>This was so unexpected a question, and Hamilton was so unwilling to +make a direct answer, that he remained silent for a minute or two, +his hesitation and color convincing his master that Louis had acted +up to his determination.</p> + +<p>“Well, have you forgotten all about it?” said the doctor, good-humoredly.</p> + +<p>“I have found it, sir—here it is,” he replied, producing the paper.</p> + +<p>“How did you get it?” asked the doctor, who betrayed far less surprise +and satisfaction than the occasion seemed to demand.</p> + +<p>“It was thrown into the class-room this morning, sir,” said Hamilton, +reservedly.</p> + +<p>“And you are ignorant of the party?” said the doctor, with raised +eyebrows.</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I know who has done it,” replied Hamilton, after a slight +pause; “but I must beg you to excuse my naming him. I think there +is no danger of a repetition of the offence. Of course you will +understand, sir, that I do not mean Digby, who is as innocent as +I ever believed him.”</p> + +<p>There was a little silence, while the doctor ran his eye down +a page of Hamilton's manuscript.</p> + +<p>“As you wish to keep the matter secret, I shall ask no further +questions; only, Digby may not think it quite fair.”</p> + +<p>“He wishes it to be so, sir,” replied Hamilton, eagerly. “It is quite +his wish now he knows I have <em>proof</em> that he is not the culprit.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson's face lighted up with an expression of great satisfaction, +as he said,</p> + +<p>“It does Digby credit.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton was on the point of hazarding a remark on the impossibility +of Frank's contemplating such a thing, when they turned a corner of the +lane that brought them in sight of the playground wall and the farm-yard +opposite. The doctor's attention was suddenly arrested by the figure of +a boy, perched on the top of the high wall surrounding the latter, who +was reaching downwards towards the top of a large hawthorn-tree that +grew inside.</p> + +<p>“Hey-day! Hamilton, who's that?” he exclaimed. “Do you recognize +the figure? If my eyes deceive me not, it is Louis Mortimer. I have +strongly suspected lately that I have been robbed more than once. +It <em>is</em> Louis Mortimer.”</p> + +<p>The doctor's tone assumed its ready sternness, and he quickened his +pace. Hamilton could not doubt the evidence of his senses, but he felt +miserably disappointed.</p> + +<p>“I do not think Louis Mortimer would do so, sir,” he said, faintly.</p> + +<p>“There he is, however, out of bounds,” said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Something else may have taken him there,” said Hamilton.</p> + +<p>“I hope it may prove so, but he is surely receiving something from +below—he sees us—he will be down—he will assuredly break his neck!” +exclaimed the doctor, hurriedly. “There—quick, Hamilton—run.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton needed no bidding, for, as soon as he saw Louis fall, +he ran off in the direction of the stable-yard. The doctor followed +so quickly that Hamilton had only just raised Louis from the ground +when he came up. To their great satisfaction he was not much hurt, +having fallen on a heap of straw that lay just under the wall. He +was much frightened, and at first so stunned as to be almost incapable +of understanding what was said to him. On the ground near him lay his +green baize bag, and rolling about in all directions, some apples, +one or two still remaining in the bag.</p> + +<p>“Where is your companion, sir?” was the first question Dr. Wilkinson +asked, after ascertaining that no injury had been done to Louis.</p> + +<p>“There was no one with me, sir,” replied Louis, almost inarticulately.</p> + +<p>“What were you doing here, sir?”</p> + +<p>“I came to fetch my bag, sir.”</p> + +<p>“It is a mercy you were not killed,” said Dr. Wilkinson, gravely. +“Put the apples in that bag, Hamilton.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson waited till Hamilton had performed this task, and +then desired Louis to take the bag and follow him.</p> + +<p>Louis did as he was desired, but he was evidently not yet in a +condition to walk, and trembled so violently that Hamilton caught +hold of him to prevent him from falling.</p> + +<p>“He can't walk yet, sir,” he said, compassionately. “I will bring +him in when he has recovered a little.”</p> + +<p>“It is too cold to sit out here,” said the doctor. “Where are you hurt?”</p> + +<p>“I don't exactly know; I am not much <em>hurt</em>—but, oh! I feel so +strange, Hamilton. Let me walk—I can take your arm.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Wilkinson looked anxiously at him, and assisted him, with Hamilton's +aid, across the road, through the garden, into the kitchen, where, with +a little hartshorn and water, he was soon in a condition to go up stairs. +Dr. Wilkinson desired him to go to bed for the rest of the day, and +sent Reginald to help him. The bag he took into his own possession +till further occasion.</p> + +<p>Louis was too much dismayed by his ill success, and too much exhausted +by the shock of his fall, to make any remarks till he reached his room. +Hamilton did not leave him until he had seen him comfortably in bed; +and then, after wrapping him up most tenderly, he leaned over him, and +asked what was really the matter.</p> + +<p>Louis endeavored to answer calmly, but in his present weak condition +Hamilton's kind manner overcame him, and he burst into tears.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear!” he exclaimed, amid his violent sobs; “oh, Reginald, +Reginald—Hamilton, I am so unfortunate! Every thing I do is always +found out; but others can do all sorts of things, and no one knows it.”</p> + +<p>“Is there any thing then to be found out, Louis?” said Hamilton, +gravely; “if so, it is far better for you that it should be.”</p> + +<p>Louis suddenly threw his arms round Hamilton, as he sat near him.</p> + +<p>“Hamilton, I did not go there to steal, I am sure,” he said, throwing +his head back, and examining his friend's face with the most intense +anxiety. “I am sure, Hamilton, bad as I am, you could not believe it +of me. I have been very sinful, but oh, I am very sorry; and, Hamilton, +I <em>could</em> not do so very wicked a thing. Do remember, please, how things +were against me before when I was not guilty. Though it seems all against +me now, I assure you, the only thing I have done wrong is going out of +bounds—oh, do let me keep my arms round you, Hamilton—don't believe +me guilty. I haven't—oh, I haven't had a friend for so long! I have +been very proud and self-willed—if I had been humble perhaps things +would not have gone so wrong. I never even said I was sorry I repeated +what you said to Mrs. Paget; but I was sorry, Hamilton—very, very sorry, +only I did not like to say so. Will you forgive me, and be my friend +again? I have been so ungrateful, I am afraid you will never love me +any more.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton was completely overcome by the vehemence of Louis' appeal. +He pressed the poor boy closer to him, and even kissed his forehead, +as if he were a little child.</p> + +<p>“Love you, Louis! love you, dear boy!” he replied; “you have had reason +to doubt it, but I have always loved you. I forgive you from my heart, +but you have something to forgive in me. I have not been as kind to you +as I might have been.”</p> + +<p>“I am very sorry I spoke so unkindly of you this morning, Hamilton,” +sobbed Louis, laying his wet cheek on Hamilton's shoulder. “I was cross, +and didn't think of what I was saying.”</p> + +<p>“Don't think any more about it,” said Hamilton, affectionately; “lie +down, and tell me quietly how you came to be on that wall just now.”</p> + +<p>“I was standing at the wooden door,” said Louis, “when Sally Simmons +told me that she had seen my bag on the great hawthorn-tree, by the +wall on the other side. And when I asked her how it got there, she +said, she supposed I knew, but it was too high for her to reach; and +if I didn't get it, the doctor would find me out. At first, I thought +I wouldn't go,” said Louis, hesitating; “and then I was afraid I should +be getting into a scrape—I am sometimes so unfortunate—and so I went +across the lane, and got over the gate, and went into the yard to see +if it were there. And there it was, Hamilton, with some apples in it, +too, hanging partly, and partly lying, near the top of the tree; it was +so high that I was obliged to get upon the cow-house roof, and as the +cow-house was on the wrong side, I was obliged to get on the wall to +read it. And I was pulling it off when you first saw me, and then—I +was afraid, and as I was rather over-reaching myself, I tried to get +down in a hurry, and fell down. I think the tree broke my fall; but I +don't know how it was, for I hardly understood any thing, even when +you came up.”</p> + +<p>“You had better have let it alone,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“What were you doing at the gate?” said Hamilton; “keeping watch?”</p> + +<p>“One of them asked me,” replied Louis.</p> + +<p>Hamilton shook his head.</p> + +<p>“Have you any idea how your bag came there?”</p> + +<p>“Please don't ask me any questions about that, Hamilton. Will you not +believe I am innocent?”</p> + +<p>“I fully believe your story, Louis, but I know you have been in bad +company lately, and I wish to help you to clear yourself. Tell me all +you know. If you have ever had even the least hand in any thing like +this, make a friend of me, and tell me at once. Have you not some +idea who put your bag there?”</p> + +<p>“I may guess, you know,” said Louis, evasively; “but, Hamilton, I +do assure you, I never had any thing to do with any robbery here at +all—never once.”</p> + +<p>“If you do not know who has done it, then,” said Hamilton, “I am sure +your <em>guess</em> is a very accurate one—whom do you <em>guess</em>?”</p> + +<p>“I cannot tell you, Hamilton; you mustn't ask me.”</p> + +<p>“This is only nonsense,” said Reginald, impatiently. “Are you going to +make a martyr of yourself for a set of bad fellows who are a disgrace +to the school?”</p> + +<p>“They may tell themselves, perhaps,” said Louis, “but I will not.”</p> + +<p>“Louis!” said Hamilton, seriously, “this is folly; don't let a +mistaken notion of honor induce you to screen these bad boys from +their just punishment. By doing so, you are doing an injury to others +as well as yourself. You must remember, that these evil-disposed boys +are still mixing with others, to whom their example and principles +may do much harm, independently of the evil done to themselves by +being allowed to sin with impunity. Louis, you were saying just now, +that you were very unfortunate—they are the most unfortunate whose +crimes are undiscovered, and therefore unchecked. If you are, as you +say, innocent of any participation in this affair, why should you wish +to conceal what you know, or, at least, telling me whom you lent your +bag to?”</p> + +<p>“I did not lend it at all lately,” said Louis, raising his face from +the pillow, where he had hidden it. “The thing is, Hamilton,” continued +he, very sorrowfully, “I am called a tell-tale, and I know I deserve +it; but the worst is, they call me a hypocrite, and say that religious +people are no better than others. I could bear it if it were only +myself, but it is more, and I have given reasons for them to say all +kinds of things,” he added, and burst anew into tears. “But do not +make me tell any more tales. I have promised, Hamilton—I dare not—I +<em>will</em> not break my promise!”</p> + +<p>Hamilton made no immediate reply, and the loud ringing of the +dinner-bell obliged him to leave Louis to himself.</p> + +<p>“If it is a promise, Louis,” he said, as he left the room with +Reginald, “I won't urge you to break it; but remember well how +the promise was made—remember the consequences.”</p> + +<p>“Reginald,” he added, when they had closed the door, “I have a clue; +depend upon it, he won't be much the worse, poor fellow. But the +doctor knows him well, I am sure.”</p> + +<p>Reginald stole away after dinner to sit with Louis, and to endeavor +to persuade him to disclose all his suspicions, but all he could +obtain was a kind of half-promise to clear it up, after he had seen +how the matter would end; and the subject caused him so much distress, +that Reginald at length left it alone.</p> + +<p>“Sit down by my side, dear Reginald,” said Louis, “and tell me again +that you forgive me. I cannot think how I could be so unkind to you +as I have been lately, when you were so anxious about me. I have been +ungrateful to every body.”</p> + +<p>“Don't make yourself miserable,” said Reginald, as gayly as he could. +“I know I am hasty and cross, and don't go the right way to help you; +but you had spoiled me by being so very gentle before, and I didn't +understand your having any spirit.”</p> + +<p>“It was a very wrong spirit,” replied Louis; “the fact is, Reginald, +I have not been serving God lately, though at first I did not know it +myself. I thought I did a great many things when I came back to school, +because it would glorify God; when, I really believe now, the reason +was—to be praised for it. Every one seemed to think so much of me, +and that every thing I did was right. I have wished so many times +lately, that all the trouble of last half-year might come again if +I should be so happy. But, Reginald, when the boys would not speak +to me, then I knew by my angry feelings that I only cared for myself; +and I saw that I had not been serving God, and I became afraid to pray. +Sometimes so strangely, when I knew I was in the wrong, and that I ought +to pray for help to be better, yet I wanted to look grand, and to show +I didn't care, and I never used the time I had, and that's very little +here, Reginald. I have been thinking of myself almost ever since I came +back—I have been thinking of glorifying myself!” He paused, and then +added, in a lower tone, “I fancied I was not selfish, but now I <em>know</em> +I am!”</p> + +<p>When Reginald went away, Louis had long and quiet time to trace the +reason of his sad falling away, and to make his peace with Him whose +great name he had so dishonored. Earnestly, humbly, and sorrowfully +did he confess his faults. How bowed to the earth he felt, in the +consciousness of his utter impotence! He remembered how confident +he had been in his good name; and now he became aware, in this silent +self-examination, how mixed his motives had been, how full of vanity +and vain-glory he had been, how careless in waiting for “more grace,” +how little he had thought of pressing forward, how wanting he had been +in that single heart that thought only of doing the work committed +to him regardless of the approbation of men—that only desired to +know what was right in order fearlessly to follow it; and unutterable +were the tearful desires of his heart that he might be strengthened +for the time to come to walk more worthy of the vocation wherewith +he was called.</p> + + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="chapter-head" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">Chapter XXIV.</p> + +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“I will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely; +for mine anger is turned away from him. Ephraim shall say, +What have I to do any more with idols?”—<em>Hosea</em> xiv. 4, 8. +</p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> </p> +<p class="chapter-sub"> +“I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak +peace to His people, and to His saints, but let them not +turn again to folly.”—<em>Psalm</em> lxxxv. 8. +</p> + + +<p>Louis awoke from a calm, sound sleep very early the next morning, +with a dim, indistinct recollection of having, when half awake during +the night, seen Dr. Wilkinson standing by him, and of a consciousness +of a hand being laid on his forehead and his hands; but, as he did not +feel certain, much less suppose it likely, he settled that he must have +dreamed it. It was quite dark when he awoke, and it was some few minutes +before the events of the preceding day ranged themselves in any order +in his mind; and then his thoughts flew to that rest whence they had +been so long absent.</p> + +<p>In about half an hour, several of his school-fellows began to rouse +themselves, and, a candle or two being lighted, dressing was hastily +accomplished; and, rolling themselves up in counterpanes and blankets, +shawl fashion, they proceeded to pore over the books they had brought +up the night before.</p> + +<p>“I don't mean to get up,” growled Frank; ”it's a great deal more +comfortable in bed. Clifton, bring me my candle here, and put it +on that chair—I shall make a studium of my couch.”</p> + +<p>“Dr. Wilkinson asked if we read with candles near the beds,” said +Clifton. “He said he wouldn't have us read in bed unless it were +daylight, Digby.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we'll suppose he didn't,” said Frank, “so come along.”</p> + +<p>“No, I won't,” said Clifton, sitting down, near a chest of drawers, +on which was a candle, the joint property of himself, Reginald, and +Louis.</p> + +<p>“You won't, won't you?” said Frank, coolly; “Reginald, my candle's +near you, I'll trouble you for it.”</p> + +<p>“You must take the consequences, then,” said Reginald, “for I heard +the doctor say so.”</p> + +<p>“<em>I</em> didn't,” said Frank, snuffing his candle, and opening a book; +“Meredith, I'd advise you to follow my example.”</p> + +<p>“I followed it yesterday, and fell asleep in uncomfortable snoozes +till the bell rang,” yawned Meredith. “Reading one word and dreaming +six may be entertaining, but it is certainly not instructive.”</p> + +<p>There was very little noise, and Louis lay for some time in deep +thought. At length he moved as if with the intention of getting up, +when Reginald started up and planted his beaming face over him so as +to prevent his rising:</p> + +<p>“Awake at last, Louis?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have been awake a long time.”</p> + +<p>“You've been very quiet.”</p> + +<p>“How happy you look!” said Louis; “I could almost fancy you had +something to tell.”</p> + +<p>“What will you give me for my news?”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid I can offer nothing but thanks,” replied Louis, smiling.</p> + +<p>“What should you say if I were to tell you Casson was gone?”</p> + +<p>“Casson <em>gone</em>!” exclaimed Louis, starting up in spite of his +brother's incubian overseership. “Where? When? How? Was he ill? +What was the matter?”</p> + +<p>“He went home yesterday evening by the London coach. He was in +perfect bodily health. The matter was, that the magister wouldn't +keep him.”</p> + +<p>“What! <em>expelled</em>, Reginald?” said Louis, aghast.</p> + +<p>“Expelled, Louis,” Reginald replied, gravely; “don't look so +frightened; he deserved it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Reginald! it is so terrible! But how—why was it so sudden?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, Beauty!” said Frank, “a few wonders have happened while +your ladyship has been sleeping there. What will you say to +Harris going, too?”</p> + +<p>“Harris! no, surely not, Frank? Tell me, do tell me what's been +the matter.”</p> + +<p>“We promised to let Hamilton tell the story,” said Reginald. +“He has been, in a great measure, the cause of finding all out; +so make haste and go to him, for I want you back again.”</p> + +<p>Louis did not need any further bidding—he hurried his toilette, +and flew to the room that Hamilton enjoyed to himself. Hamilton +was up. An open Bible lay near him, which he closed as Louis entered.</p> + +<p>“How are you, foolish boy, this morning?” he said, kindly—very kindly, +Louis thought, as he squeezed his hand.</p> + +<p>“I am very well, thank you. Reginald's been telling me strange news +this morning.”</p> + +<p>“News?” said Hamilton. “He promised me—”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I only know that Casson's gone, and Harris going, but he would +not tell me any more.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, I will.”</p> + +<p>“Hamilton,” said Louis, gently laying his hand on Hamilton's, +“may I ask one thing?”</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“Will you read a little of this with me first?” he said, timidly, +touching the Bible. “I have neglected it so lately. It would be so +pleasant before we begin any thing else. You do not know how difficult +it is in our room to be a minute quiet.”</p> + +<p>Hamilton had opened the Bible before Louis had finished, and bade +him select a chapter, which he asked him to read aloud.</p> + +<p>Louis read the 7th Psalm, and the 14th of Hosea; and when he had +finished, he and his friend remained very silent.</p> + +<p>Hamilton felt for Louis, though he did not know how soothingly +the sweet words fell on the soul of the erring boy; how unspeakably +precious had been the promise, that the backslider should be healed, +and the dew of the Spirit refresh him, and make him grow in grace. +Louis felt a wish to prolong those gracious words, “Ephraim shall say, +What have I any more to do with idols? I have heard and observed him; +I am like a green fir-tree, from me is thy fruit found!”</p> + +<p>“Dear Hamilton,” he said, at length, “I have a very great favor to +beg of you—would you let me come in a little every morning to read +with you? It would do me so much good.”</p> + +<p>“By all means,” said Hamilton, perhaps a little shily; but it was +promise enough to call forth Louis' heartfelt thanks.</p> + +<p>Hamilton then made Louis don a cloak of his, and stretching his own +legs, so as to rest them comfortably on the window where Louis was +sitting, he entered into a minute detail of the events of yesterday +afternoon, equally surprising and interesting to Louis.</p> + +<p>It appeared that Hamilton, acting on his own strong suspicions, went +immediately after dinner to Dr. Wilkinson, whom, strange to say, he +found equally inclined to listen to them; for he confessed to Louis +that he did not exactly know what had made Dr. Wilkinson so suddenly +take such a decided view of Casson's character as he appeared to have +done. They went to the stable and examined it very carefully. They +found the door unfastened; but on further consideration, discovered +that the staple, which was rusty, had been broken off, so that, though +the key had been turned, it could be opened as easily as if it had had +no lock. They went up through the trap-door, but found nothing to +assist them, till, just as they were descending, Hamilton picked up +part of a Greek exercise. It was very small, not more than two inches +square; a more careless observer might not have noticed it, but Hamilton +seized it as a treasure, and, with the doctor's advice, set to work to +discover whose handwriting it was.</p> + +<p>The few words he deciphered carried him to the second class for the +owner: “And oh, Louis! Dr. Wilkinson looked so grave when I told him +it was Kenrick. But I knew it was not your writing. With very little +trouble, and without discovering any thing, I soon found Harris to have +been the writer. Having settled this point about an hour after school +had begun, I took the first opportunity of informing the doctor, who +immediately entered the school-room, suspended all business, summoned +every one, and in an able speech, as the papers would say, prefaced +the proceedings by declaring how painful it had been to him to discover +that any of his pupils were not trustworthy, <em>et cetera</em>; and his +determination to arrive at some conclusion on the point, to know +whether his orders were or were not to be obeyed. He then mentioned +having found you, and his firm belief, that even supposing you had +gone there for the purpose of abstracting the apples, <em>which he could +not believe</em>, you must have been tempted and persuaded to it by +older hands; he called upon the offenders to come forward and clear +the matter. Well, no one answered; and then the doctor just alluded +to you, and what you had suffered last half, and said that he had +determined that every one should be aware of the grounds of accusation, +and he desired, if any one knew of any thing that would throw a light +on the matter, he would come forward.</p> + +<p>“Then, to every one's surprise, comes up Charles Clifton, and tells +him coolly, that he was sure you had not stolen the apples, and that +it was very likely to be Harris, Casson, and Churchill, and that Sally +Simmons had, in his presence, given them apples, and they joked about +the place where they came from. Sally was called, and at last confessed +that she had let Casson know where the apples were kept; and they +frightened her, or something, for she tried to bring you in as an +accomplice, only Clifton was so manful, and braved her with so much +spirit, that she soon quitted that ground, and departed under sentence +of dismissal.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, poor Sally! I am very sorry.”</p> + +<p>“She is a bad girl,” said Hamilton; “I never liked Clifton so well +as I did yesterday: there is a great deal of truthful independence +about him.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Charlie's a very nice fellow!” said Louis, warmly. “Well, Hamilton.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Casson and Harris bullied, talked of characters defamed, and +stoutly protested innocence. The doctor looked so indignant; I think +I never saw him so thoroughly convinced of the evil-mindedness of any +one, as he appeared to be of Casson's. He heard all they had to say, +and spoke to them seriously of the crime they were adding. Harris +looked abashed, but Casson declared there was not enough to convict +him in the evidence of a ‘liar like Sally, and a self-sufficient +fellow like Clifton;’ when, to my astonishment, Trevannion came +forward, and gave his pocket-book open into the doctor's hands.” +Hamilton then proceeded to tell Louis what Trevannion had seen on +the memorable Friday, and the great effect produced upon the school +by the reading of the memorandum. Churchill confessed every thing, +and cried, and begged pardon.</p> + +<p>It seemed that they had gone no further than the gate leading to the +field, on the Friday morning, as they saw some one in the distance; but +that the plan had been renewed on Monday at twilight, when they were +disturbed by a man with a lantern, coming into the yard as they left +the stable, and, instead of going out the usual way, they scrambled +over the wall, dropping the bag in their hurry, and had no opportunity +the ensuing day to look for it.</p> + +<p>“Harris,” continued Hamilton, “turned as white as a sheet, and +murmured something that no one could understand. The doctor spoke +really beautifully. I hope something of what he said may remain +with them, at least, be remembered at some future time.”</p> + +<p>“What did he say?” asked Louis.</p> + +<p>“He spoke about the heinousness of the offences they had committed, +and of his sorrow; and, Louis, he spoke as if he were sorry,” said +Hamilton, looking down, and speaking gravely. “I felt as if I were +wrong in being so rejoiced at their detection. He spoke of the +necessity he was under, not simply of making an example of such +offenders, which was a duty he owed to the others under his charge, +but of that of marking also to themselves the great abhorrence he +entertained of their conduct. He then spoke of the consequences of +unchecked sin, and, in a few words, mentioned a very sad history +of a former pupil of his who turned out very ill—he is dead, Louis; +the manner in which he spoke of that prayer of the Psalmist's, ‘Make +me not a rebuke unto the foolish,’ was very solemn; I assure you there +were very few dry eyes.”</p> + +<p>Louis' were filled with tears.</p> + +<p>“Well, Hamilton,” he said, slowly.</p> + +<p>“He then desired Casson to go directly and make preparations for leaving +his house in less than an hour, and told Harris that he should not allow +him to return after the holidays. There was not a sound when Casson left +the room, Louis, except the sobbing of one or two of the little boys. I +think I never felt any thing so solemn. It is a serious, a very serious +thing.”</p> + +<p>“Very, very,” said Louis. “Did Casson seem sorry, Hamilton?”</p> + +<p>“He was very pale and silent—I think frightened, not sorry. Harris +stood like a statue while the doctor was speaking; but, when he told +him he was not to return, I heard him sigh so deeply, it was quite +painful.”</p> + +<p>“And Churchill?” said Louis, with difficulty.</p> + +<p>“Churchill is to stay a week behind the others, and to write exercises +every day till he goes home.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Hamilton, Hamilton!” cried Louis, bursting fairly into tears, +“I am not crying wholly for sorrow; for I am, and ought to be, thankful +that I have not been made a ‘rebuke unto the foolish.’ ”</p> + +<p>Hamilton pressed his hand.</p> + +<p>“I hope,” he continued, “that this may be a blessing to me; but I am +very much afraid of myself, Hamilton, for I am constantly making good +resolutions and breaking them—but, Hamilton, do you think they would +suppose I had told of them?”</p> + +<p>“Dr. Wilkinson told them you would not break your promise and clear +yourself by betraying them,” replied Hamilton; “and he also said a +great deal on the folly of rash promises, and the evil of covering +sin. I wish you had heard it; but we must not talk any more, for here +is Alfred, and we shall have the prayer-bell presently; so, if you +have any thing to do before you go down, you had better make haste.”</p> + +<p>Louis dried his tears, and obeyed the hint, after submitting, with no +very great reluctance, to a mighty hug from Alfred, who would have given +vent to his delight in a great flow of words had not his brother been +present and waiting for him. There was little time for talking when +Louis returned to his dormitory; but he and his brother made the most +of it, and, arm in arm, they issued forth when the summons was heard. +All the way down stairs Louis received the congratulations of his +school-fellows. Everybody, even Trevannion, seemed to have forgiven +him, and Norman held out his hand at the hall-door with a “Shake hands, +old fellow!”</p> + +<p>Louis felt rather afraid of entering the school-room, but +Dr. Wilkinson made no comment, and, as far as he could judge +from the doubtful light of a few candles struggling with the +coming daylight, scarcely looked at him. The names were called +over. At Harris's name there was a pause—-some one answered, +“Not here, sir;”and, as Dr. Wilkinson, without any comment, +proceeded, Louis caught a few whispered words near him:</p> + +<p>“He's been moaning nearly all night, poor fellow! he's in a terrible +way now;”and then the reply, “Ah, the doctor never unsays any thing!”</p> + +<p>When prayers were over, Dr. Wilkinson called Louis into the +study, and kept him till breakfast-time with him. What passed, +never transpired; but that it was something serious was conjectured +from Louis' exceedingly humble manner and red eyes, when he left the +room—though every one was sure, from the subsequent manner of both +master and pupil, that all was entirely forgiven, and Louis reinstated +fully in Dr. Wilkinson's good graces.</p> + +<p>But I must hasten to finish my story. The prize day arrived. It was +a dismal, wet, dreary day; but the boys cared nothing for that, except +that the audience was smaller than usual. Charles Clifton carried away +all the first prizes of his class, except that for French, which was, +contrary to his expectation, adjudged to Louis. Hamilton having privately +signified to the doctor his wish to withdraw all claim to the medal, it +was likewise bestowed on Clifton. Reginald was not successful in any +branch this half-year, having so recently entered the highest class. +As for Frank and Hamilton, the poems were considered so equal—Hamilton's +being the more correct, and Frank's displaying the greater talent and +brilliancy—that they each received a prize exactly alike. The doctor +passed a high encomium on Frank's industry, and that original young +gentleman had the satisfaction of bearing away two prizes in addition +to that already mentioned, leaving another for Hamilton, one for Ferrers, +and one for Norman.</p> + +<p>Just as the boys had dispersed, and Reginald and Louis were arranging +a snug place in their carpet-bag for Louis' prize, a letter was put +into the hand of the former.</p> + +<p>“From home, Reginald?” cried Louis; “I suppose it is to say who is +coming for us.”</p> + +<p>But, no;—it was to tell them of the illness of a lady who had been +staying at Dashwood Priory, which had assumed so much the character +of typhus fever, that Mr. Mortimer considered it unsafe for his boys +to return; and the letter, which was from their mother, informed +them, with many expressions of affectionate regret, that their father +had written to ask Dr. Wilkinson to keep them a few days, till it +could be decided how they were to be disposed of. Poor Louis was +grievously disappointed, and Reginald, not less so, inveighed aloud +on the folly and impertinence of ladies going to friends' houses to +fall ill there and prevent their sons from enjoying their holidays, +so long, that Louis at length could not help laughing.</p> + +<p>“But what shall we do, Reginald? it will be so dull here.”</p> + +<p>“I shall die of the vapors, I think,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“Come home with me,” said Salisbury, “both of you—I am sure my father +and mother will be very glad to see you.”</p> + +<p>“I should like nothing better,” replied Reginald; “provided your father +and mother prove of the same accommodating opinion when you sound them.”</p> + +<p>“Charlie asked me last week to go with him, Reginald,” said Louis; +“if you go with Salisbury, I shall go with him; but if you remain +here, I shall stay with you.”</p> + +<p>The brothers received invitations on all sides when their desolate +condition was known, but none could be accepted without the consent +of their parents, or in the mean time of Dr. Wilkinson, as their +guardian. It was finally, settled, that as both Salisbury and Clifton +lived in the neighborhood, their invitations might be accepted till +further notice from Dashwood.</p> + +<p>The lady proved very ill, though, as it was not any infectious +disease, the brothers probably might have been sent for, had not +a heavy fall of snow rendered the roads near Dashwood impassable.</p> + +<p>Louis spent nearly the whole of his holidays very happily with Charles; +becoming, during his stay with them, a great favorite with Mr. Clifton +and his little girls, as well as their nurse. Salisbury had the benefit +of Reginald's company for a fortnight, the rest of his time being +bestowed upon Meredith.</p> + +<p>When the holidays were over, Hamilton returned for his last +half-year. The reflections induced by the preceding term were +not transient. He struggled manfully with the constitutional +indifference of his character; and though there were many failings, +for the habits were too deeply rooted to be suddenly overcome, yet +the effort was not without its use, both to himself and others. +To Louis, he was a constant and useful friend, never flagging in +his efforts to make him more manly and independent in his conduct, +as regarded the opinion of others; and also quietly strengthening, +by his example and encouragement, every good feeling and impression +he noticed. There were no tears shed, but Louis felt very low when he +bade good-bye to Hamilton, at the close of the next half-year.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Hamilton! I owe you a great deal. What shall I do next half +without you? Who will help me?”</p> + +<p>“Thy God, whom thou servest,” said Hamilton, reverentially. +“The thanks are not to me for the help of the last few months, +Louis. Good-bye, my dear fellow—our friendship does not end +here; we are friends forever.”</p> + +<p>They shook hands warmly and parted.</p> + +<p>Louis continued at school for two or three years longer, and +passed through the ordeal of school-life with credit to himself +and his relations. I would not be thought to mean that he never +did wrong, or was always equally steady in his Christian course; +for the Christian's whole life is a continued fight against the +evil of his nature. He still retained his strong desire to enter +the ministry of the Church, and his studies and pursuits were +principally directed to that end. It was one of his fairest +day-dreams, to be his father's curate when old enough to be +ordained, and though that might not be, he still felt, wherever +he might be placed, his language would be that of the Psalmist, +when he said—</p> + +<p>“My soul hath a desire and a longing to enter into the courts of +the living God.” “For I had rather be a door keeper in the house +of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”</p> + + +<h4>THE END</h4> +<p><br /><br /></p> +</div> + +<hr class="large"> + +<div class="ads1"> + +<p class="ad-head" id="AD_01">NEW ILLUSTRATED JUVENILES.</p> + +<p>AUNT FANNY'S STORY BOOK. +Illustrated. 16mo. 50cts</p> + +<p>THE CHILD'S PRESENT. +Illustrated. 16mo.</p> + +<p>HOWITT'S PICTURE AND VERSE BOOK. +Illustrated with 100 plates. 75cts; gilt $1.00</p> + +<p>HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. +Illustrated. 4to., 25cts; cloth 50cts</p> + +<p>STORY OF JOAN OF ARC. By R. M. Evans. +With 23 illustrations. 16mo. 75cts</p> + +<p>ROBINSON CRUSOE. 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Five different sizes.</p> + + +<p class="ad-head" id="AD_13">NOVELS AND TALES.</p> + +<p>CORBOULD'S History and Adventures of Margaret Catchpole. +8vo. 2 Plates, 25cts</p> + +<p>DON QUIXOTTE de la Mancha. Translated from the Spanish. +Illustrated with 18 Steel Engravings. 16mo. cloth. $1.50.</p> + +<p>DUMAS' Marguerite de Valois. A Novel. +8vo. 25cts</p> + +<p>ELLEN MIDDLETON. A Tale. By Lady Fullerton. +12mo. 75cts</p> + +<p>FRIENDS AND FORTUNE. A Moral Tale. By Miss Dewey. +12mo. 75cts</p> + +<p>GOLDSMITH'S Vicar of Wakefield. +Illustrated. 12mo. 75cts</p> + +<p>GRACE LESLIE. A Tale. +12mo. 75cts</p> + +<p>GRANTLEY MANOR. A Tale. By Lady Fullerton. +12mo. Paper. 50cts., cloth. 75cts</p> + +<p>LADY ALICE; or, The New Una. +8vo. Paper, 38cts.</p> + +<p>LAMARTINE'S Les Confidences et Raphael. +8vo. $1.</p> + +<p>LAMARTINE'S Confidential Disclosures. +12mo. 75cts</p> + +<p>LOVER'S (Samuel) Handy Andy. +8vo. Paper, 50cts</p> + +<p>LOVER'S (Samuel) £ s. d. Treasure Trove. +8vo. 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Griswold. Illustrated with Steel Engravings.<br> +1 vol. 8vo., cloth $2.50; gilt edges, $3; +morocco, $3.50; morocco extra, $4.</p> + +<p>POEMS BY AMELIA.<br> +New and enlarged edition, beautifully illustrated with original +designs, by Weir, and Portrait of the Author.<br> +1 vol. 8vo., cloth extra, gilt edges, $3; +morocco extra, $4; morocco antique, $5; +12mo., without Plates, $1.25; gilt edges, $1.50.</p> + +<p>No expense has been spared in the mechanical execution of the +above popular standard authors.</p> + + +<p class="ad-head" id="AD_16">CABINET EDITIONS.</p> + +<p>CAMPBELL'S COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS. +Illustrated with Steel Engravings and a Portrait.<br> +16mo., cloth, $1.50; gilt edges, $2.25; morocco extra, $3.</p> + +<p>BUTLER'S HUDIBRAS, with Notes by Nash. +Illustrated with Portraits.<br> +16mo., cloth, $1.50; gilt edges, $2.25; morocco extra, $3.</p> + +<p>DANTE'S POEMS. Translated by Cary. +Illustrated with a fine Portrait and 12 Engravings.<br> +16mo., cloth, $1.50; gilt edges, $2.25; morocco extra, $3.</p> + +<p>TASSO'S JERUSALEM DELIVERED. Translated by Wiffen. +Illustrated with a Portrait and Steel Engravings.<br> +1 vol. 16mo. Uniform with “Dante.” Cloth $1.50; +gilt edges, $2.25; morocco, $3.</p> + +<p>BYRON'S CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE.<br> +16mo. 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J. May + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Louis' School Days + A Story for Boys + +Author: E. J. May + +Release Date: November 17, 2006 [EBook #19855] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOUIS' SCHOOL DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Justin Gillbank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The University of Florida, The Internet +Archive/Children's Library) + + + + + + +LOUIS' SCHOOL DAYS, + + +A STORY FOR BOYS. + +By E. J. May + + +[Illustration: Louis and Meredith on Brandon Hill. Page 76.] + + +NEW-YORK: +D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 200 BROADWAY. +1852. + + + + + + + +PREFACE. + + +It was originally my intention to leave the child of my imagination +to make its way where it would, without any letter of introduction in +the form of the usual prefatory address to the reader; but having been +assured that a preface is indispensable, I am laid under the necessity +of formally giving a little insight into the character of the possible +inmate of many a happy home. + +Reader, the following pages claim no interest on the score of +authenticity. They are no fiction _founded on facts_. They profess +to be nothing but fiction, used as a vehicle for illustrating certain +broad and fundamental truths in our holy religion. + +It has often struck me, in recalling religious stories (to which I +acknowledge myself much indebted), that many of them fell into an error +which might have the effect of confusing the mind of a thinking child, +namely, that of drawing a perfect character as soon as the soul has +laid hold of Christ, without any mention of those struggles through +which the Christian must pass, in order to preserve a holy consistency +before men. This would seem to exclude the necessity of maintaining +a _warfare_. + +The doctrine I have endeavored to maintain in the following pages is, +that man being born in "sin, a child of wrath," has, by nature, all his +affections estranged from God; that, when by grace, through faith in +Christ, a new life has been implanted within him, his affections are +restored to their rightful Lord, every thought and imagination is +brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and his whole being +longs to praise Him who has called him "out of darkness into light"--to +praise Him "not only with his lips, but in his life." Then commences the +struggle between light and darkness, between the flesh and the spirit, +between the old and new man; and the results of this conflict are seen +in the outward conduct of the Christian soldier. + +The character of the child of God does not essentially alter, but a +new impulse is given him. Whatever good quality was in his natural +state conspicuous in him, will, in a state of grace and newness of +life, shine forth with double lustre; and he will find his besetting +sin his greatest hindrance in pressing forward to the attainment of +personal holiness. The great wide difference is, that he _desires_ to +be holy, and the Lord, who gives him this desire, gives him also the +strength to overcome his natural mind; and the more closely he waits +on his heavenly Father for His promised aid, the more holily and +consistently he will walk; and when, through the deceits of his heart, +the allurements of the world, or the temptations of Satan, he relaxes +his vigilance, and draws less largely from the fountain of his strength, +a sad falling away is the inevitable consequence. This warfare, this +danger of backsliding, ends only with the life, when, and when _only_, +he will be perfect, for he shall be like his Saviour. + +As a writer for the young, I dare not plead even the humble pretensions +of my little volume in deprecation of the criticism which ought to be the +lot of every work professing to instruct others. In choosing the arena +of a boy's school for the scene of my hero's actions, I have necessarily +been compelled to introduce many incidents and phrases to which, perhaps, +some very scrupulous critics might object as out of place in a religious +work; but my readers will do well to recollect, that to be useful, a +story must be attractive, and to be attractive, it must be natural; and +I trust that they who candidly examine mine will find nothing therein +that can produce a wrong impression. It has not been without an anxious +sense of the great responsibility dependent on me in my present capacity, +that this little effort has been made. Should it be the instrument of +strengthening in one young one the best lessons he has received, it will, +indeed, not have been in vain. To the service of Him who is the strength +and help of all His people, it is dedicated. + + "Be Thou alone exalted: + If there's a thought of favor placed on me-- + THINE be it all! + Forgive its evil and accept its good-- + I cast it at Thy feet." + + E.J.M. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Doleful were the accounts received from time to time of Louis Mortimer's +life with his tutor at Dashwood Rectory; and, if implicit credence might +be yielded to them, it would be supposed that no poor mortal was ever so +persecuted by Latin verses, early rising, and difficult problems, as our +hero. His eldest brother, to whom these pathetic relations were made, +failed not to stimulate him with exciting passages of school life--and +these, at last, had the desired effect, drawing from Louis the following +epistle: + + + "My dear Reginald, + + "Your letter was as welcome as usual. You cannot imagine what + a treat it is to hear from you. Mr. Phillips is kind, but so + very different from dear Mr. Daunton. What I dislike most is, + that he says so often, 'What _did_ Mr. Daunton teach you? I + never saw a boy so ignorant in my life!' I do not care how + much he says of me, but I cannot bear to hear him accuse dear + Mr. Daunton of not teaching me properly. I believe I am really + idle often, but sometimes, when I try most, it seems to give + least satisfaction. The other day I was busy two hours at + some Latin verses, and I took so much pains with them--I had + written an 'Ode to the Rising Sun,' and felt quite interested, + and thought Mr. Phillips would be pleased; but when I took it + to him, he just looked at it, and taking a pen dashed out word + after word, and said, so disagreeably, 'Shocking! Shocking, + Louis! Disgraceful, after all that I said yesterday--the pains + that I took with you,' 'Indeed, sir,' I said, 'I tried a great + deal,' 'Fine ideas! fine ideas! no doubt,' he said, 'but I have + told you dozens of times that I do not want _ideas_--I want + _feet_.' I wish those same feet would run away to Clifton with + me, Reginald; I hope I have not been saying any thing wrong + about Mr. Phillips--I should be very sorry to do so, for he + is very kind in his way: he tells me I do not know what I am + wishing for, and that school will not suit me, and a great deal + about my having to fag much harder and getting into disgrace; + but never mind, I should like to make the experiment, for I + shall be with you; and, dear as Dashwood is, it is _so_ dull + without papa and mamma--I can hardly bear to go into the + Priory now they are away. I seem to want Freddy's baby-voice + in the nursery; and sober Neville and Mary are quite a part + of home--how long it seems since I saw them! Well, I hope I + shall come to you at Easter. Do you not wish it were here? + I had a nice letter from mamma yesterday--she was at Florence + when she wrote, and is getting quite strong, and so is little + Mary. I have now no more time; mamma said papa had written + to you, or I would have told you all the news. I wanted to + tell you very much how our pigeons are, and the rabbits, and + Mary's hen, which I shall give in Mrs. Colthrop's care when + I leave Dashwood. But good bye, in a great hurry. With much + love, I remain your very affectionate brother, + + "LOUIS FRANCIS MORTIMER. + + "P.S. Do you remember cousin Vernon's laughing at + our embrace at Heronhurst? I wonder when I shall have + another--I am longing so to see you." + + +It would not concern my readers much were I to describe the precise +locality of the renowned Dr. Wilkinson's establishment for young +gentlemen--suffice it to say, that somewhere near Durdham Down, +within a short walk of Clifton, stood Ashfield House, a large +rambling building, part of which looked gray and timeworn when +compared with the modern school-room, and sundry dormitories, that +had been added at different periods as the school grew out of its +original domains. Attached to the house was a considerable extent +of park land, which was constituted the general play-ground. + +At the time of which I am writing, Dr. Wilkinson's school consisted +of nearly eighty pupils, all of whom were boarders, and who were +sent from different parts of the kingdom; for the doctor's fame, as +an excellent man, and what, in the eyes of some was even a greater +recommendation, as a first-rate classical scholar, was spread far and +wide. At the door of this house, one fine April day, Louis presented +himself; and, after descending from the vehicle which brought him from +Bristol, followed the servant into the doctor's dining-room, where we +will leave him in solitary grandeur, or, more correctly speaking, +in agitating expectation, while we take a peep at the room on the +opposite side of the hall. In this, Dr. Wilkinson was giving audience +to a gentleman who had brought back his little boy a few minutes before +Louis arrived. Having some private business to transact, the child was +sent to the school-room, and then Mr. Percy entered into a discussion +respecting the capabilities of his son, and many other particulars, +which, however interesting to himself, would fail of being so to us. + +At length these topics were exhausted, and it seemed nearly decided +how much was to be done or discontinued in Master Percy's education. +Mr. Percy paused to consider if any thing were left unsaid. + +"Oh! by the by, Dr. Wilkinson," he said, letting fall the pencil with +which he had been tapping the table during his cogitations, "you have +one of Sir George Vernon's grandsons with you, I believe?" + +"Two of them," replied the doctor. + +"Ah! indeed, I mean young Mortimer, son of Mr. Mortimer of Dashwood." + +"I have his eldest son, and am expecting another to-day." + +"Then it was your expected pupil that I saw this morning," +said Mr. Percy. + +"May I ask where?" said the doctor. + +"At the White Lion. He came down by the London coach. I saw his trunk, +in the first place, addressed to you, and supposed him to be the young +gentleman who attained to some rather undesirable notoriety last year." + +"How so?" asked the doctor. + +"Oh! he very ungenerously and artfully endeavored to retain for +himself the honor of writing a clever little essay, really the work +of his brother, and actually obtained a prize from his grandfather +for it." + +"How came that about?" asked Dr. Wilkinson. + +"Oh! there was some mistake in the first instance, I believe, and the +mean little fellow took advantage of it." + +Mr. Percy then gave a detailed account of Louis' birthday at Heronhurst, +and concluded by saying-- + +"I was not present, but I heard it from a spectator; I should be afraid +that you will not have a little trouble with such a character." + +"It is extraordinary," said the doctor; "his brother is the most frank, +candid fellow possible." + +"I hear he is a nice boy," said Mr. Percy. "There is frequently great +dissimilarity among members of the same family; but of course, this +goes no further. It is as well you should know it,--but I should not +talk of it to every one." + +Dr. Wilkinson bowed slightly, and remained silent, without exhibiting +any peculiar gratification at having been made the depository of the +secret. Mr. Percy presently rose and took his leave; and Dr. Wilkinson +was turning towards the staircase, when a servant informed him that a +young gentleman waited to see him in the dining-room. + +"Oh!" said the doctor to himself, "my dilatory pupil, I presume." + +He seemed lost in thought for a minute, and then slowly crossing +the hall, entered the dining-room. + +Louis had been very anxious for the appearance of his master, yet +almost afraid to see him; and when the door opened, and this gentleman +stood before him, he was seized with such a palpitation as scarcely to +have the power of speech. + +Dr. Wilkinson was certainly a person calculated to inspire a school-boy +with awe. He was a tall, dignified man, between fifty and sixty years +of age, with a magnificent forehead and good countenance: the latter +was not, however, generally pleasing, the usual expression being stern +and unyielding. When he smiled, that expression vanished; but to a +new-comer there was something rather terrible in the compressed lips +and overhanging eyebrows, from under which a pair of the keenest black +eyes seemed to look him through. + +Louis rose and bowed on his master's entrance. + +"How do you do, Mortimer?" said the doctor, shaking hands with him. +"I dare say you are tired of waiting. You have not seen your brother, +I suppose?" + +"No, sir," replied Louis, looking in the stern face with something +of his customary simple confidence. Doctor Wilkinson smiled, and +added, "You are very like your father,--exceedingly like what he +was at your age." + +"Did you know him then, sir?" asked Louis, timidly. + +"Yes, as well as I hope to know you in a short time. What is your name?" + +"Louis Francis, sir." + +"What! your father's name--that is just what it should be. Well, I hope, +Louis, you will now endeavor to give him the utmost satisfaction. With +such a father, and such a home, you have great privileges to account +for; and it is your place to show to your parents of what use their +care and instruction have been. In a large school you will find many +things so different from home, that, unless you are constantly on your +guard, you will often be likely to do things which may afterwards cause +you hours of pain. Remember that you are a responsible creature sent +into the world to act a part assigned to you by your Maker; and to Him +must the account of every talent be rendered, whether it be used, or +buried in the earth. As a Christian gentleman, see, Louis, that you +strive to do your part with all your might." + +Dr. Wilkinson watched the attention and ready sympathy with his +admonition displayed by Louis; and in spite of the warning he had +so lately received, felt very kindly and favorably disposed towards +his new pupil. + +"Come with me," he said, "I will introduce you to your school-fellows; +I have no doubt you will find your brother among them somewhere." + +Louis followed Dr. Wilkinson through a door at the further end of the +hall, leading into a smaller hall which was tapestried with great-coats, +cloaks, and hats; and here an increasing murmur announced the fact of +his near approach to a party of noisy boys. As the doctor threw open +the folding-doors leading into the noble school-room, Louis felt +almost stupefied by the noise and novelty. A glass door leading into +the play-ground was wide open, and, as school was just over, there +was a great rush into the open air. Some were clambering in great +haste over desks and forms; and the shouting, singing, and whistling, +together with the occasional overthrow of a form, and the almost +incessant banging of desk-lids, from those who were putting away +slates and books, formed a scene perfectly new and bewildering to +our hero. + +The entrance of Dr. Wilkinson stilled the tumult in a slight degree, +and in half a minute after, the room was nearly cleared, and a passage +was left for the new-comers towards the upper end. Here was a knot of +great boys (or, rather, craving their pardon, I should say _young men_), +all engaged in eager and merry confabulation. So intent were they that +their master's approach was wholly unnoticed by them. One of these young +gentlemen was sitting tailor fashion on the top of a desk, apparently +holding forth for the edification of his more discreet companions, +to whom he seemed to afford considerable amusement, if the peals of +laughter with which his sallies were received might be considered any +proof. A little aloof from this party, but within hearing, stood a +youth of about seventeen, of whom nothing was remarkable, but that his +countenance wore a very sedate and determined expression. He seemed +struggling with a determination not to indulge a strong propensity +to laugh; but, though pretending to be occupied with a book, his +features at length gave way at some irresistible sally, and throwing +his volume at the orator, he exclaimed-- + +"How can you be such an ass, Frank!" + +"There now," said Frank, perfectly unmoved, "the centre of gravity is +disturbed,--well, as I was saying,--Here's the doctor!" and the young +gentleman, who was no other than Frank Digby, brother of Louis' cousin +Vernon, dismounted from his rostrum in the same instant that his auditors +turned round, thereby acknowledging the presence of their master. + +"I have brought you a new school-fellow, gentlemen," said the doctor; +"where is Mortimer?" + +"Here, sir," cried Reginald, popping up from behind a desk, where he +had been pinned down by a short thick-set boy, who rose as if by magic +with him. + +"Here is your brother." + +Louis and Reginald scrambled over all obstacles, and stood before +the doctor, in two or three seconds. + +In spite of Louis' valiant protestations the preceding mid-summer +at Heronhurst, he did not dare, in the presence of only a quarter +of the hundred and twenty eyes, to embrace his brother, but contented +himself with a most energetic squeeze, and a look that said volumes; +and, indeed, it must be confessed, that Reginald was not an inviting +figure for an embrace; for, independently of a rough head, and +dust-bedecked garments, his malicious adversary had decorated his +face with multitudinous ink-spots, a spectacle which greatly provoked +the mirth of his laughter-loving school-fellows. + +Dr. Wilkinson made some remark on the singularity of his pupil's +appearance, and then, commending Louis to the kind offices of +the assembled party, left the room. + +He had scarcely closed the door behind him, when several loiterers +from the lower part of the room came up; and Reginald and his brother +were immediately assailed with a number of questions, aimed with such +rapidity as to be unanswerable. + +"When did you come?" "Who's that, Mortimer?" "Is that your brother?" +"What's his name?" "Shall you be in our class?" "Why didn't you stay +longer in Bristol?--If I had been you I would!" + +Louis was amused though puzzled, and turned first one way, and then +another, in his futile attempts to see and reply to his interrogators. + +"Make way!" at last exclaimed Frank Digby; "you are quite embarrassing +to her ladyship. Will the lady Louisa take my arm? Allow me, madam, to +interpose my powerful authority." And he offered his arm to Louis with +a smirk and low bow, which set all the spectators off laughing; for +Frank was one of those privileged persons, who, having attained a +celebrity for being _very funny_, can excite a laugh with very little +trouble. + +"Don't, Frank!" said Reginald. + +"_Don't!_ really, Mr. Mortimer, if you have no respect for your +sister's feelings, it is time that I interposed. Here you allow this +herd of _I don't know what to call them_, to incommode her with their +senseless clamor. I protest, she is nearly fainting; she has been +gasping for breath the last five minutes. Be off, ye fussy, curious, +prying, peeping, pressing-round fellows; or, I promise you, you shall +be visited with his majesty's heaviest displeasure." + +"How do you do, lady Louisa? I hope your ladyship's in good health!" +"Don't press on her!" was now echoed mischievously in various tones +around Louis, whose color was considerably heightened by this +unexpected attack. + +"Now do allow me," persisted Frank, dragging Louis' hand in his arm, +in spite of all the victim's efforts to prevent it, and leading him +forcibly through the throng, which made way on every side, to Edward +Hamilton, the grave youth before mentioned:--"His majesty is anxious +to make the acquaintance of his fair subject. Permit me to present to +your majesty the lovely, gentle, blushing lady Louisa Mortimer, lately +arrived in your majesty's kingdom; your majesty will perceive that she +bears loyalty in her--hey! what! excited!--hysterics!" + +The last exclamations were elicited by a violent effort of Louis to +extricate himself. + +"Frank, leave him alone!" + +"What is the will of royalty?" said Frank, struggling with his +refractory cousin. + +"That you leave Louis Mortimer alone," said Hamilton. "You will like us +better presently, Louis," added he, shaking hands with him: "my subjects +appear to consider themselves privileged to be rude to a new-comer; but +my royal example will have its weight in due time." + +"Your majesty's faithful trumpeter, grand vizier, and factotum is alive +and hearty," said Frank. + +"But as he had a selfish fit upon him just now," returned Hamilton, +"we were under the necessity of doing our own business." + +"I crave your majesty's pardon," said Frank, stroking his sovereign +tenderly on the shoulder; for which affectionate demonstration he was +rewarded by a violent push that laid him prostrate. + +"I am a martyr to my own benevolence," said Frank, getting up and +approaching Louis, "still I am unchanged in devotion to your ladyship. +Tell me what I can do,"--and whichever way Louis turned, Frank with +his smirking face presented himself;--"Will you not give your poor +slave one command?" + +"Only that you will stand out of my sunshine," said Louis good-temperedly. + +"Very good," exclaimed Hamilton. + +"Out of your sunshine! What, behind you? that is cruel, but most +obsequiously I obey." + +Louis underwent the ordeal of a new scholar's introduction with +unruffled temper, though his cousin took care there should be little +cessation until afternoon school, when Louis was liberated from his +tormentors to his great satisfaction--Frank's business carrying him +to a part of the school-room away from that where Louis was desired to +await further orders. In the course of the afternoon, he was summoned +to the presence of Dr. Wilkinson, who was holding a magisterial levee +in one of two class-rooms or studies adjoining the school-room. The +doctor appeared in one of his sternest humors. Besides the fourteen +members of the first class, whose names Louis knew already, there +was in this room a boy about Louis' age, who seemed in some little +trepidation. Doctor Wilkinson closed the book he held, and laying it +down, dismissed his pupils; then turning to the frightened-looking boy, +he took a new book off the table, saying, "Do you know this, Harrison?" + +"Yes, sir," faintly replied the boy. + +"Where did you get it?" + +"I bought it." + +"To assist you in winning prizes from your more honorable class-fellows, +I suppose," said the doctor, with the most marked contempt. "Since you +find Kenrick too difficult for you, you may go into the third class, +where there may be, perhaps, something better suited to your capacity; +and beware a second offence: you may go, sir." + +Louis felt great pity for the boy, who turned whiter still, and then +flushed up, as if ready to burst into tears. + +"Well, Louis, I wish to see what rank you will be able to take," +said the doctor, and he proceeded with his examination. + +"Humph!" he ejaculated at length, "pretty well--you may try in the +second class. I can tell you that you must put your shoulder to +the wheel, and make the most of your powers, or you will soon be +obliged to leave it for a less honorable post; but let me see what +you can do--and now put these books away on that shelf." As he spoke, +the doctor pointed to a vacant place on one of the shelves that lined +two sides of the study, and left the room. Louis put the books away, +and then returned to the school-room, where he sought his brother, and +communicated his news just before the general uproar attendant on the +close of afternoon school commenced. + +Reginald was one of the most noisy and eager in his preparations for +play; and, dragging Louis along with him, bounded into the fresh air, +with that keen feeling of enjoyment which the steady industrious +school-boy knows by experience. + +"What a nice play-ground this is!" said Louis. + +"Capital!" said Reginald. "What's the fun, Frank?" he cried to his +cousin, who bounded past him at this moment, towards a spot already +tolerably crowded. + +"Maister Dunn," shouted Frank. + +"Oh, the old cake-man, Louis," said Reginald; "I must go and get rid +of a few surplus pence." + +"Do you like to spend your money in cakes?" asked Louis; "I have plenty, +Mrs. Colthrop took care of that." + +"In that case I'll save for next time," said Reginald, "but let's go +and see what's going on." + +Accordingly Reginald ran off in the cake-man's direction. Louis followed, +and presently found himself standing in the outer circle of a group of +his school-fellows, who formed a thick wall round a white-haired old +man and a boy, both of whom carried a basket on each arm, filled with +dainties always acceptable to a school-boy's palate. + +[Illustration: Maister Dunn.] + +Were I inclined to moralize, I might here make a few remarks on waste of +money, &c., but my business being merely to relate incidents at present, +I shall only say that there they stood, the old man and his assistant, +with the boys in constant motion and murmur around them. + +Frank Digby and Hamilton were in the outer circle, the latter having +_walked_ from a direction opposite to that from which Frank and Reginald +came, but whose dignity did not prevent a certain desire to purchase if +he saw fit, and if not, to amuse himself with those who did so. He stood +watching the old man with an imperturbable air of gravity, and, hanging +on his arm in a state of listless apathy, stood Trevannion, another +member of the first class. + +Frank Digby took too active a share in most things in the establishment +to remain a passive spectator of the actions of others, and began pushing +right and left. "Get along, get away ye vagabonds!" he politely cried: +"you little shrimps! what business have you to stop the way?--Alfred, you +ignoramus! Alfred, why don't you move?" + +"Because I'm buying something," said the little boy addressed, looking +up very quietly at the imperious intruder. + +"_Da locum melioribus_, Alfred, as the poet has it. Do you know where +to find that, my boy?--the first line of the thirteenth book of the +Aeneid, being a speech of the son of Anchises to the Queen of Carthage. +You'll find a copy of Virgil's works in my desk." + +"I don't mean to look," said Alfred, "I know it's in the Delectus." + +"Wonderful memory!--I admire that delectable book of yours," cried Frank, +who talked on without stopping, while forcing himself to the first rank. +"How now, Maister Dunn!" he said, addressing the old man, "I hope you +b'aint a going to treat us as e did last time. You must be reasonable; +the money market is in a sadly unflourishing condition at present." + +"You always talk of the _money market_, Frank," said little Alfred: +"what do you mean by the money market?" + +"It's a place, my dear--I'll explain it in a moment. Here, Maister +Dunn;--It's a place where the old women sell sovereigns a penny +a measure, Alfred." + +"Oh, Frank!" exclaimed Alfred. + +"Oh! and why not?" said Frank; "do you mean to say you don't believe me? +That's it,--isn't it, maister?" + +"Ah, Maister Digby! ye're at yer jokes," said the old man. + +"Jokes!" said Frank, with a serious air. "Pray, Mr. Dunn, did you ever +happen to notice certain brass, or copper, or bronze tables, four in +number, in front of the Bristol Exchange!" + +"Ay sure, maister!" + +"Well, I'll insense you into the meaning of that, presently. That, my +good sir, is where the old women stood in the good old times, crying +out, 'Here you are! sovereigns a penny a measure!' And that's the reason +people used to be so rich!" + +"Oh, Frank! now I know that's only your nonsense," said Alfred. + +"Well, I can't give you a comprehension, and if I could buy you one, I +couldn't afford it," answered Frank. "Now here's my place for any one; +Louis, I'll make you a present of it, as I don't want it." + +"I don't want to buy any thing," said Louis. + +"Rubbish!" cried Frank. "Every one does. Don't be stingy." And so +Louis allowed himself to be pushed and pulled into the crowd, and +bought something he would much rather have been without, because +he found it inconvenient to say _no_. + +The two upper classes were privileged to use the largest of the +class-rooms as their sitting-room in the evenings; and here Reginald +introduced his brother after tea; and, when he had shown him his +lessons, began to prepare his own. Most of the assembled youths were +soon quietly busy, though some of the more idly disposed kept up a fire +of words, while turning over leaves, and cutting pens to pieces. Among +the latter class was Frank Digby, who was seldom known to be silent +for a quarter of an hour, and who possessed the singular power of +distracting every one's attention but his own; for, though he scarcely +ever appeared to give his lessons a moment's attention, he was generally +sufficiently prepared with them to enable him to keep his place in his +class, which was usually two from the bottom. + +Louis saw that he must give his whole mind to his work; but being +unused to study in a noise, it was some time before he was well able +to comprehend what he wanted to do; and found himself continually +looking up and laughing at something around him, or replying to some +of Frank's jokes, which were often directed to him. When, by a great +exertion, he had at last forced himself to attend to Reginald's repeated +warnings, and had begun to learn in earnest, the door softly opened, +and the little boy he had noticed in the crowd that afternoon came in. + +"Halloa! what do you want?" cried one of the seniors; "you have no +business here." + +"Is Edward here, Mr. Salisbury?" + +"No." + +"Do you know where he is, please?" + +"With the doctor," replied the young gentleman. + +"Oh dear!" sighed the little boy, venturing to approach the table a +little nearer. + +"What's the matter with you?" asked Reginald. + +"I can't do this," said the child: "I wanted Edward to help me with +my exercise." + +"My little dear, you have just heard that sapient Fred Salisbury declare, +in the most civil terms chooseable, that your fraternal preceptor, +Edwardus magnus, _non est inventus_," said Frank, pompously, with a +most condescending flourish of his person in the direction of the +little boy. + +"And, consequently," said the afore-mentioned Mr. Salisbury, "you +have free leave to migrate to York, Bath, Jericho, or any other +equally convenient resort for bores in general, and you in particular." + +"Please, Mr. Digby," said the little boy, "will you just show me this?" + +"Indeed I can't," said Frank; "I can't do my own, so in all reason +you could not expect me to find brains for two exercises." + +"Oh! please somebody show me--Dr. Wilkinson will be so angry if +Mr. Norton sends me up again to-morrow." + +"Will you go?" shouted Salisbury, with such deliberate energy of +enunciation that Alfred shrunk back: "what's the use of your exercises, +if you're shown how to do them?" + +"Come here, Alfred," said Louis, softly. Alfred readily obeyed; +and Louis, taking his book, began to show him what to do. + +"Louis, you must not tell him word for word," said Reginald: +"Hamilton wouldn't like it--he never does himself." + +"But I may help him to do it for himself, may I not?" said Louis. + +"Yes; but, Louis, you have not time--and he is so stupid," +replied Reginald; "you won't have time to do your own." + +But Louis thought he should have time for both, and, putting his arm +round Alfred, he kindly and patiently set him in the way of doing his +lesson properly, and then resumed his own disturbed studies. + +Hardly, however, was he settled than he found himself listening to Frank, +who remarked, as Alfred left the room, "We shall be sure to have 'Oars' +in soon!" + +"Who do you mean by Oars?" asked Louis. + +"Churchill," said Reginald, laughing. + +"What an extraordinary name!" said Louis. + +"I say, Digby," cried a boy from the opposite side of the table, +"they give you the credit of that cognomen--but we are all in the +dark as to its origin." + +"Like the origin of all truly great," answered Frank, "it was very +simple: Churchill came one day to me with his usual 'Do tell us a bit, +that's a good fellow,' and after he had badgered me some minutes, +I asked him if he had not the smallest idea of his lesson--so, after +looking at it another minute, he begins thus, '_Omnes_, all.' 'Bravo!' +replied I. '_Conticuere_--What's that, Frank?' 'Were silent,' I answered: +'Go on.' After deep cogitation, and sundry hints, he discovered that +_tenebant_ must have some remote relationship to a verb signifying +to hold fast, and forthwith a bright thought strikes him, and on we go: +'_Intentique ora tenebant_--and intently they hold their oars,' he said, +exultingly. 'Very well,' quoth I, approvingly, and continued for him, +'_Inde toro pater_--the waters flowed glibly farther on, _ab alto_--to +the music of the spheres; the inseparable Castor and Pollux looking +down benignantly on their namesake below.' Here I was stopped by the +innocent youth's remark, that I certainly was quizzing, for he knew +that Castor and Pollux were the same in Latin as in English. Whereupon, +I demanded, with profound gravity, whether _gemini_ did not mean +twins, and if the twins were not Castor and Pollux--and if he knew +(who knew so much better than I) whether or no there might not be some +word in the Latin language, besides _gemini_, signifying twins; and +that if it was his opinion that I was quizzing, he had better do his +lesson himself. He looked hard, and, thinking I was offended, begged +pardon; and believing that _jubes_ was Castor and Pollux, we +got on quite famously--and he was quite reassured when we turned +from the descriptive to the historical, beginning with _Aeneas sic +orsus infandum_--Aeneas was such a horrid bear." + +"Didn't you tell him of his mistake?" asked Louis, who could not +help laughing. + +"What! spoil the fun and the lesson I meant to give him?--not I." + +"Well, what then, Frank?" said Reginald. + +"Why, imagine old Whitworth's surprise, when, confident in the free +translation of a first-class man, Oars flowed on as glibly as the +waters; Whitworth heard him to the end in his old dry way, and then +asked him where he got that farrago of nonsense;--I think he was +promoted to the society of dunces instanter, and learns either +Delectus or Eutropius now. Of course, he never applied again to me." + +Louis did not express his opinion that Frank was ill-natured, though +he thought so, in spite of the hearty laugh with which his story was +greeted. When he turned again to his lesson, he found his book had +been abstracted. + +"I tell you what," cried Reginald, fiercely, "I won't have Louis +tormented--who has taken his book? It's you, Ferrers, I am sure." + +"I! did you ever!" replied that young gentleman. "I appeal to you, +Digby--did you see me touch his book?" + +"I did not, certainly," said Frank. + +"Give me the book," exclaimed Reginald, jumping upon the table, "give +me the book, and let's have no more such foolery." + +"Get down, Mortimer, you're not transparent," cried several voices. + +Reginald, however, paid no attention to the command, but pouncing upon +Ferrers at a vantage, threw him backwards off the form, tumbling over +his prostrate foe, and in his descent bringing down books, inkstand, +papers, and one of the candles, in glorious confusion. + +"What's the row!" exclaimed Salisbury, adding an expression more +forcible than elegant; and, starting from his seat, he pulled Reginald +by main force from his adversary, with whom he was now struggling on +the floor, and at the same instant the remaining candle was extinguished. +Louis was almost stunned by the noise that ensued: some taking his +brother's part, and some that of Ferrers, while, in the dark, friend +struggled and quarrelled with friend as much as foe, no one attempting +to quell the tumult, until the door was suddenly burst open, and Hamilton +with Trevannion and two or three from the school-room entered. Hamilton +stood still for a moment, astonished by the unlooked-for obscurity. His +entrance checked the combatants, who at first imagined that one of their +masters had made his appearance, if that could be said to appear which +was hardly discernible in the dim light which came through the half-open +door. Hamilton begged one of the boys with him to fetch a light, and +taking advantage of the momentary lull, he called out, "Is this Bedlam, +gentlemen? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! What's the matter, +Mortimer?" + +"Oh!" replied Ferrers, "they've been teasing his little brother, +and he can't abide it." + +"I only mean to say, that Louis shan't be plagued in this manner," +cried Reginald, passionately; "and you know if the others were not +here you wouldn't dare to do it, you bully!" + +"For shame, Mortimer," said Hamilton, decidedly; and coming up to +Reginald he drew him a little aside, not without a little resistance +on Reginald's part--"What's the matter, Mortimer?" + +"Matter! why that they are doing all they can to hinder Louis from +knowing his lessons to-morrow. I won't stand it. He has borne enough +of it, and patiently too." + +"But is that any reason you should forget that you are a gentleman?" +said Hamilton. + +"My book is here, dear Reginald," said Louis, touching his brother's +shoulder. + +Reginald darted a fierce glance at Ferrers, but not being able to +substantiate an accusation against him, remained silent, and, under +the eye of Hamilton and his friend Trevannion, the remainder of the +evening passed in a way more befitting the high places in the school +which the young gentlemen held; but Louis had been so much interrupted, +and was so much excited and unsettled by the noise and unwonted scenes, +that when Dr. Wilkinson came at nine to read prayers, he had hardly +prepared one of his lessons for the next day. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Louis soon made himself a universal favorite among his school-fellows; +and, though he was pronounced by some to be a "softy," and by +others honored by the equally comprehensive and euphonious titles +of "spooney" and "muff," there were few who were not won by his gentle +good-nature, and the uniform good temper, and even playfulness, with +which he bore the immoderate quizzing that fell to his lot, as a new +boarder arrived in the middle of the half-year. If there were an errand +to be run among the seniors, it was, "Louis Mortimer, will you get me +this or that?" if a dunce wanted helping, Louis was sure to be applied +to, with the certainty in both cases that the requests would be complied +with, though they might, as was too often the case, interfere with his +duties; but Louis had not courage to say _no_. + +In proportion, however, as our hero grew in the good graces of his +school-fellows, he fell out of those of his masters, for lessons were +brought only half-learned, and exercises only half-written, or blotted +and scrawled so as to be nearly unintelligible; and after he had been +a fortnight at school, he seemed much more likely to descend to a lower +class than to mount a step in his own. Day after day saw Louis kept in +the school-room during play-hours, to learn lessons which ought to have +been done the night before, or to write out some long imposition as a +punishment for some neglected duty that had given place to the desire +of assisting another. + +Louis always seemed in a hurry, and never did any thing well. His mind +was unsettled, and, like every thing else belonging to him at present, +in a state of undesirable confusion. + +There was one resource which Louis had which would have set all to +rights, but his weakness of disposition often prevented him from taking +advantage of even the short intervals for prayer allowed by the rules +of the school, and he was often urged at night into telling stories +till he dropped asleep, and hurried down by the morning bell, before +he could summon up courage to brave the remarks of his school-fellows +as to his being so very _religious_, &c., and sometimes did not feel +sorry that there was some cause to prevent these solemn and precious +duties. I need not say he was not happy. He enjoyed nothing thoroughly; +he felt he was not steadily in earnest. Every day he came with a +beating heart to his class, never certain that he could get through +a single lesson. + +One morning he was endeavoring to stammer through a few lines of some +Greek play, and at last paused, unable to proceed. + +"Well, sir," said his master quietly,--"as usual, I suppose--I shall +give you only a few days' longer trial, and then, if you cannot do +better, you must go down." + +"Who is that, Mr. Danby?" said a voice behind Louis, that startled him, +and turning his blanched face round, he saw Dr. Wilkinson standing near. +"Who is that, Mr. Danby?" he repeated, in a deep stern voice. + +"Louis Mortimer, sir," replied Mr. Danby. "Either he is totally unfit +for this class, or he is very idle; I can make nothing of him." + +Dr. Wilkinson fixed his eyes searchingly on Louis, and replied, in a +tone of much displeasure: + +"If you have the same fault to find the next two days, send him into a +lower class. It is the most disgraceful idleness, Louis." + +Louis' heart swelled with sorrow and shame as the doctor walked away. +He stood with downcast eyes and quivering lids, hardly able to restrain +his tears, until the class was dismissed, and he was desired to stay in +and learn his unsaid lesson. + +Reginald followed his brother into the study, where Louis took his books +to learn more quietly than he could do in the school-room. + +"My dear Louis," he said, "you must try; the doctor will be so displeased +if you go into a lower class; and just think what a disgrace it will be." + +"I know," said Louis, wiping his eyes: "I can't tell how it is, every +thing seems to go wrong with me--I am not at all happy, and I am sure +I wish to please everybody." + +"A great deal too much, dear Louis," said Reginald. "You are always +teaching everybody else, and you know you have scarcely any time +for yourself. You must tell them you _won't_ do it; I can't be always +at your elbow; I've quarrelled more with the boys than ever I did, +since you came, on your account." + +"Oh dear! I am sorry I came," sighed Louis, "I do so long to be a little +quiet. Reginald, dear, I am so sorry I should give you any trouble. Oh, +I have lost all my happy thoughts, and I know every thing is sure to +go wrong." + +Louis remained sadly silent for a few minutes, and then, raising his +tearful eyes to his brother, who was sitting with his chin on his hands, +watching him, he begged him to leave him, declaring he should not learn +any thing while Reginald was with him. + +Thus urged, Reginald took his departure, though, with his customary +unselfish affection, he would rather have stayed and helped him. + +When he was gone, Louis began slowly to turn over the leaves of his +Lexicon, in order to prepare his lesson. He had not been long thus +employed, when he was interrupted by the irruption of the greatest +dunce in the school, introduced to the reader in the former chapter +as Churchill, _alias_ Oars, a youth of fifteen, who had constant +recourse to Louis for information. He now laid his dog's-eared +Eutropius before Louis, and opened his business with his usual +"Come now, tell us, Louis--help us a bit, Louis." + +"Indeed, Harry, it is impossible," said Louis sorrowfully. "I have all +my own to do, and if I do not get done before dinner I shall go into the +third class--no one helps me, you know." + +"It won't take you a minute," said Churchill. + +"It does take much more. You know I was an hour last night writing your +theme; and, Churchill, I do not think it is right." + +"Oh stuff! who's been putting that nonsense into your head?" replied +Churchill. "It's all right and good, and like your own self, you're +such a good-natured fellow." + +"And a very foolish one, sometimes," said Louis. "Can't you get somebody +else to show you?" + +"Goodness gracious!" cried Churchill, "who do you think would do it +now? and no one does it so well as you. Come, I say--come now--that's +a good fellow,--now do." + +"But how is it that you want to learn your lesson now," asked Louis? +"Won't the evening do?" + +"No; Dr. Wilkinson has given me leave to go out with my uncle this +afternoon, if I learn this and say it to old Norton before I go; and +I am sure I shan't get it done if you don't help me." + +"I cannot," said poor Louis. + +"Now I know you're too good-natured to let me lose this afternoon's fun. +Come, you might have told me half." + +And against his better judgment, Louis spent half an hour in hearing +this idle youth a lesson, which, with a little extra trouble he might +easily have mastered himself in three quarters of an hour. + +"Thank you, Louis, you're a capital fellow; I know it now, don't I?" + +"I think so," replied Louis; "and now you must not talk to me." + +"What are you doing?" said Churchill, looking at his book; "oh, +'Kenrick's Greek Exercises.' If I can't tell you, I can help you +to something that will. Here's a key." As he spoke, he took down +the identical book taken from Harrison on the day of Louis' arrival, +and threw it on the table before him. + +"Is that a key?" asked Louis, opening the book; "put it back, Harry, +I cannot use it." + +"Why not?" + +"It would not be right. Oh no! I will not, Churchill; put it up." + +"How precise you are!" said Churchill; "it's quite a common thing for +those who can get them--Thompson and Harcourt always use one." + +"Thompson ought to be ashamed of himself," cried Louis, "to be trying +for a prize, and use a key." + +"Well, so he ought, but you won't get a prize if you begin now, and +try till breaking-up day; so you hurt nobody, and get yourself out of +a scrape. Don't be a donkey, Louis." + +When Churchill left him alone Louis looked at the title-page, and +felt for an instant strongly tempted to avail himself of the assistance +of the book; but something checked him, and he laid his arms suddenly +on the table, and buried his face on them. A heavy hand laid on his +shoulder roused him from this attitude; and looking up, with his eyes +full of tears, he found Hamilton and Trevannion standing beside him. + +"What's the matter, Louis?" said the former. + +"I have so much to do;--I--I've been very careless and idle," +stammered Louis. + +"I can readily believe that," said Hamilton. + +"A candid confession, at any rate," remarked Trevannion. + +"And do you imagine that your brains will be edified by coming in +contact with these books?" asked Hamilton. "What have you to do?" + +"I have this exercise to re-write, and my Greek to +learn,--and--and--twenty lines of Homer to write out. +I can't do all now--I shall have to stay in this afternoon." + +"I should think that more than probable," said Trevannion. + +"What have we here?" said Hamilton, taking up the key. "Hey! what! +Louis! Is this the way you are going to cheat your masters?" + +"Pray don't think it?" said Louis, eagerly. + +"If you use keys, I have done with you." + +"Indeed I did not,--I never do,--I wasn't going. One of the boys left it +here. I am sure I did not mean to do so," cried Louis in great confusion. + +"Put it back," said Hamilton, gravely, "and then I will go over your +lessons with you, and see if I can make you understand them better." + +"Thank you, thank you,--how kind you are!" said poor Louis, who hastily +put the dangerous book away, and then sat down. + +Hamilton smiled, and remarked, "It is but fair that one should be +assisted who loses his character in playing knight errant for all +those who need, or fancy they need, his good services: but, Louis, +you are very wrong to give up so much of your time to others; your +time does not belong to yourself; your father did not send you here +to assist Dr. Wilkinson--or, rather, I should say, to save a set of +idle boys the trouble of doing their own work. There is a vast +difference between weakness and good-nature; but now to business." + +Trevannion withdrew with a book to the window, and Hamilton sat down by +Louis, and took great pains to make him give his mind to his business; +and so thoroughly did he succeed with his docile pupil, that, although +he had come in rather late, all, with the exception of the imposition, +was ready for Mr. Danby by the time the dinner-bell rang. + +Louis overwhelmed Hamilton with the expression of his gratitude, and +again and again laid his little hand on that of his self-instituted +tutor. Hamilton did not withdraw his hand, though he never returned +the pressure, nor made any reply to Louis' thanks, further than an +abrupt admonition from time to time to "mind what he was about," +and to "go on." + +Several inquiries were made at the open window after Louis, but all were +answered by Trevannion, and our hero was left undisturbed to his studies. + +That evening Louis had the satisfaction of being seated near his friend +Hamilton, who, with a good-natured air of authority, kept him steadily +at work until his business was properly concluded. Unhappily for Louis, +Hamilton was not unfrequently with the doctor in the evenings, or he +might generally have relied on his protection and assistance: however, +for the next two or three days, Louis steadily resisted all allurements +to leave his own lesson until learned; and, in consequence, was able to +report to Hamilton the desirable circumstance of his having gained two +places in his class. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +For some time before Louis' arrival at Ashfield House, preparations +had been making in the doctor's domestic _menage_ for the approaching +marriage of Miss Wilkinson, the doctor's only daughter. The young +gentlemen had, likewise, their preparations for the auspicious event, +the result of which was a Latin Epithalamium, composed by the seniors, +and three magnificent triumphal arches, erected on the way from the +house-door to the gate of the grounds. Much was the day talked of, +and eagerly were plans laid, both by masters and pupils, for the proper +enjoyment of the whole holiday that had been promised on the occasion, +and which, by the way--whatever young gentlemen generally may think of +their masters' extreme partiality for teaching--was now a greater boon +to the wearied and over-fagged ushers, than to the party for whose +enjoyment it was principally designed. + +The bridal day came.--No need to descant on the weather. The sun shone +as brightly as could be desired, and as the interesting procession passed +under the green bowers, cheer after cheer rose on the air, handfuls of +flowers were trodden under the horses' feet, and hats, by common consent, +performed various somersaults some yards above their owners' heads. + +There was a long watch till the carriages returned, and the same scene +was enacted and repeated, when the single vehicle rolled away from the +door; and the last mark of honor having been paid, the party dispersed +over the large playground, each one in search of his own amusement. Louis +wandered away by himself, and enjoyed a quiet hour unmolested, and tried, +with the help of his little hymn-book, and thinking over old times, to +bring back some of his former happy thoughts. There were more than +ordinary temptations around him, and he felt less able to resist them; +and this little rest from noise and hurry was to him very grateful. +When, at length, a little party found out his retreat and begged him +to join in a game of "hocky," he complied with a light and merry heart, +freer from that restless anxiety to which he had been lately so much +subject. + +In the afternoon, determining to let nothing interfere with the learning +of his lessons, Louis sat down in the school-room to business. There were +but two persons besides himself in the room, one of whom was an usher, +who was writing a letter, and the other, his school-fellow Ferrers. The +latter was sitting on the opposite side of the same range of desks Louis +had chosen, very intently engaged in the same work which had brought +Louis there. + +Louis felt very happy in the consciousness that he was foregoing +the pleasure of the merry playground for the stern business that his +duty had imposed on him; and the noise of his companions' voices, +and the soft breezes that came in through the open door leading into +the playground, only spurred him on to finish his work as quickly +as possible. + +Ferrers and his younger _vis-a-vis_ pursued their work in silence, +apparently unconscious of the presence of each other, until the +former, raising his head, asked Louis to fetch him an atlas out +of the study. + +"With pleasure," said Louis, jumping up and running into the study; +he returned almost immediately with a large atlas, and laid it down +on Ferrers' books. He had once more given his close attention to his +difficult exercises, when a movement from his companion attracted +his notice. + +"Did you speak?" he said. + +"Will you--oh, never mind, I'll do it myself," muttered Ferrers, +rising and going into the class-room himself. + +Louis had become again so intent upon his study, that he was hardly +aware of the return of his school-fellow, nor did he notice the +precipitation with which he hurried into his place, and half hid +the book he had brought with him, a book that he imagined to be a +key to his exercises, but which, in fact, was a counterpart to that +taken away from Harrison, though bound exactly like the one Ferrers +had gone for, and so nearly the same size as easily to be mistaken +for it in the confusion attendant on the abstraction of it. + +Just at this moment, Hamilton, Trevannion, and Salisbury, with one or +two more of the first class, entered from the playground, and walked +directly across to Ferrers. + +Alive to all the disgrace of being found by his class-fellows in +possession of a key, and unable to return it unobserved, Ferrers, +in the first moment of alarm, tried to push it into the desk at +which he was writing, but finding it locked, he stood up with as +much self-possession as he could assume, and pretending to be +looking among his books and papers, managed, unobserved, to pass +the obnoxious volume over to Louis' heap of books, laying it half +under one of them. Louis was wholly unconscious of the danger so +near him, and did not raise his held from his absorbing occupation +when the fresh comers approached the desk. + +"Ferrers," said Salisbury, as they came up, "we want your advice on +a small matter; come with us into the class-room." + +Accordingly Ferrers obeyed, glad to leave the dangerous spot, and Louis +was left in undisturbed possession of the apartment for more than half +an hour, at the end of which time the party returned from the inner +room laughing, and all walked out of doors. Just as they passed out, +Mr. Witworth, the usher, approached Louis, and asked him if he could +lend him a pencil. Louis laid his pen down, and began to search his +pockets for a pencil he knew should be there, when he was startled by +the ejaculation of the master: + +"Hey!--what!--This is it, is it? So I have found you out, sir." + +Louis looked up in alarm. "Found me out, sir?" he said, in a terrified +tone: "what have I done?" + +"Done!" exclaimed Mr. Witworth,--"done, indeed: what are you doing there?" + +"My exercise, sir." + +"To be sure, to be sure. What's the meaning of this, sir?" and he held +up the key. "What have you done, indeed!--you hoped that it was nicely +concealed, I dare say. I wonder how you can be so artful." + +"I am sure I don't know any thing about that book," said Louis, +in great agitation. + +"Admirably acted," said Mr. Witworth. "It wouldn't walk here, however, +Master Mortimer: some one must have brought it." + +"I am sure I don't know who did--I don't indeed," said poor Louis, +despairingly. + +"Perhaps you'll try to make me believe you don't know what it is, +and that you never saw the book before," remarked Mr. Witworth, +scornfully. + +"I do know what it is, but I never used it, I do assure you, sir, +and I did not bring it here. Will you not believe me?" + +"It is very likely that I should believe you, is it not? Well, sir, +this book goes up with you to-morrow to Dr. Wilkinson, and we shall +see how much he will believe of your story. This accounts for your +apparent industry lately." So saying, Mr. Witworth walked off with +the book in his hand, leaving Louis in the greatest distress. + +"And all my pains are quite lost!" he exclaimed, as he burst into tears. +"The doctor is sure not to believe me, and there will be--oh, who could +have left it there?" + +"Louis, are you coming out this afternoon; what's the matter?" +exclaimed the welcome voice of his brother. + +"What, Lady Louisa in tears! Here's the ink bottle; do let me catch the +crystal drops," said Frank Digby, who accompanied Reginald in search of +his brother. + +"Oh, Reginald!" exclaimed Louis, regardless of Frank's nonsense, "some +one has left a key to my exercises on my books, and Mr. Witworth has +just found it. What shall I do?" + +"_Some one has left_," ejaculated Frank. "That's a good story, Louis; +only one can't quite swallow it, you know. Who would leave it, eh?" + +"How? where, Louis?" said Reginald. + +"It was just here it was found. I am sure I cannot think who put +it there." + +"Well of all the"--began Frank; "my astonishment positively chokes me. +Louis, are you not ashamed of yourself?" + +"Oh, Frank! I am speaking the truth; I am, indeed, I am--Reginald, +I am, you know I am." + +"It is very strange," remarked Reginald, who was standing with a +clouded, unsatisfied brow, and did not exhibit that enthusiasm +respecting his innocence which Louis expected from him. Reginald +knew too much, and dared not yet be certain when appearances were +so sadly against him. + +"Reginald, dear Reginald, tell me," cried Louis, almost frantically; +"surely you believe me?" + +"Believe you!" echoed Frank, scornfully; "he knows you too well, +and so do I. Remember last year, Louis: you'd better have thought +of it sooner." + +Reginald cast a threatening glance on his cousin, who undauntedly +replied to it. + +"You can't gainsay that, at any rate, Reginald." + +"Reginald, dear Reginald," cried Louis, with streaming eyes, "you know +I always spoke the truth to you; I declare solemnly that I am speaking +only the truth now." + +Reginald looked gloomily at his brother. + +"Indeed it is. If you will not believe me, who will?" + +"Who, indeed?" said Frank. + +"I do believe you, Louis," said Reginald, quickly, "I do believe you; +but this matter must be sifted. It is very strange, but I will make all +the inquiries I can. Who sat with you?" + +"Ferrers was sitting there," replied Louis. + +"Any one else?" + +"No," replied Louis. + +"I'll answer for it, it was Ferrers," said Reginald. + +"A likely story," said Frank. + +"I think it very likely," said Reginald, firmly, "and woe be to him +if he has." + +As he finished speaking, Reginald ran off in search of Ferrers, +whom he found in a group of the head boys, into the midst of which +he burst without the smallest ceremony. + +"Manners!" exclaimed Hamilton; "I beg your pardon, Mr. Mortimer, +for standing in your way." + +"I am very sorry," said Reginald, bluntly, "but I can't stand +upon ceremony. Ferrers, what have you been doing with Kenrick's +Exercises--I mean the key to it?" + +"I!" cried Ferrers, reddening violently; "what--what do you mean, +Mortimer?" + +"You have left the key on Louis' desk, to get him into a scrape--you +know you have." + +"Upon my word, Mortimer! what next!" exclaimed Salisbury. "Who do you +think would fash themselves about such a little hop-o'-my-thumb?" + +"Will you let Ferrers answer!" cried Reginald, imperiously. + +Unconscious of the mistake he had made, Ferrers felt exceedingly +uncomfortable in his present position, and, assuming an air of +contemptuous indignation, he turned his back on Reginald, saying +as he did so, "Such impertinence merits nothing but silent contempt." + +"You did it, you coward!" cried Reginald, enraged almost beyond control. +"I know you did, and _you_ know you did. Will you answer me?" + +"Answer him, Ferrers, answer him at once, and let us have an end of his +impertinence," cried several voices: "he's like a wild-cat." + +"Well then, I did not," said Ferrers, turning round with a violent +effort; "will that satisfy you?" + +Reginald glared angrily and doubtfully on the changing countenance of +the speaker, and then burst out vehemently, + +"I don't believe a word you say: you did it either to spite him, +or you mistook your aim. Do you never use keys, Mr. Ferrers?" + +"Really, Mortimer!" exclaimed Trevannion, "your language is very +intemperate and ungentlemanly. I have no doubt your brother knows +how to help himself; and now, for your comfort, know that I saw him +the other day with that same book, and here is Hamilton, who can +corroborate my statement." + +"Where? when?" asked Reginald, in a subdued tone. + +"In the class-room alone, when he was writing his exercise. Hamilton, +am I not right?" + +Hamilton nodded. + +"Dr. Wilkinson will do justice to-morrow," said Reginald, as after +a moment's painful silence he looked up with assumed confidence, +and turned proudly away from Ferrers' reassured look of exultation, +though the latter hardly dared exult, for he thought Reginald had +mistaken the book, and feared the suspicions that might rest on +himself when it should be discovered that it was not a second-class +key. "And now, Mortimer, let's have no more of this violent language," +said Hamilton. "If the matter is to come before the doctor, he will +do all justice; let him be sole arbitrator; but I would not bring it +before him were I in your place. Make an apology to Ferrers, and say +nothing more. You will do your brother more harm than good." + +"_Make an apology_," said Reginald, ironically; "I haven't changed +my mind yet. It must come before the doctor. Mr. Witworth found the +book, and has carried it by this time, or certainly will carry it, +to head-quarters." + +"Come along with me, and tell me the whole affair," said Hamilton. + +While Reginald was unfolding the matter to Hamilton, the party they had +left was reinforced by Frank Digby, who warmly took Ferrers' part, and +enlightened the company as to many particulars of his cousin's former +character: and so much was said about the injury Reginald had done to +Ferrers by his suspicions, that when that youth discovered the certainty +of the mistake he had made, he was so far involved as to render it +impossible to him to acknowledge that even out of a spirit of teasing +he had placed the book near Louis; and his anxiety was so great to free +himself from any suspicion, that he was selfishly and ungenerously +insensible to the trouble entailed upon Louis, whom he disliked on +account of his superiority to himself, but on whom he had not seriously +contemplated inflicting so great an injury--so imperceptibly does one +fault lead to another, so unable are we to decide where the effects of +one false step, one dishonest thought, shall end. + +The story was soon spread among Louis' immediate companions, who were +anxious to learn the cause of his swollen eyes and sad demeanor, and +Louis had to endure many sneers, and, what was still harder to bear, +much silent contempt from those whose high sense of honor made them +despise any approach to the meanness of which he was supposed guilty. +Hamilton, though in the study the whole evening, took no notice of him, +and when his eyes met Louis', they bore no more consciousness of his +presence than if he had been a piece of stone. Frank Digby did not +tease Louis, but he let fall many insinuations, and a few remarks so +bitter in their sarcasm, that Reginald more than once looked up with +a glance so threatening in its fierceness, that it checked even that +audacious speaker. Even little Alfred was not allowed to sit with Louis; +though Hamilton made no remark, nor even alluded to the subject to his +brother, he called him immediately to himself, and only allowed him to +leave him at bed-time. + +As the elder boys went up stairs to bed, Frank continued his aggravating +allusions to Louis' weakness, but in so covert a manner, that no one but +those acquainted with Louis' former history could have understood their +import. For some time Reginald pretended not to hear them; there was a +strong struggle within him, for his high spirit rose indignantly at his +cousin's unkindness, yet was for some time checked by a better feeling +within; but, at length, on Frank's making some peculiarly insulting +remark in a low tone, his pent-up ire boiled forth, and, in the madness +of his fury, he seized on his cousin with a strength that passion +rendered irresistible. "You've tried to provoke me to this all the +evening--you _will_ have it, you dastardly coward! you WILL have +it, will you?" + +These exclamations were poured forth in a shout, and Reginald, after +striking his cousin several violent blows, threw him from him with such +force that his head struck against the door-post, and he fell motionless +to the ground, the blood streaming from a wound in his forehead. + +There was an awful silence for a minute. The boys, horror-struck, stood +as if paralyzed, gazing on the inanimate form of their school-fellow. +Reginald's passion subsided in an instant; his face turned pale, the +color fled from his lips, and clasping his hands in terror, he muttered, +"Oh! what have I done!" and then there was a shout, "Oh, Frank Digby's +killed! Digby's killed--he's dead!" + +Hamilton at length pushed forward and raised Frank's head. And at this +moment Mr. Norton and Dr. Wilkinson, with two or three of the servants, +came from different directions. The crowd round Frank made way for the +doctor, who hurriedly approached, and assisted Hamilton to raise Frank +and carry him to his bed. + +"He's dead, he's dead!" cried the boys all round. + +"How did this happen?" asked the doctor, and without waiting for an +answer he tore open the handkerchief and collar of the insensible youth, +and dispatched some one immediately for a medical man. One was sent for +a smelling-bottle, another for some water, and Mrs. Wilkinson soon made +her appearance with a fan, and other apparatus for restoring a fainting +person. But it was long before there were any signs of returning life. +It was a terrible time for Reginald. It was agony to look on the +motionless form, and blood-streaked countenance before him--to watch +the cloud of anxiety that seemed to deepen on his master's face as +each new restorative failed its accustomed virtue,--to listen to the +subdued murmurs and fearful whispers, and to note the blanched faces +of his school-fellows. He stood with clasped hands, and there was a +prayer in his heart that he might not be called to suffer so very +deeply for this sinful expression of his temper. What if he should +have sent his cousin unprepared into eternity? Oh, what would he +give to see one motion; what, that he had been able to restrain his +ungovernable fury! There was almost despair in his wild thoughts, when +at last Frank sighed faintly, and then opened his eyes. He closed them +immediately, and just then the surgeon arriving, more potent remedies +were used, and he was at length restored to consciousness, though +unable to speak aloud. Doctor Wilkinson had him removed to another +room, and after seeing him comfortably arranged, returned to Reginald's +bedroom. + +"Now, how did this happen?" he said. + +No one spoke, and the silence was only broken by the sound of sobs from +the further end of the room. + +"Who did this?" asked the doctor again. + +"I did, sir," said Reginald, in a broken voice. + +"Come forward. Who is it that speaks?" said Doctor Wilkinson. "Mortimer! +is this some passion of yours that has so nearly caused the death of +your cousin? I am deeply grieved to find that your temper is still so +ungovernable. What was the matter?" + +Reginald was incapable of answering, and none of his companions +understood the quarrel; so Doctor Wilkinson left the room, determined +to make a strict investigation the next morning. + +Poor Reginald was almost overwhelmed: he knelt with his brother after +their candle was extinguished, by their bedside, and both wept bitterly, +though quite silently. Distress at his own fault, and his brother's +new trouble, and deep thankfulness that his cousin was alive, and not +dangerously hurt, filled Reginald's mind, and kept him awake long after +all besides in the room were asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The next morning, after the early school-hours, Doctor Wilkinson kept +Reginald back as he was following the stream to breakfast, and led +the way into the class-room, where, after closing the door, he seated +himself, and motioning Reginald to draw closer to him, thus opened +his inquiry. + +"I wish to know, Mortimer, how this affair began last night: it appears, +from all I can make out, to have been a most unprovoked attack on your +part, but as there is often more than appears on the surface, I shall +be glad to hear what you have to allege in extenuation of your savage +conduct." + +Reginald colored very deeply, and dropping his eyes under the piercing +gaze of his master, remained silent. + +"Am I to conclude from your silence that you have no excuse to make?" +asked the doctor in a tone of mixed sorrow and indignation; "and am I +to believe that from some petty insult you have allowed your temper +such uncontrolled sway as nearly to have cost your cousin his life?" + +"I had very great provocation," said Reginald, sullenly. + +"And what might that be?" asked his master. "If the wrong be on Digby's +side, you can have no hesitation in telling me what the wrong was." + +Reginald made no answer, and, after a pause, Dr. Wilkinson continued: +"Unless you can give me some reason, I must come to the conclusion +that you have again given way to your violent passions without even +the smallest excuse of injury from another. The assertion that you +have been 'provoked' will not avail you much: I know that Digby is +teasing and provoking, and is therefore very wrong, but if you cannot +bear a little teasing, how are you to get on in the world? You are +not a baby now, though you have acted more like a wild beast than +a reasonable creature. I am willing and desirous to believe that +something more than usual has been the cause of this ebullition of +temper, for I hoped lately that you were endeavoring to overcome this +sad propensity of yours." + +"I assure you, sir," said Reginald, raising his open countenance to his +master's, "I tried very much to bear with Frank, and I think I should +if he had not said so much about--about--" + +Here Reginald's voice failed; a sensation of choking anger prevented +him from finishing his sentence. + +"About what?" said the doctor, steadily. + +"About my brother," said Reginald, abruptly. + +"And what did he say about your brother that chafed you so much?" + +Reginald changed color, and his eyes' lighted up with passion. He did +not reply at first, but as his master seemed quietly awaiting his answer, +he at length burst out,-- + +"He had been going on all the afternoon about Louis: he tried to put +me in a passion; he said all he could--every thing that was unkind and +provoking, and it was more than a fellow could stand. I bore it as long +as I could--" + +"You are giving me a proof of your gentle endurance now, I suppose," +said the doctor. + +"I beg your pardon, sir, but I can't help it,--I feel so angry when I +think of it, that I am afraid I should knock him down again if he were +to repeat it." + +"For shame, sir!" said the doctor, sternly; "I should have thought that +you had already had a lesson you would not easily have forgotten. What +did he say of your brother that irritated you? I insist upon knowing." + +"He said Louis was--that Louis did not speak the truth, sir. He said +that I believed it--that _I_ believed it"--and Reginald's passionate +sobs choked his utterance. + +"Believed what?" asked the doctor. + +"Something that happened yesterday," said Reginald; "he said that--he +was a hypocrite, and he went on taunting me about last summer." + +"_About last summer!_" repeated the doctor. + +"Yes, sir--about a mistake. Nobody makes allowances for Louis. I could +have borne it all if he had not said that _I_ knew Louis was a liar. I'd +knock any one down that I was able who should say so! Indeed," continued +Reginald, fiercely, "I begged him to leave off, and not provoke me, but +he would have it, and he knew what I was." + +"Enough--enough--hush," said Dr. Wilkinson: "I beg I may hear no more +of knocking down. Don't add to your fault by working yourself into a +passion with me. Some provocation you certainly have had, but nothing +can justify such unrestrained fury. Consider what would have been your +condition at present, if your rage had been fatal to your cousin; it +would have availed you little to have pleaded the aggravation; your +whole life would have been embittered by the indulgence of your vengeful +feelings--one moment have destroyed the enjoyment of years. Thank God, +Mortimer, that you have been spared so terrible a punishment. But you +will always be in danger of this unless you learn to put a curb on your +hasty temper. The same feelings which urge you into a quarrel as a boy, +will hurry you into the duel as a man. It is a false spirit of honor and +manliness that makes you so ready to resent every little insult. In the +life of the only perfect Man that ever lived, our great Example and +Master, we do not see this impatience of contradiction: 'When He was +reviled, He reviled not again;' and if He, the Lord of all, could +condescend to endure such contradiction of sinners against Himself, +shall it be too much for us to bear a little with the contradiction of +our fellow-creatures? My boy, if we do not strive to bear a little +of the burden and heat of the day, we are not worthy to bear the noble +name of Christians." + +"I am very sorry, sir," said Reginald, quite softened by the earnest +manner of his master; "I am very sorry I have been so hasty and wrong. +I dare not make any promises for the future, for I know I cannot +certainly keep them, but, with God's help, I hope to remember what +you have so kindly said to me." + +"With His help we may do all things," said Dr. Wilkinson; "you may by +this help overcome the stumbling-stone of your violent passions, which +otherwise may become an effectual barrier in the way of your attaining +the prize of eternal life; and remember that 'he that is slow to anger +is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that +taketh a city.'" + +There was a minute's silence, which Reginald broke by asking if he +might attend on Frank until he was well. + +"Can I hope that you will be gentle," said the doctor; "that you will +remember he is in invalid--one of your making, Mortimer; and that if he +is impatient and fretful, you are the cause?" + +"I will try, sir, to make amends to him," said Reginald, looking down; +"I hope I may be able to be patient." + +"I will give orders that you may go to him," said the doctor; and after +a pause, he added, "another offence of this kind I shall visit with the +heaviest displeasure. I am in hopes that the anxiety you have undergone, +and the present state of your cousin, may be a lesson to you; but if +I find this ineffectual, I shall cease to consider you a reasonable +creature, and shall treat you accordingly." + +Dr. Wilkinson then rose and left the room. Reginald lingered a few +minutes to compose himself before joining his school-fellows; his heart +was very full, and he felt an earnest desire to abide by his master's +counsel, as well as grateful for the leniency and kindness with which +he had been treated, which made him feel his fault much more deeply +than the severest punishment. + +The breakfast time was very unpleasant for Louis that morning; he was +full of anxiety as to the result of Mr. Witworth's discovery, and his +sickness of heart entirely deprived him of appetite. When the meal was +dispatched, Reginald went off to Frank, whom he found in a darkened +room, very restless and impatient. He had passed a very bad night, and +was suffering considerable pain. Reginald had to endure much ill-nature +and peevishness; all of which he endeavored to bear with gentleness, and +during the time Frank was ill, he gave up all his play-hours to wait on +him and to amuse him as he grew better; and the exercise of patience +which this office entailed was greatly beneficial to his hasty and +proud spirit. + +Mr. Danby was in the midst of the second-class lessons that morning, +when one of the first class brought him a little slip of paper. Mr. +Danby glanced at the few words written thereon, and when the class +had finished he desired Louis to go to Dr. Wilkinson. All remnant of +color fled from Louis' cheek, though he obeyed without making any reply, +and with a very sinking heart entered the room where the doctor was +engaged with the first class. The keen eye of his master detected him +the instant he made his appearance, but he took no notice of him until +he had finished his business; then, while his pupils were putting up +their books he turned to Louis, and pointing to a little table by his +side, said, "_There_ is a volume, Louis Mortimer, with which I suspect +you have some acquaintance." + +Louis advanced to the table, and beheld the Key to Kenrick's Greek +Exercises. + +"You know it?" said the doctor. + +"Yes, sir, but I did not use it," said Louis. + +"You will not deny that it was found among your books in the +school-room," said the doctor. + +"I know, sir, Mr. Witworth found it, but I assure you I did not +put it there," replied Louis, very gently. + +"Have you never used it at all?" asked Dr. Wilkinson. + +"Never, sir," replied Louis, firmly. + +At this moment, he met the eye of Hamilton, who was standing near +Dr. Wilkinson, and who looked very scornfully and incredulously at +him as he paused to hear the result of the inquiry. Louis remembered +that Hamilton had seen the key Churchill had left, and he hastily +exclaimed, "I assure you, Mr. Hamilton, I did not." + +"What is this, Hamilton?" said Dr. Wilkinson, turning round. +"Do you know any thing of this matter?" + +"I would much rather not answer," said Hamilton, abruptly, +"if you will excuse me, sir." + +"I must, however, beg that you will, if you please," replied the doctor. + +"I really know nothing positively, I can say nothing certainly. You +would not wish, sir, that any imagination of mine should prejudice +you to Louis Mortimer's disadvantage; I am not able to say any thing," +and Hamilton turned away in some confusion, vexed that he should have +been appealed to. + +Dr. Wilkinson looked half perplexed--he paused a moment and fixed his +eyes on the table. Louis ventured to say, "Mr. Hamilton saw a book once +before with my lesson books, but I never used it." + +"What do you mean by _saw a book_?" asked the doctor. "What book did +Mr. Hamilton see? How came it there, and why was it there?" + +"It was 'Kenrick's Greek Exercises,' sir." + +"You mean the 'Key,' I suppose?" + +Louis answered in the affirmative. + +"Whose was it?" asked the doctor, with a countenance more ominous +in its expression. + +"It was the one you took from Harrison, sir," replied Louis. + +"Humph! I thought I took it away. Bring it here." Louis obeyed, +and the doctor having looked at it, continued, "Well, you had this +_with your lesson books_, you say. How did it come there?" + +"One of the boys gave it to me, sir," replied Louis. + +"And why did you not put it away?" + +"I was going, sir;" and the color rushed into Louis' pale face. "I did +not use it--and I hope I should not." + +"Who left the book?" asked Dr. Wilkinson. + +"Churchill, sir." + +"Call Churchill, Salisbury." + +Salisbury obeyed; and during his absence a profound silence reigned in +the room, for all the first class were watching the proceedings in deep +interest. Dr. Wilkinson seemed lost in thought; and Louis, in painful +anxiety, scanned the strongly marked countenance of his master, now +wearing its most unpleasing mask, and those of Hamilton and Trevannion, +alternately. Hamilton did not look at him, but bent over a table at +a book, the leaves of which he nervously turned. Trevannion eyed him +haughtily as he leaned in his most graceful attitude against the wall +behind the doctor's chair; and poor Louis read his condemnation in his +eyes, as well as in the faces of most present. + +Salisbury at length returned with Churchill, who was the more awe-struck +at the unwonted summons, as he was so low in the school as seldom to have +any business with the principal. + +"Churchill," said the doctor, gravely, "I have sent for you to hear what +is said of you. Now, Louis Mortimer, who gave you this book on the day +Mr. Hamilton discovered it in your possession?" + +"Churchill, sir," replied Louis, in great agitation; "you did, Churchill, +did you not? Oh! do say you did." + +"Hush," said the doctor. "What have you to say against this, Churchill?" + +"Nothing, sir--I did--I gave it to Louis Mortimer," stammered Churchill, +looking from Louis to the doctor, and back again. + +"And how came you to give it to him?" + +Churchill did not reply until the question was repeated, when he +reluctantly said, he had given it to Louis to assist him in his +exercise. + +"Did Mortimer ask you for it?" + +"No, sir." + +"Did he wish for it?" + +"No, sir, not that I know of." + +"You know, Harry, that I asked you to put it away--did I not?" +cried Louis. + +"I don't know--yes--I think you did," said Churchill, growing very hot. + +"Why did you not put it away?" asked Dr. Wilkinson. + +"Because I thought he wanted it, please sir." + +"But I did not, Harry! I told you I did not," said Louis, eagerly. + +Dr. Wilkinson desired Louis to be silent, and continued his questions-- + +"Did you try to persuade him to use it?" + +Again Churchill paused, and again confessed, most unwillingly, that +he had done so--and received a severe reprimand for his conduct on the +occasion, and a long task to write out which would keep him employed +during the play-hours of that day. + +He was then dismissed, and Dr. Wilkinson again addressed himself to +Louis: "I am glad to find that part of your story is correct; but I +now wish you to explain how my key found its way into the school-room +yesterday, when discovered by Mr. Witworth. The book must have been +deliberately taken out of this room into the school-room. You appear +to have been alone, or nearly so, in the school-room the greater part +of yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Witworth found the book half concealed +by your lesson books while you were writing your exercises." + +"I assure you, sir, I did not take it," said Louis. + +"Unhappily," replied Dr. Wilkinson, "I cannot take a mere assurance +in the present instance. Had not the case been so palpable, I should +have been bound to believe you until I had had reason to mistrust your +word--but with these facts I _cannot_, Louis;" and he added, in a very +low tone, so as to be heard only by Louis, who was much nearer to him +than the others, "Your honor has not always been sacred--beware." + +His school-fellows wondered what made the red flush mount so furiously +in Louis' forehead, and the tears spring to his eyes. The painful feelings +called forth by his master's speech prevented him from speaking for a few +minutes. He was roused by Dr. Wilkinson saying-- + +"The discovery of this Key in your possession would involve your +immediate dismissal from the second class, a sufficient disgrace, but +the matter assumes a far more serious aspect from these assertions of +innocence. If you had not used the book when discovered, it must have +been taken either by you, or another, for use. The question is now, +who took it?" + +"I did not, sir," said Louis, in great alarm. + +"Who did, then? Were any of your class with you?" + +"No, sir." + +"Was any one with you?" + +Louis paused. A sudden thought flashed across him--a sudden recollection +of seeing that book passed over and slipped among his books; an action he +had taken no notice of at the time, and which had never struck him till +this moment. He now glanced eagerly at Ferrers, and then, in a tremulous +voice, said, "I remember now, Ferrers put it there--I am almost sure." + +"Ferrers!" exclaimed the young men, with one voice. + +"What humbugging nonsense!" said Salisbury, in a low tone. + +"Do you hear, Mr. Ferrers?" said the doctor: "how came you to put that +Key among Louis Mortimer's books?" + +"I, sir--I never," stammered Ferrers. "What should I want with it? +What good could I get by it? Is it likely?" + +"I am not arguing on the possibility of such an event, I simply wish +to know if you did it?" said the doctor. + +"I, sir--no," exclaimed Ferrers, with an air of injured innocence. +"If I had done it, why did he not accuse me at once, instead of +remembering it all of a sudden?" + +"Because I only just remembered that I saw you moving something +towards me, and I am _almost_ sure it was that book now--I think +so," replied Louis. + +"You'd better be quite sure," said Ferrers. + +Dr. Wilkinson looked from one to the other, and his look might have made +a less unprincipled youth fear to persist in so horrible a falsehood. + +"Were you learning your lessons in the school-room yesterday afternoon, +Mr. Ferrers, at the same time with Louis Mortimer?" Ferrers acknowledging +this, Dr. Wilkinson sent for Mr. Witworth, and asked him if he had +observed either Ferrers or Louis go into the study during the afternoon, +and if he knew what each brought out with him. Mr. Witworth replied that +both went in, but he did not know what for. + +"I went in to get an atlas for Ferrers," cried Louis, in great agitation. + +"I got the atlas myself, Mortimer, you know," said Ferrers. + +Louis was quite overcome. He covered his face with his hands, and burst +into tears. + +"This is a sad business," said Dr. Wilkinson, very gravely; "much +worse than I expected--one of you must be giving utterance to the +most frightful untruths. Which of you is it?" + +"What would Ferrers want with the Key to The Greek Exercises sir?" +suggested Trevannion, "unless he wished to do an ill turn to Mortimer, +which you cannot suppose." + +"I have hitherto trusted Mr. Ferrers," replied Dr. Wilkinson; "and +am not disposed to withdraw that confidence without sufficient cause. +Mr. Ferrers, on your word of honor, am I to believe your statement?" + +Ferrers turned pale, but the doctor's steady gaze was upon him, and all +his class-fellows awaited his reply--visions of disgrace, contempt, and +scorn were before him, and there was no restraining power from within to +check him, as he hastily replied, "On my word of honor, sir." + +"I must believe you, then, as I can imagine no motive which could +induce you to act dishonorably by this boy, were I to discover that +any one in my school had acted so, his immediate expulsion should be +the consequence." + +The dead silence that followed the doctor's words struck coldly on the +heart of the guilty coward. + +"Now, Louis Mortimer," said the doctor, sternly, "I wish to give you +another chance of confessing your fault." + +Louis' thick convulsive sobs only replied to this. After waiting a +few minutes, Dr. Wilkinson said, "Go now to the little study joining +my dining-room, and wait there till I come: I shall give you half an +hour to consider." + +Louis left the room, and repaired to the study, where he threw himself +on a chair in a paroxysm of grief, which, for the first quarter of an +hour, admitted of no alleviation: "He had no character. The doctor had +heard all before. All believed him guilty--and how _could_ Ferrers act +so? How could it ever be found out? And, oh! his dear father and mother, +and his grandfather, would believe it." + +By degrees the violence of his distress subsided, and he sent up his +tearful petitions to his heavenly Father, till his overloaded heart +felt lightened of some of its sorrow. As he grew calmer, remembrances +of old faults came before him, and he thought of a similar sin of his +own, and how nearly an innocent person had suffered for it--and this +he felt was much easier to bear than the consciousness of having +committed the fault himself; and he remembered the sweet verses in +the first Epistle of St. Peter: "What glory is it if, when ye be +buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently; but if when ye do well +and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. +For even hereunto ye were called, because Christ also suffered for us, +leaving us an example that we should follow His steps: who did no sin, +neither was guile found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, reviled +not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself +to Him that judgeth righteously,"--and the feeling of indignation +against Ferrers was gradually changed into almost pity for him, for +Louis knew by experience the pain of a loaded conscience. While his +thoughts thus ran over the past and present, he heard the firm step +of Dr. Wilkinson crossing the hall, and nearly at the same moment that +gentleman entered the room. There was no pity in his countenance--the +dark lines in his face seemed fixed in their most iron mould; and +briefly announcing to his trembling pupil that the time allowed him +for consideration had expired, he asked whether he were prepared to +acknowledge his fault. Louis meekly persisted in his denial, which +had only the effect of making the doctor consider him a more hardened +offender; and after a few words, expressing the strongest reprehension +of his wickedness and cowardice, he gave him severe caning, and sent +him immediately to bed, although it was but the middle of the day. +In spite of the better feelings which urged poor Louis to acknowledge +the justice, under the circumstances, of his master's proceedings, he +could not help thinking that he had been very hardly treated. He hurried +up stairs, glad to indulge his grief in silence. How many times, in the +affliction of the next few hours, did he repeat a little hymn he had +learned at home: + + "Thy lambs, dear Shepherd, that are weak, + Are thy peculiar care; + 'Tis Thine in judgment to afflict, + And Thine in love to spare. + + "Though young in years, yet, oh! how oft + Have I a rebel been; + My punishment, O Lord, is mild, + Nor equals all my sin. + + "Since all the chastisements I feel + Are from Thy love alone, + Let not one murmuring thought arise, + But may Thy will be done. + + "Then let me blush with holy shame, + And mourn before my Lord, + That I have lived to Thee no more, + No more obeyed Thy word." + + --"Hymns for Sunday-Schools" + +At last he fell asleep, and oh! to wake; from that sleep! It was surely +good to be afflicted, and in the happiness of his mind Louis forgot his +trouble. But he had yet to endure much more, and the bitterest part of +his punishment came the next morning, when, according to his master's +orders, he repaired to the study with his books. He had been desired to +remain in this room out of school-hours, and was forbidden to speak +to any of his school-fellows without leave. While he was sitting +there the first morning after the inquiry related in this chapter, +Dr. Wilkinson entered with a letter, and sat down at the table where +Louis was reading. As he opened his desk, he said, "I have a painful +task to perform. This is a letter from your father, Louis Mortimer, +and he particularly requests that I should give him an account of +your conduct and your brother's; you know what an account I can give +of you both." + +Louis had listened very attentively to his master's speech, and when +it was concluded he gave way to such a burst of sorrow as quite touched +the doctor. For some minutes he wept almost frantically, and then +clasping his hands, he implored Dr. Wilkinson not to tell his father +what had happened: "It will break mamma's heart, it will break mamma's +heart, sir--do not tell my father." + +"Confess your fault, Louis, and I may then speak of amendment," +said the doctor. + +"I cannot, indeed--indeed I cannot. It will all come out by and bye: +you will see, sir--oh! you will see, sir," sobbed Louis, deprecating +the gathering of the angry cloud on the doctor's face. "Oh! do not +tell mamma, for it is not true." + +"I do not wish to hear any more, sir," said the doctor, sternly. + +"Oh! what shall I do--what shall I do!" cried Louis; and he pushed +his chair quickly from the table, and, throwing himself on his knees +by Dr. Wilkinson, seized the hand that was beginning to date the +dreaded letter--"I assure you I did not, sir--I am speaking the truth." + +"As you always do, doubtless," said the doctor, drawing his hand +roughly away. "Get up, sir; kneel to Him you have so deeply offended, +but not to me." + +Louis rose, but stood still in the same place. "Will you hear only this +one thing, sir? I will not say any thing more about my innocence--just +hear me, if you please, sir." + +Dr. Wilkinson turned his head coldly towards him. + +Louis dried his tears, and spoke with tolerable calmness: "I have +one thing to ask, sir--will you allow me still to remain in the +second class, and to do my lessons always in this room? You will +then see if I can do without keys, or having any help." + +"I know you can if you choose," replied Dr. Wilkinson, coldly, +"or I should not have placed you in that class." + +"But, if you please, sir, I know all,"--Louis paused, he had promised +to say no more on that subject. + +There was a little silence, during which Dr. Wilkinson looked earnestly +at Louis. At last he said, "You may stay in the class; but, remember, +you are forbidden to speak to any of your school-fellows for the next +week without express permission." + +"Not to my brother, sir?" + +"No; now go." + +"May I write to mamma?" + +"Yes, if you wish it." + +After timidly thanking the doctor, Louis returned to his seat, and +Dr. Wilkinson continued his letter, which went off by the same post +that took Louis' to his mother. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, + but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the + peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are + exercised thereby."--Heb. xii. 11. + + "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have + I kept Thy word."--Psalm cxix. 67. + + +Perhaps there is no state more dangerous to a Christian's peace of +mind than one of continual prosperity. In adversity even the worldly +man will sometimes talk of resignation, and feel that it is a good +thing to be acquainted and at peace with God, and that when all human +help is cut off, it is a sweet thing to have a sure refuge in an +almighty Saviour. But in prosperity the ungodly never look to Him; +and His own children, carrying about with them a sinful nature, against +which they must continually maintain a warfare, are too apt to forget +the Giver in his gifts, and to imagine that all is well because nothing +occurs to disturb the regularity of their blessings. + +Our little Louis, though the trial he now underwent was a bitter one, +and though at times it seemed almost too hard to be endured, learned by +degrees to feel that it was good for him. He had been in too high favor, +he had trusted too much in the good word of his school-fellows, and had +suffered the fear of man to deter him from his duty to God; and now, +isolated and looked upon as an unworthy member of the little society +to which he belonged, he learned to find his sole happiness in that +sweet communion which he had now solitary leisure to enjoy. His very +troubles carried him to a throne of grace; his desolate condition made +him feel that there was only One who never changed nor forsook His +people; only One who could understand and feel for the infirmities +and sorrows of a human creature; and though to the ungodly it is a +terror to know that there is "nothing that is not manifest in God's +sight," to the true child of God it is an unspeakable comfort to feel +that his thoughts and actions are "known long before" by his unwearied +Guardian. + +The effects of Louis' lonely communings were soon visible in his daily +conduct, and after his term of punishment had expired, the meekness of +his bearing, and the gentle lowliness of his demeanor, often disarmed +the most severe and unpitying of his youthful judges. There was no +servility in his manner, for he neither courted nor shunned observation; +nor, though he was as willing as ever to do a kind action for any +one, did he allow himself to be persuaded to give up all his time to +his idler school-fellows. There seemed more firmness and decision in his +naturally yielding disposition, and those who knew not the power of +assisting grace, looked and wondered at the firmness the sweet but weak +boy could at times assume. He would have told them it was not his own. +He was very quiet, and spoke little, even to his brother, of what was +passing in his mind, and sometimes his thoughts were so quietly happy +that he did not like to be spoken to. To Ferrers, Louis was as gentle +and courteous as to the rest of his companions, and, indeed, he had now +little other feeling towards him than that of sorrow and pity. + +There had been an unusual noise in the study one evening, while Louis +was absent, and when he entered it, he found the confusion attendant on +a grand uproar. Very little was doing, and tokens of the late skirmish +lay about the floor in torn and scattered books, and overthrown forms. +Among others, Ferrers was hunting for a missing book, but to discover +it in such a chaos was a difficult task, especially as no one would +now allow the candles to be used in the search. + +With many expressions, so unfitted for refined ears that I do not choose +to present them to my reader, Ferrers continued his search, now and then +attempting to snatch a candle from the table, in which he was regularly +foiled by those sitting there. + +"Well, at least have the civility to move and let me see if it is under +the table," he said at length. + +"You have hindered us long enough," said Salisbury; "Smith, Jones, and +I have done nothing to-night. If you will have rows, you must e'en take +the consequences." + +"Can't you get under the form?" asked Smith, derisively. + +Ferrers was going to make some angry, reply, when Louis dived between +the table and the form, with some trouble, and, at the expense of +receiving a few unceremonious kicks, recovered the book and gave it +to Ferrers, who hardly thanked him, but leaning his head on his hand, +seemed almost incapable of doing any thing. Presently he looked up, +and asked in a tone of mingled anger and weariness, what had become +of the inkstand he had brought. + + "Loosing's seeking, + Finding's keeping," + +said Salisbury. "Which is yours? Perhaps it's under the table too." + +"Hold your nonsense," cried Ferrers, angrily. "It's very shabby of you +to hinder me in this manner." + +Louis quietly slipped an inkstand near him, an action of which Ferrers +was quite aware, and though he pretended not to notice it, he availed +himself presently of the convenience. A racking headache, however, +almost disabled him from thinking, and though he was really unwell, +there was only the boy he had so cruelly injured who felt any sympathy +for his suffering. + +Louis carefully avoided any direct manifestation of his anxiety to +return good for evil, for he felt, though he hardly knew why, that +his actions would be misconstrued, but whenever any little opportunity +occurred in which he could really render any service, he was always +as ready to do it for Ferrers as for another; and now, when from his +classmates Ferrers met with nothing but jokes on his "beautiful temper," +and "placid state of mind," he could not help feeling the gentleness of +Louis' conduct, the absence of pleasure in his annoyance, and the look +of evident sympathy he met whenever he accidentally turned his eyes in +his direction. For a few days after this he was obliged to keep his bed, +and during this time, though Louis only once saw him, he thought of every +little kind attention he could, that might be grateful to the invalid. +Knowing that he was not a favorite, and that few in the school would +trouble themselves about him, he borrowed books and sent them to him for +his amusement, and empowered the old cake man to procure some grapes, +which he sent up to him by a servant, with strict orders to say nothing +of where they came from. The servant met Hamilton at the door of the +room, and he relieved her of her charge, and as she did not consider +herself under promise of secrecy towards him, she mentioned it, desiring +him at the same time to say nothing to Ferrers. + +Louis had now established a regular time for doing his own lessons, +and kept to it with great perseverance to the end of the half-year, +with one exception, when he had been acting prisoner in a trial +performed in the school-room, by half his own class and the third, +and let the evening slip by without remembering how late it grew. +His class-fellows were in the same predicament as himself, and as +they had barely time to write a necessary exercise, they agreed among +themselves to learn each his own piece of the lesson they had to repeat. +Louis did not seriously consider the deceit they were practising, and +adopted the same plan. One of the number, not trusting to his memory, +hit upon the singular expedient of writing the whole of his piece and +the next on a piece of paper, and wafering it to the instep of his shoe +when he went up to his class. Unhappily for his scheme, he was so placed +that he dared not expose his foot so as to allow him to avail himself +of this delectable assistance, and consequently, after much looking on +the floor for inspiration, and much incoherent muttering, was passed +over, and the order of things being thereby disturbed, of course no one +could say the missing lines until the head boy was applied to, and the +lower half of the class was turned down, with the exception of Louis, +who, standing on this occasion just above the gentleman of shoe memory, +had been able to say his share. + +As they were breaking up, Mr. Danby said to Louis, "You have been very +industrious lately, Louis Mortimer: I am glad you have been so correct +to-day." + +Louis blushed from a consciousness of undeserved praise; but though +his natural fear of offending and losing favor sprung up directly, a +higher principle faced it, and bearing down all obstacles, forced him +to acknowledge his unworthiness of the present encomium. + +"I ought to learn mine, sir,--I learned my piece to-day." + +"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Danby. + +"I learned my part of the lesson, as well as Harris, Williams, Sutton, +and Charles Salisbury. We forgot our lessons last night, but it is quite +an accident that I have said mine to-day." + +"I am glad you have had the honor to say so," said Mr. Danby. +"Of course you must learn yours, but let me have no more +learning pieces, if you please." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + "Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they will + be still praising Thee. For a day in Thy courts is + better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper + in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents + of wickedness."--Psalm lxxxiv. 4, 10. + + +Dr. Wilkinson's school was too large to be entirely accommodated with +sittings in the nearest church--and, consequently, was divided into two +bodies on Sunday, one of which regularly attended one of the churches in +Bristol, where Mr. Wilkinson, the doctor's son, occasionally did duty. +It fell to Louis' lot, generally, to be of the Bristol party, and unless +the day was rainy he was not ill-pleased with his destiny, for the walk +was very pleasant, and there was something in the chorus of bells in that +many-churched city, and the sight of the gray towers and spires, very +congenial to his feelings. It happened that the Sunday after Louis had +received permission to mix as usual with his school-fellows was one +of those peculiarly sunny days that seem to call upon God's people +especially to rejoice and be glad in the Works of His hand. Louis' mind +was in a more than usually peaceful state, and his heart overflowed +with quiet happiness as he looked down from the height of Brandon Hill +upon the city below. He and his companion had walked on rather faster +than the rest of their school-fellows, and now stood waiting till they +came up. + +"A penny for your thoughts, Mortimer," said his companion, a +pleasant-looking boy of fifteen or sixteen years of age; "you +are very silent to-day--what may be the subject of your profound +meditations?" + +Louis hardly seemed to hear the question, for he suddenly turned his +bright face to his interrogator, and exclaimed, "What a beautiful sight +it is to see so many churches together, Meredith! I think our churches +make us such a happy country." + +[Illustration: Louis and Meredith on Brandon Hill.] + +"Upon my word," replied Meredith, "you are endowing those piles of +stone with considerable potency. What becomes of commerce and--" + +"I mean, of course," interrupted Louis, "that it is religion that +makes us a happier country than others. I love so to look at the +churches; the sight of one sometimes, when all is fair and quiet, +brings the tears into my eyes." + +"Hey-dey! quite sentimental! You'd better be a parson, I think." + +"I hope I shall be a clergyman--I wish very much to be one--there is +not such another happy life. I was just thinking, Meredith, when you +spoke to me, of a verse we read yesterday morning, which quite expresses +my feelings: 'One thing have I desired of the Lord which I will seek +after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, +to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.'" + +Meredith looked with some surprise at Louis, and as they moved on he +said carelessly, "I suppose somebody will have the gratification of +beholding me in a long gown some day, holding forth for the edification +of my devoted flock." + +"Are you going to be a clergyman?" asked Louis. + +"Yes, I suppose I must. Don't you think I shall be a most +useful character?" + +"Oh! surely you wish it, do you not?" + +"Well, I don't much mind," replied Meredith, snatching a handful of +leaves from the hedge near him; "I shall have a nice fat living, and +it's a respectable kind of thing." + +Louis was horror-struck--he had not imagined such an idea--he almost +gasped out, "Oh! Meredith, I can hardly understand you. Surely that is +not your only wish about it: that cannot be a reason--not a right one." + +"Why, what's the harm?" said Meredith, laughing. "I only say outright +what hundreds think. If I could choose, perhaps I might like the army +best, but my father has a comfortable provision in the church for me, +and so I, like a dutiful son, don't demur, especially as, if I follow +the example of my predecessor, it will be vastly more easy than a +soldier's life." + +"Meredith, Meredith, this is too solemn a thing to laugh about. I have +often wondered how it is there are clergymen who can take their duties +so easily as some do; but if they only undertake them for your reasons, +I cannot feel so much surprised that they should be so careless. How +can you expect any happiness from such a life! I should be afraid to +talk so." + +Meredith stared contemptuously. "You are a Methodist, Louis," he said; +"I have no doubt I shall preach as good sermons as you: just put on a +grave face, and use a set of tender phrases, and wear a brilliant on +your little finger, and a curly head, and there you are a fashionable +preacher at once--and if you use your white pocket-handkerchief +occasionally, throw your arms about a little, look as if you intended +to tumble over the pulpit and embrace the congregation, and dose your +audience with a little pathos, you may draw crowds--the ladies will +idolize you." + +"I should not think that such popularity would be very good," +replied Louis, "supposing you could do as you say; but it seems +to me quite shocking to speak in such a slighting manner of so +holy a thing. Were you ever at an ordination, Meredith?" + +"Not I," said Meredith. + +"I should think if you had been you would be afraid to think of going +to answer the solemn questions you will be asked when you are ordained. +I was once with papa at an ordination at Norwich cathedral, and I shall +never forget how solemnly that beautiful service came upon me. I could +not help thinking how dreadful it must be to come there carelessly, and +I wondered how the gentlemen felt who were kneeling there--and the hymn +was so magnificent, Meredith. I think if you were there with your present +feelings, you would be afraid to stay. It would seem like mocking God to +come to answer all those solemn questions, and not mean what you said. +I think it is wicked." + +Louis spoke rapidly, and with great emotion. + +Meredith looked angry, struggling with a feeling of shame, and a wish to +laugh it off. "You are exclusively precise," he said; "others are not, +and have as much right to their opinion as you to yours. Trevannion, +for instance--he's going into the church because it is so genteel." + +"I hope you are mistaken," said Louis, quickly. + +"Not I; I heard him say the same thing myself." + +"I am _very_ sorry," said Louis, sadly. "Oh! I would rather be a laborer +than go into the church with such a wish--and yet, I had rather be a +very poor curate than a rich duke: it is such a happy, holy life." The +last part of Louis' speech was nearly inaudible, and no more was said +until the afternoon. + +It was Dr. Wilkinson's wish that the Sabbath should be passed as +blamelessly as he had the power of ordering it in his household; but +to make it a day of reverence and delight among so large a number of +boys, with different dispositions and habits of life, was an arduous +task. Mr. James Wilkinson was with the boys the whole afternoon, as +well as his father, to whose utmost endeavors he joined his own, that +the day might not be wholly unprofitable. In spite, however, of all +diligence, it could not fail of often being grossly misspent with many +of the pupils; for it is not possible for human power effectually to +influence the heart, and, until that is done, any thing else can be but +an outward form. + +This afternoon the boys were scattered over the large playground. In +one corner was the doctor, with twenty or thirty boys around him, and +in other directions, the different ushers hearing Catechisms and other +lessons. Some of the parties were very dull, for no effort was made by +the instructor to impart a real delight in the Word of God to his pupils; +and religion was made merely a matter of question and answer, to remain +engraved in such heartless form on the repugnant mind of the learner. +And, alas! how can it be otherwise, where the teacher himself does not +know that religion is a real and happy thing, and not to be learned as +we teach our boys the outlines of heathen mythology? + +Sitting on the ground, lolling against one of the benches under a +tree, sat Hastings Meredith and Reginald and Louis Mortimer; and one +or two more were standing or sitting near; all of whom had just finished +answering all the questions in the Church Catechism to Mr. Danby, and +had said a Psalm. + +Louis was sitting on the bench, looking flushed, thinking of holidays, +and, of course, of home,--home Sabbaths, those brightest days of home +life,--when Trevannion came up with his usual air of cool, easy +confidence. Trevannion was the most gentlemanly young man in the +school; he never was in a hurry; was particularly alive to any +thing "vulgar," or "snobbish," and would have thought it especially +unbecoming in him to exhibit the smallest degree of annoyance at any +untoward event. It took a good deal to put him out of countenance, and +he esteemed it rather plebeian to go his own errands, or, indeed, to +take any unnecessary trouble. + +"Were you in Bristol this morning, Meredith?" he said. + +"Yes, sure, your highness," replied Meredith, yawning. + +"Tired apparently," said Trevannion ironically, glancing at the +recumbent attitude of the speaker. + +"Worried to death with that old bore Danby, who's been going backwards +and forwards for the last hour, with 'What is your name?' and 'My good +child,' &c. I'm as tired as--as--oh help me for a simile! as a pair of +worn-out shoes." + +"A poetical simile at last," remarked Reginald, laughing. + +"You would have a nice walk," said Trevannion. + +"Very! and a sermon gratis to boot," replied Meredith. "It would +have done you good, Trevannion, to have heard what shocking things +you have done in being so _very genteel_." + +"What do you mean?" said Trevannion, coolly. + +"Louis Mortimer was giving me a taste of his Methodistical mind on the +duties of clergymen generally, and your humble servant especially." + +"I presume you do not include yourself in the fraternity yet?" +said Trevannion. + +"Not exactly; but having informed him of my prospects, the good child +began to upbraid me with my hypocrisy, and, bless you, such a thundering +sermon,--positively quite eloquent." + +"Perhaps I may be allowed to profit by the second part of it," said +Trevannion, turning to Louis; "will you be kind enough to edify me?" + +Louis did not reply, and Trevannion's lips curled slightly as he +remarked, "There is an old proverb about those who live in glass +houses--'Physician, cure thyself.'" + +Poor Louis turned away, and Meredith, stretching himself and yawning +terrifically, continued, "You must know, Trevannion, that it is very +wicked to be any thing but a Methodist, very wicked for a clergyman +to be genteel, or to wish to make himself comfortable." + +"Hastings, I did not say so," said Louis, turning his head. + +"And so," continued Meredith, without noticing Louis, "if we dare +to follow up our own or our fathers' wishes, we must listen to +Louis Mortimer, and he will tell us what to do." + +"Much obliged to him, I am sure," said Trevannion. + +"Yes, so am I," rejoined Meredith, "though I forgot to tender my +thanks before; and hereby give notice, that when I am in orders, +I will not hunt more than convenient, nor play cards on Good Friday, +nor go to dancing parties on Saturday evening." + +"Pshaw, Meredith," said Trevannion: "it is very unbecoming to talk +in this manner of so sacred a profession. A hunting and card-playing +clergyman ought to be stripped of his gown without hesitation. Any +right-minded person would recoil with horror at such a character. It +is a great disgrace to the profession; no clergyman ought to enter +into any kind of improper dissipation. Your ideas are very light +and indelicate." + +"Will you be kind enough to define that term, _improper dissipation_," +said Meredith, carelessly. "I presume you have no objection to a quiet +dance now and then, only they must not call it a ball." + +"A clergyman ought not to dance," replied Trevannion, in precisely the +same cool, dictatorial manner. + +"He may look on them, may he not?" said Meredith. + +"A clergyman has many serious duties to perform, and he should be +very careful that he does not degrade his office," replied Trevannion. +"He has to uphold the dignity of the church, and should take care that +his conduct is such that no reproach can fall on that church from his +inconsistency." + +"Well, for my part," said Meredith, lightly, "I think the church +too important to miss the weight of my example. I mean to have a +most exemplary curate." + +Near these speakers sat Mr. James Wilkinson, with a few little boys, +whom at this moment he hastily dismissed, for the sound of the light +conversation reached him, and he arose quickly and introduced himself +to the little coterie just as Reginald exclaimed, "For shame, Meredith!" + +"Ay, for shame," said Mr. James: "I have heard a little of what has been +going on among you, and am really very sorry to hear such expressions on +a subject so solemn and important. Meredith, you cannot be aware of what +you are saying. I should like to have a little talk about this matter; +and, Mr. Trevannion, if you will give me your attention for a few +minutes, I shall be obliged to you." + +Trevannion seated himself on the bench, and folding his arms, +remained in an attitude of passive attention. + +"Lend me your prayer-book, Mortimer," said Mr. James, and he quickly +turned to the service for the ordering of deacons. "The first question +here put to the candidate for holy orders is, 'Do you trust that you +are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, to take upon you this office +and ministration, to serve God for the promoting of His glory and the +edifying of His people?' Now, Meredith, I ask you to think, whether, +with such sentiments as you have just expressed, you can dare to answer, +'_I trust so?_'" + +"I never thought very seriously about it," said Meredith, +rather abruptly. + +"But you know these things must be thought of seriously and prayerfully. +It is required of a man in every station of life, that he be faithful +and diligent, serving the Lord, and whoever does not remember this, +must answer for his neglect of such duty to his Maker. It will not do +to say that our individual example can be of no importance; the command, +'Occupy till I come,' is laid upon each one of us; but what must be said +of him who, in a careless, light frame of mind, takes these holy vows +upon him, knowing in his own mind that he intends to break them; that +his sole desire to be put into the priest's office is to eat a morsel +of bread? What shall be said of him who goes into the house of God, and +in the presence of His people declares that it is his intention, 'to +search gladly and willingly for the sick and poor of his parish, +to relieve their necessities; to frame his own life and the lives +of his family according to the doctrine of Christ; to be diligent in +prayers and in reading of the Holy Scriptures, laying aside the study +of the world and the flesh,' and yet knows that he intends to enjoy +himself in the things of this world--a very hireling who forgets that +his master's eye is upon him. It is a fearful thing. It is coming before +the Almighty with a lie. Nay, hear me a little longer. The clergyman's +is a glorious and exalted path, the happiest I know of on earth. It is +his especially to bear the message of salvation from a tender Saviour. +It is his to go forth with the balm of heavenly comfort, to bind up the +wounds sin and grief have made. It is his indeed pre-eminently to dwell +in the house of his God, to be hid away from the world and its many +allurements; but as every great blessing brings with it a great +responsibility, so the responsibility of the minister of Christ is +very great, and if he turn from the commandment delivered to him, his +condemnation is fearful. I should be much obliged to you, Meredith, +if you would read me these verses." + +Meredith took the open Bible from Mr. Wilkinson's hand, and read aloud +the first ten verses of the 34th of Ezekiel. + +"In this holy word, which must be the standard for all our conduct, +we do not find that the Almighty looks upon this office as a light +thing. In the thirty-third chapter there is so solemn a warning to +the careless watchman, that I wonder any one who does not steadfastly +intend to give himself to his sacred duties, can read it and not +tremble. 'If the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, +and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take away any +person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but HIS +BLOOD WILL I REQUIRE AT THE WATCHMAN'S HAND. So thou, O son of man, +I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou +shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say +unto the wicked, Oh wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost +not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die +in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.' This is +the second solemn warning to the same purport given to Ezekiel; for, +in the third chapter, we find the same thing; and these are awful +truths engraved in God's everlasting word, by which we are to be +judged at the last day. You must excuse me," continued Mr. Wilkinson, +and his eyes glistened with emotion; "but I am a watchman, and I must +warn you of the fearful sin you are contemplating." + +Meredith was silent. He was impressed with the earnestness displayed by +Mr. Wilkinson, and the solemn truths he had brought before him--truths +it would be well if all those who are looking forward to entering the +sacred ministry would seriously and prayerfully consider. + +The tea bell ringing at this moment, the conversation was necessarily +concluded; but that evening after prayers, Mr. Wilkinson put into +Meredith's hand a piece of paper, on which were written the following +references: Num. xvi. 9; Isaiah lii. 7, 8; lxii. 6, 7; Jer. xxiii. 1-4; +Ezek. iii. 17-21; xxxiii. 1-9; xxxiv. 1-10; John xxi. 15-17; +1 Cor. ix. 16, 17, 19; and both the Epistles to Timothy; and underneath +the references was the Apostle's injunction, "Meditate upon these things; +give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all." + +When Louis was fairly in bed that night, he was called on for a story. + +"Tell us the end of the princess Rosetta, Louis," cried Frank; +"I want to know how the fair animal got out of her watery bedroom, +and whether the green dog ever got his nose nipped by the oysters +he was so fond of snapping up." + +"Yes, Rosetta!" cried several voices. "Did she ever get to the king +of the peacocks, Louis?" + +"No, no," cried Reginald; "it is not fit for Sunday." + +"I am sure we have been doing heaps of good things to-day," +replied Frank, lightly; "come, Louis." + +"I must not," said Louis, gently. "I do not like telling stories at +night at all, because I think we ought not to fill our heads with such +things when we are going to sleep; but I must not tell you Rosetta +to-night, Frank." + +"Get along," said Frank, contemptuously; "you are not worth the snap +of a finger. All you are ever worth is to tell stories, and now you +must needs set up for a good, pious boy--you, forsooth of all others!" + +"Indeed, Frank, you will not understand me." + +"If you dare to say any more to Louis," cried Reginald, "I'll make you--" + +Louis' hand was upon Reginald's mouth. + +Frank replied, tauntingly, "Ay, finish your work this time, that's +right. Come boys, never mind, I'll tell you a wonderful tale." + +"I think we'd better not have one to-night," said one; "perhaps +Mortimer's right." + +"Don't have one, don't!" said Louis, starting up; "do not let us +forget that all this day is God's day, and that we must not even +speak our own words." + +"None of your cant," cried one. + +"Well, I propose that we go to sleep, and then we shan't hear what +he says," said Meredith. "They talk of his not having pluck enough +to speak, but he can do it when he pleases," he remarked in a low +tone to his next companion, Frank Digby, who rejoined, + +"More shame for him, the little hypocrite. I like real religious +people, but I can't bear cant." + +What Frank's idea of real religion was, may be rather a difficult +matter to settle. Probably it was an obscure idea to himself,--an +idea of certain sentiment and no vitality. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +The next Saturday afternoon proving unusually fine, the community at +Ashfield House sallied forth to enjoy their half-holiday on the downs. +A few of the seniors had received permission to pay a visit to Bristol, +and not a small party was arranged for a good game of cricket. Among +the latter was Reginald Mortimer, whose strong arm and swift foot were +deemed almost indispensable on such occasions. As he rushed out of the +playground gates, bat in hand, accompanied by Meredith, he overtook his +brother, who had discovered a poem unknown to him in _Coleridge's Ancient +Mariner_, and was anticipating a pleasant mental feast in its perusal. + +"Louis, you lazy fellow," cried Reginald, good-temperedly, "you shan't +read this fine afternoon--come, join us." + +"I don't play cricket, I have not learned," replied Louis. + +"And you never will," rejoined Reginald, "if you don't make a beginning: +I'll teach you--now put away that stupid book." + +"_Stupid!_" said Louis. "It's Coleridge, that mamma promised to read +to us." + +"I hate poetry," exclaimed Reginald; "I wonder how anybody can read such +stuff. Give me the book, Louis, and come along." + +"No, thank you, I'd rather not." + +"What a donkey you are!" said Meredith: "why don't you learn?" + +"Perhaps my reputation may be the safer for not divulging my reasons," +said Louis, archly: "it is sufficient for present purposes that I had +rather not." + +"_Rather not_--_rather not_," echoed Meredith: "like one of your +sensible reasons." + +"He has refused to give them, so you cannot call that his reason, +Meredith," remarked Reginald; "but let us be off, as Louis won't come." + +Away they ran, and after looking at them for a minute, Louis turned +off his own way, but it was destined that he should not read the +_Ancient Mariner_ that day, for he was presently interrupted by +little Alfred Hamilton, who pounced upon him full of joy. + +"Louis," he cried, "I am so glad to speak to you! I don't know how +it is that I have not been able to speak to you lately: I half thought +Edward did not like it, but he asked me to-day why I did not come to +you now." + +"Did he?" exclaimed Louis, with joyful surprise; "I am very glad you +are come. I think we shall have a beautiful walk." + +"I can't think how it is, Louis, that everybody is either so grave or +rude when I speak of you. What is the matter?" + +"A mistake; and a sad one for me," said Louis, gravely. "But don't say +any thing about it, Alfred; they think I have been doing something very +wrong; but all will come out some day." + +"I hope so," replied little Alfred; "I cannot think what you can have +done wrong, Louis, you always seem so good." + +The child looked wistfully up in Louis' face as he spoke, and seemed +to wait some explanation. + +"That is because you do not know much about me, Alfred," replied Louis; +"but in this one case I have not done wrong, I assure you." + +Alfred asked no more questions, though he looked more than once in the +now sorrowful young face by him, as they sauntered along the wide downs. + +"Here come Edward and Mr. Trevannion," said Alfred, turning round; +"and there is Frank Digby, and Mr. Ferrers, too. I think Edward is +going to Bristol this afternoon." + +This intimation of the august approach of his majesty and court was +hardly given when the young gentlemen passed Louis. Hamilton, with +Trevannion, as usual, leaning on his arm, and Frank Digby walking +backwards before them, vainly endeavoring to support a failing +argument with a flood of nonsense, a common custom with this young +gentleman; and, by the way, we might recommend it as remarkably +convenient at such times, to prevent the pain of a total discomfiture, +it being more pleasant to slip quietly and unseen from your pedestal +to some perfectly remote topic, than to allow yourself to be hurled +roughly therefrom by the rude hand of a more sound and successful +disputant. + +"Enough, enough, Frank!" exclaimed Hamilton, laughing. "I see through +your flimsy veil. We won't say any more: you either argue in a circle, +or try to blind us." + +Louis looked up as Hamilton passed, in hopes that that magnate might +give him a favorable glance, in which he was not mistaken, for Edward +the Great had been watching him from some distance, and was perfectly +aware of his near approach to him. + +He certainly did not seem displeased, though the grave countenance bore +no marks of particular satisfaction at the rencontre. He spoke carelessly +to his brother, and then, addressing Louis, said, "You must look after +him, Louis, if you wish for his company; if not, dismiss him at once." + +"I do wish for him," said Louis, with a bright look of gratitude; +"I promise to take care of him. Mr. Hamilton, I am getting up in my +class--I am fifth now." + +The latter communication was made doubtfully, in a tone indicating +mixed pleasure and timidity. + +"I am glad to hear it," was Hamilton's laconic reply. He did not quicken +his pace. "What have you there?" he asked, noticing his book. + +"Coleridge's _Ancient Mariner_; I was going to read it," replied Louis; +"but now Alfred has come we shall talk: shall we not, Alfred?" + +This was accompanied by another look of grateful pleasure at Alfred's +brother. + +What was passing in Hamilton's mind was not to be gathered from his +countenance, which exhibited no emotion of any kind. He turned to +Trevannion, as their party was strengthened by Churchill, remarking, +"Here comes the sucking fish." + +"It's _uncommon_ hot," said Churchill, taking off his hat, and fanning +himself with his handkerchief. + +"_Dreadful_ warm," said Frank Digby, in exactly the same tone. + +"And there is not a breath of wind on the horrid downs," continued the +sapient youth, perfectly unconscious of Frank's mimicry. + +"What will the fair Louisa do?" cried Frank: "O that a zephyr would +have pity on that delicate form!" + +Across their path lay a wagon, from which the horses had been detached, +and which now offered a tempting though homely shelter to those among +the pedestrians who might choose to sit on the shady side, or to avail +themselves of the accommodation afforded by the awning over the interior. +Ferrers threw himself full length inside the cart: and Louis, drawing +Alfred to the shady side, seated himself by him on the grass. His example +was followed by Churchill, who exclaimed rapturously as he did so, "How +nice! This puts me in mind of a Latin sentence; I forget the Latin, but +I remember the English--'Oh, 'tis pleasant to sit in the shade!'" + +"Of a wagon," said Frank, laughing. "Remarkably romantic! It is so +sweet to hear the birds chirp, and the distant hum of human voices--but +language fails! As for Lady Louisa, she is in the Elysium of ecstasy. +It's _so_ romantic." + +"Are you going to Bristol, Frank, for I'm off?" said Hamilton. + +"Coming," replied Frank. "We'll leave these romantic mortals to their +sequestered glen. There ain't nothing like imagination, my good sirs." + +As he joined his companions, Trevannion remarked to Hamilton, "Little +Mortimer is so much the gentleman, you never know him do or say any +thing vulgar or awkward. It is a pity one can't depend upon him." + +"I am not quite sure that you cannot," replied Hamilton. + +"How!" said Trevannion, in astonishment. + +"Are you going to turn Paladin for her ladyship?" asked Frank. + +"I have been watching Louis very carefully, and the more I see, +the more I doubt his guilt," replied Hamilton. + +"After what you saw yourself? After all that was seen by others? +Impossible, my dear Hamilton!" exclaimed Trevannion. "You cannot +exonerate him without criminating others." + +"We shall see," replied Hamilton; "and more than that, Trevannion, +I am certain that Dr. Wilkinson has his doubts now, too." + +"But does Fudge know any thing about his old pranks?" asked Frank, +incredulously. + +"I cannot say," replied Hamilton; "but I think that he probably does; +for what is so well known now among ourselves, is likely enough to reach +his quick ears." + +"But knowing all you do, my dear Hamilton," said Trevannion, +expostulatingly, "you must be strongly prejudiced in your protege's +favor to admit a doubt in this case. Has Dr. Wilkinson told you that +he has any doubts?" + +"No," replied Hamilton; "you know the doctor would not reveal his mind +unless he were confident, but I have noticed some little things, and am +sure that though he seems generally so indifferent to Louis' presence +and concerns, and so distant and cold towards him, he's nevertheless +watching him very narrowly; and I, for my part, expect to see things +take a new turn before long." + +"The boy seems quite to have won your heart," said Trevannion. + +"Poor fellow," replied Hamilton, smiling. "He is a sweet-tempered, +gentle boy; a little too anxious to be well thought of, and has, +perhaps, too little _moral courage_. I own he has interested me. +His very timidity and his numerous scrapes called forth pity in the +first instance, and then I saw more. I should not have been surprised +at his telling a lie in the first place, but I do not think he would +persist in it." + +"I'm afraid wisdom's at fault," said Frank, shaking his head: +"you would not say that Ferrers helped him?--I mean took the key +to get him into a scrape." + +"I accused no one, Digby," replied Hamilton, in a reserved tone; +"nor am I going to wrong any one by uttering unformed suspicions." + +"Enough has been said," remarked Trevannion; "let us drop the subject, +and talk of something more interesting to all parties." + +While these young gentlemen pursue their walk, we will retrace our +steps to the wagon, where Louis and his little friend have taken +shelter. + +Churchill, finding neither seemed very much inclined to encourage his +conversational powers, took himself off, after remaining in the shade +long enough to cool himself. After his departure Louis and Alfred talked +lazily on of their own pleasant thoughts and schemes, both delighted at +being once more in each other's society. They were within sight of the +masters out on the downs, and who had forbidden them to wander beyond +certain limits, but still so far from their school-fellows as to be able +to enjoy their own private conversation unmolested, and in the feeling +of seclusion. + +At length, after a pause, Louis made an original remark on the beauty +of the weather, which was immediately responded to by his companion, +who added that he had not known such a fine day since Miss Wilkinson's +wedding. + +"Don't you think so?" said Louis; "I think we had one or two Sundays +quite as fine." + +"Perhaps I thought that day so very fine, because I wanted to go out," +said Alfred. + +"What do you mean?" asked Louis: "we had a holiday then." + +"Yes, I know, but I was not allowed to go out because I had been idle, +and had spoken improperly to Mr. Norton. I remember it was so sad. I +assure you, Louis, I cried nearly all day; for I was shut up in your +class-room, and I heard all the boys so merry outside. The very thought +makes me quite sorrowful now." + +A thought flashed across Louis' mind, and he asked quickly-- + +"Were you shut up in our class-room that holiday, Alfred? I never saw +you when I went in." + +"But I saw you once," said Alfred, "when you came in for an atlas; +and I saw Mr. Ferrers, and afterwards Edward and Mr. Salisbury and +Mr. Trevannion come in; but I was ashamed, and I did not want any +one to see me, so I hid myself between the book-case and the wall." + +"Did your brother know you were there?" asked Louis. + +"Not _there_," replied Alfred. "He thought I was to go into +Dr. Wilkinson's study; but I could not go there, and I didn't +want him to speak to me." + +"Did Ferrers come to fetch any thing, Alfred?" + +Alfred laughed. "It won't be telling tales out of school to tell you, +Louis. He came for a key to the first-class exercise book." + +"How do you know it was a first-class exercise book, Alfred?" +asked Louis, with a glowing face and beating heart. + +"I know Edward does Kenrick's Latin Exercises, and I know the key +because it's just like the book, and I have seen Mr. Ferrers with +it before. I remember once on a half-holiday he did his lessons in +the school-room at my desk, and he had it open in the desk, and as +I wanted something out. I saw it, though he did not think I did." + +"Oh Alfred, Alfred!" cried Louis, clasping him very tightly. "Oh Alfred! +_dear_ Alfred!" + +The child looked up in astonishment, but Louis was so wild with +excitement that he could not say any more. + +Just at that moment there was an abrupt movement in the wagon, +and Ferrers' head was put over the side. + +Alfred uttered an exclamation of fear. "Oh, there's Mr. Ferrers!" + +"What rubbish have you been talking, you little impostor?" cried Ferrers. +"How dare you talk in such a manner? I've a great mind to kick you from +Land's End to John o' Groat's house." + +[Illustration: Ferrers begins to be found out.] + +"Ferrers, you know it's all true," said Louis. + +Ferrers' face was white with passion and anxiety. "Get along with +you, Alfred, you'd better not let me hear any more of your lies, I +can tell you." + +"If you had not been listening you would not have heard," replied Alfred, +taking care to stand out of Ferrers' reach. "Listeners never hear any +good of themselves, Mr. Ferrers: you know it's all true, and if I'd +told Edward, you wouldn't have liked it." + +"Alfred dear, don't say so much," said Louis. + +Alfred here set off running, as Ferrers had dismounted in a very +threatening attitude, but instead of giving chase to the daring +fugitive, the conscience-stricken youth drew near Louis, who was +standing in a state of such delight that he must be excused a little +if no thought of his school-fellow's disgrace marred it at present. +A glance at the changed and terror-stricken countenance of that +school-fellow checked the exuberance of Louis' joy, for he was too +sympathizing not to feel for him, and he said in a gentle tone, + +"I am very sorry for you, Ferrers,--you have heard all that Alfred +has said." + +"Louis Mortimer!" exclaimed Ferrers, in agony; and Louis was half +alarmed by the wild despair of his manner, and the vehemence with +which he seized his arm. "Louis Mortimer--it is all true--but what +shall I do?" + +Louis was so startled that he could not answer at first: at last +he replied, + +"Go and tell the doctor yourself--that will be much the best way." + +"Listen to me a moment--just listen a moment--as soon as Dr. Wilkinson +knows it, I shall be expelled, and I shall be ruined for life. What I +have suffered, Louis! Oh--you see how it was; I dared not tell about +it--how can I hope you can forgive me?" + +"I think you must have seen that I forgave you long ago," replied +Louis; "I wish I could do any thing for you, Ferrers, but you cannot +expect me to bear the blame of this any longer. I think if you tell +it to the doctor yourself, he will, perhaps, overlook it, and I will +beg for you." + +"Oh, Louis!" said Ferrers, seizing the passive hand, and speaking more +vehemently; "you heard what the doctor said, and he will do it--and +for one fault to lose all my prospects in life! I shall leave at the +holidays, and then I will tell Dr. Wilkinson; will you--can you--to +save a fellow from such disgrace, spare me a little longer? There are +only four weeks--oh, Louis! I shall be eternally obliged--but if you +could tell--I have a father--just think how yours would feel. Louis, +will you, can you do this very great favor for me? I don't deserve any +mercy from you, I know; but you are better than I am." + +All the bright visions of acknowledged innocence fled, and a blank +seemed to come over poor Louis' soul. The sacrifice seemed far too +great, and he felt as if he were not called to make it; and yet--a +glance at Ferrers' face--his distress, but not his meanness, struck +him. A minute before, he had indulged in bright dreams of more than +restoration to favor--of his brother's delight--of his father's and +mother's approbation--of his grandfather's satisfaction--and Hamilton's +friendly congratulations. And to give up this! it was surely too much +to expect. + +During his silence, Ferrers kept squeezing, and even kissing, his now +cold hand, and repeating, + +"Dear Louis--be merciful--will you pity me?--think of all--I don't +deserve it, I know." And though the meanness and cowardliness were +apparent, Louis looked at little else than the extreme agony of the +suppliant. + +"Don't kiss my hand, Ferrers--I can't bear it," he said at length, +drawing his hand quickly away; and there was something akin to disgust +mingled with the sorrowful look he gave to his companion. + +"But Louis, will you?" + +"Oh Ferrers! it is a hard thing to ask of me," said Louis, bitterly. + +"Just for a little longer," implored Ferrers, "to save me from a +lasting disgrace." + +Louis turned his head away--it was a hard, hard struggle: "I will +try to bear it if God will help me," he said; "I will not mention +it at present." + +"Oh! how can I thank you! how can I! how shall I ever be able!" +cried Ferrers: "but will Alfred tell?" + +"He does not know," replied Louis, in a low tone. + +"But will he not mention what has passed?" + +"I will warn him then," said Louis. + +Ferrers then in broken sentences renewed his thanks, and Louis, after +hearing a few in silence, as if he heard nothing, turned his full moist +eyes on him with a sorrowful beseeching look, + +"You have done a very wicked thing, Ferrers. Oh do pray to God to +forgive you." + +"I will try to do any thing you wish," replied Ferrers. + +"A prayer because _I_ wished, could do you no good. You must feel you +have sinned against God. Do try to think of this. If it should make +you do so, I _think_ I could cheerfully bear this disgrace a little +longer for you, though what it is to bear I cannot tell you." + +"You are almost an angel, Louis!" exclaimed Ferrers. + +"Oh don't say such things to me, Ferrers," said Louis, "pray don't. +I am not more so than I was before this--I am but a sinful creature +like yourself, and it is the remembrance of this that makes me pity +you. Now do leave me alone; I cannot bear to hear you flatter me now." + +Ferrers lingered yet, though Louis moved from him with a shuddering +abhorrence of the fawning, creeping manner of his school-fellow. Seeing +that Ferrers still loitered near him, he asked if there were any thing +more to say. + +"Will your brother know this?" + +"Reginald?" replied Louis. "Of course--no--_I_ shall not tell him." + +"A thousand thousand times I thank you,--oh Louis, Louis, you are +too good!" + +"Will you be kind enough to let me alone," said Louis gently, +but very decidedly. + +This time the request was complied with, and Louis resumed his former +seat, and fixing his eyes vacantly on the sweet prospect before him, +ruminated with a full heart on the recent discovery; and, strange to +say, though he had voluntarily promised to screen Ferrers a little +longer from his justly merited disgrace, he felt as if it had been +only a compulsory sense of duty and not benevolence which had led him +to do so, and was inclined to murmur at his hard lot. For some time he +sat in a kind of sullen apathy, without being able to send up a prayer, +even though he felt he needed help to feel rightly. At length the kindly +tears burst forth, and covering his face with his hands he wept softly. +"I am very wrong--very ungrateful to God for His love to me. He has borne +so much for me, and I am so unwilling to bear a little for poor Ferrers. +Oh what sinful feelings I have! My heavenly Father, teach me to feel pity +for him, for he has no one to help him; help him, teach him, Thyself." + +Such, and many more, were the deep heart-breathings of the dear boy, +and who ever sought for guidance and grace, and was rejected? and how +unspeakably comfortable is the assurance, that for each of us there is +with Christ the very grace we need. + +The sullen fit was gone, and Louis was his own happy self again, when +little Alfred came to tell him that Mr. Witworth had given the order to +return home,--"And I came to tell you, dear Louis, for I wanted to walk +home with you. What a beast that Ferrers is! see if I won't tell Edward +of him." + +"Hush, Alfred!" said Louis, putting his finger on the little boy's mouth. +"Do you know that God is very angry when we call each other bad names, +and surely you do not wish to revenge yourself? I will tell you a very +sweet verse which our Saviour said: '_Love your enemies, bless them that +curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you, +that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven._'" As the +little monitor spoke, the soft consciousness of the comfort of those +sweet words rushed over his own mind, "_children of your Father who is +in heaven_." + +"And am I a child--His child indeed! I will try to glorify my Saviour +who has given me that great name." + +That is a sure promise that "they who water shall be watered," and +who is there that has endeavored to lead another heavenward, that has +not felt, at one time or another, a double share of that living water +refreshing his own soul? + +With one arm round his little friend's neck, Louis wandered home, +and, during the walk, easily persuaded Alfred not to say a word of +what had passed; and as for Louis--oh, his eye was brighter, his +step more buoyant, his heart full of gladness! + +A little word, and I will close this long chapter. It is good for us +to consider how unable we are to think and to do rightly ourselves: +we must do so if we would be saved by Christ. When we have done all, +we are unprofitable servants; but oh, how gracious--how incomprehensible +is that love that puts into our minds good desires, brings the same to +good effect, and rewards us for those things which He Himself has enabled +us to do! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + "Charity suffereth long, and is kind."--1 Cor. xiii. 4. + + +Louis entered the class-room sooner than usual one evening, and +sitting down by his brother, spread before him a few strawberries +and some sweet-cakes, inviting him and one of Salisbury's brothers +who was on the other side of him to partake of them. + +"What beauties they are!" exclaimed John Salisbury; "have you had a box, +Louis? How _did_ you get them?" + +"Guess," said Louis. + +"Nay, I can't guess. Strawberries like these don't come at this time +of the year in boxes." + +"I guess," said Frank Digby from the opposite side of the table, +in a tone as if he had been speaking to some one behind him. +"Fudge has a dinner party to-night, hasn't he?" + +"Yes," said Louis, laughing; "how did you know that?" + +"Oh, I have the little green bird that tells every thing," replied Frank. + +"What's that, Frank?" cried Salisbury; "Fudge a dinner party? How snug +he's kept it!" + +"Why you don't suppose that he's obliged to inform us all when he has +some idea of doing the genteel," remarked one of the first class. + +"Are Hamilton and Trevannion invited?" asked Salisbury. + +"In good troth! thou art a bat of the most blind species," said Frank; +"didn't you see them both just now in all their best toggery? Trevannion +went up to his room just after school, and has, I believe, at last +adorned his beauteous person to his mind--all graces and delicious +odors.--Faugh! he puts me in mind of a hair-dresser's shop." + +"He declares that his new perfumes are something expressly superior," +said another. "_He_ wouldn't touch your vulgar scents." + +"His _millefleurs_ is at all events uncommonly like a muskrat," +said Salisbury. + +"And," remarked Frank, "as that erudite youth, Oars, would say, +'puts me in mind of some poet, but I've forgotten his name.' However, +two lines borrowed from him, which my sister quotes to me when I am +genteel, will do as well as his name: + + "'I cannot talk with civet in the room-- + A fine puss gentleman, that's all perfume.'" + +Reginald laughed. "I often think of the overrun flower-pots in the +cottages at Dashwood, when Trevannion has been adorning himself. +I once mortally offended him by the same quotation." + +"Had you the amazing audacity! the intolerable presumption!" cried +Frank, pretending to start. "I perceive his magnificent scorn didn't +quite annihilate you; I think, though, he was three hours embellishing +himself to-night." + +"Frank, that's impossible!" cried Louis, laughing, "for it was four +o'clock when he went, and it's only half-past six now." + +"Cease your speech, and eat your booty: I dare say it is sweet enough; +sweetness is the usual concomitant of goods so obtained." + +"What do you mean, Frank?" asked Louis. + +"Sweet little innocent; of course he don't know--no, in course he +don't--how should he? they came into his hand by accident," said Frank, +mockingly; "I wish such fortunate accidents would happen to me." + +"They were given to me, Frank," said Louis, quietly. "Mrs. Wilkinson +gave them to me when she told me I must not stay in the study." + +"What a kind person Mrs. Wilkinson is!--oh! Louis, Louis, _Tanta est +depravitas humani generis_!" + +"FRANK!" shouted Reginald, "at your peril!" + +"Well, my dear--what, is my life in peril from you again? I must take +care then." + +"Come, Frank, have done," cried one of his class-fellows, "can't you +leave Louis Mortimer alone--it doesn't signify to you." + +"I only meant to admonish him by a gentle hint, that he must not presume +to contradict gentlemen whose honor and veracity may at least be on a +par with his own." + +"Frank," said Louis, "I cannot think how you can suppose me guilty of +such meanness." + +"The least said, the soonest mended," remarked Salisbury. "We must have +large powers of credence where you are concerned. Clear off your old +scores, and then we will begin a new one with you." + +Reginald started to his feet. "You shall rue this, Salisbury." + +"Two can play at your game," rejoined Salisbury, rising. + +Reginald was springing forward, but was checked by Louis, who threw +himself on him. "Do not fight, dear Reginald--do not, pray." + +"I will--unhand me, Louis! I tell you I WILL--let me go." + +"Dear Reginald, not for me--wait a minute." + +At this moment the form behind them fell with a heavy bang, and in +struggling to release himself, Reginald fell over it, dragging Louis +with him. Louis was a little hurt, but he did not let go his hold. +"Reginald," he said, "ask Mrs. Wilkinson to say so herself; they will +believe her, I suppose." + +The fall had a little checked his rage, and Reginald sat brooding in +sullen anger on the ground. At last he started up and left the room, +saying to Louis, "It's all your fault, then--you've no spirit, and +you don't want me to have any." + +Louis mechanically assisted in raising the form, and stood silently +by the table. He looked quickly round, and pushing the little share +of his untasted fruit from him, went into the school-room. He did not +recover his spirits again that evening, even when Reginald apologized +to him for his roughness, pleading in excuse the extreme trouble it +gave him to prevent himself from fighting with Salisbury. + +As they went up stairs that night, in spite of the cautions given +by the usher to be quiet, a sham scuffle ensued on purpose between +Salisbury and Frank Digby, during which the former let his candle +fall over the bannisters, and they were left in darkness; though, +happily for the comfort of the doctor's dinner party, the second +hall and back staircase arrangement effectually prevented the noise +that ensued from reaching the drawing-room. + +"Halloa there--you fellows! Mortimer, ahoa!" cried one of Salisbury's +party; "bring your light." + +"You may come and fetch it if you want it," shouted Reginald from +his room. + +"We're in the dark," was the reply. + +"So much the better," said Reginald: "perhaps you will behave a little +better now; if you want a light you may come and light your candle here." + +"Our candle's on the hall floor," said another voice, amidst suppressed +laughter. + +"Pick it up, then." + +"We're desperately afraid of hobgoblins," cried Frank, rushing into his +room and blowing their candle out. + +"What did you do that for, Frank?" asked several indignant voices. + +"Because Salisbury and his myrmidons were coming to carry it off by a +_coup de main_--he-he-he--" giggled Frank. + +"And so you've given your own head a blow to punish your tooth! well +done," exclaimed another voice at the door. + +"Peters, is that you?" + +"What's to be done now?" + +"How shall we get a light?" + +"If you will give me the candle I will get one," said Louis. + +Accordingly, the extinguished candle was delivered into his hands, and +he felt his way to the kitchen door, where he obtained a light, and then, +picking up the fallen candle, tried to arrange its shattered form, and +replace it. While thus employed, Ferrers joined him, and offered his aid, +and on Louis' accepting it, said in a low tone,-- + +"Louis, I am a wretch, I am so very miserable. I can't think how you +can bear so much from one who has never done you any thing but harm." + +Louis raised his head from his work in astonishment, and saw that +Ferrers looked as he said, very miserable, and was deadly pale. + +"I do so despise myself--to see you bearing all so sweetly, Louis. I +should have been different, perhaps, if I had known you before--I love, +I admire you, as much as I hate myself." + +"Are you coming with the candle there?" cried a voice from above: +"Louis Mortimer and William Ferrers in deep confabulation--wonders +will never cease." + +Ferrers jumped up and ran up stairs with his candle, and Louis followed +more leisurely to his own room, nor could any thing induce him that +night to tell a story. How long and earnest was his prayer for one +who had injured him so cruelly, but towards whom he now, instead of +resentment, felt only pity and interest! + +Ferrers, after tossing from side to side, and trying all schemes for +several hours, in vain, to drown his remorse in sleep, at last, at +daybreak, sank into an uneasy slumber. The image of Louis, and his +mute expression of patient sorrow that evening, haunted him, and he +felt an indefinable longing to be like him, and a horror of himself +in comparison with him. He remembered Louis' words, "Pray to God;" +and one murmured petition was whispered in the stillness of the night, +"Lord have mercy on a great sinner." + +Since his disgrace, Louis generally had his brother for a companion +during their walks; but the next morning Ferrers joined him, and asked +Louis to walk with him to the downs. They were both naturally silent +for the beginning of the walk; but on Louis making some remark, Ferrers +said, "I can't think of any thing just now, Louis; I have done every +thing wrong to-day. My only satisfaction is in telling you how much +I feel your goodness. I can't think how you can endure me." + +"Oh, Ferrers!" said Louis, "what am I that I should not bear you? and +if you are really sorry, and wish to be better, I think I may some day +love you." + +"_That_ you can never do, Louis,--you must hate and despise me." + +"No, I do not," said Louis, kindly; "I am very sorry for you." + +"You must have felt very angry." + +"I did feel very unkind and shocked at first," replied Louis; "but by +God's grace I learned afterwards to feel very differently, and you can't +think how often I have pitied you since." + +"Pitied _me_!" said Ferrers. + +"Oh yes," replied Louis, sweetly; "because I am sure you must have been +very unhappy with the knowledge of sin in your heart--I don't think there +is any thing so hard as remorse to bear." + +"I did not feel much sorrow till you were so kind to me," said Ferrers. +"What a wretch you must think me!" + +"I have sinned too greatly myself to judge very hardly of you; and +when I think of all the love shown to me, I feel anxious to show some +love to others; and I should be afraid, if I thought too hardly of you, +I should soon be left to find out what I am." + +Ferrers did not reply; he did not understand the motives which +induced Louis' forbearance and gentleness, for he was an entire +stranger to religion, and never having met with any one resembling +Louis, could not comprehend, though he did not fail to admire, his +character, now its beauty was so conspicuously before him. He felt +there was an immeasurable distance between them--for the first +time he found himself wanting. Mentally putting himself in Louis' +place, he acknowledged that no persuasion could have induced him +to act so generously and disinterestedly; and knowing the keen +sensitiveness of Louis to disgrace, he wondered how one so alive +to the opinion of others, and naturally so yielding and wavering, +could steadily and uncomplainingly persevere in his benevolent +purpose; for not by word or sign did Louis even hint the truth +to Reginald--the usual depository of his cares and secrets. + +Louis, imagining the silence of his companion to proceed from shame +and distress, proceeded after a few minutes to reassure him. + +"You must not think that I am miserable, Ferrers, for lately I have +been much happier than even when I was in favor, for now I do not care +so much what the boys will think or say of me, and that thought was +always coming in the way of every thing; and there are many things +which make me very happy, often." + +"What things, Louis?" + +"I do not think you would understand me," replied Louis, timidly; +"the things and thoughts that make me happy are so different from +what we hear generally here." + +"But tell me, Louis. I want to know how it is you are so much better +than any one else here. I want to be better myself." + +"Oh, dear Ferrers," said Louis, gazing earnestly in Ferrers' face, +"if you _do_ want to be better, come to our Saviour, and He will +make you all you want to be. It is the feeling of His goodness, +and the happy hope of being God's children, and having all their +sins forgiven, that make all God's people so happy; and you may have +this happiness too, if you will. I do not think we think enough of our +great name of Christian." + +"You read your Bible a great deal, Louis, don't you?" + +"Not so much as I ought," replied Louis, blushing, "but I love it +very much." + +"It always seems to me such a dull book, I am always very glad when +our daily reading's over." + +"I remember when I thought something in the same way," said Louis: +"only mamma used always to explain things so pleasantly, that even +then I used to like to hear her read it to us. Papa once said to me +that the Bible is like a garden of flowers, through which a careless +person may walk, and notice nothing, but that one who is really anxious +to find flowers or herbs to cure his disease, will look carefully till +he finds what he wants, and that some happy and eager seekers will find +pleasure in all." + +"Louis, you are very happy," said Ferrers, "though very strange. +I would give a world, were it mine, to lay this heavy burden of mine +down somewhere, and be as light in disgrace as you are." + +Ferrers sighed deeply, and Louis said softly, "'Come unto Him all ye +that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. His yoke is easy and +His burden is light.'" + +Here they parted. The last whispers of the Saviour's gracious invitation, +those "comfortable words," lingered in Ferrers' ears as he entered the +house, and returned at night; but he did not throw himself and his burden +at the Saviour's feet. And what hindered him? It was pride, pride--though +forced to feel himself a sinner, pride still retained its hold, more +feebly than before, but still as a giant. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The holidays were fast approaching. Ten days of the three weeks' +examination had passed, and every energy was exerted, and every +feeling of emulation called out, among those who had any hope of +obtaining the honors held out to the successful candidates. It was +surprising to see what could be, and what was, done. Even idle boys +who had let their fair amount of talent lie dormant during the half +year, now came forth, and, straining every nerve, were seen late and +early at work which should have been gradually mastered during the +last five months; denying themselves both recreation and sleep, with +an energy, which, had it been earlier exerted in only half the degree, +would have been highly laudable. Some of the latter, who possessed +great talent, were successful, but generally the prizes fell to the +lot of those who had throughout been uniformly steady, and who had +gained an amount of thorough information which the eager study of a +few weeks could not attain. Now there were beating hearts and anxious +faces, and noisy summing up of the day's successes or losses, when the +daily close of school proclaimed a truce to the emulous combatants. +A few there were who appeared totally indifferent as to the issue of +the contest, and who hailed the term of examination as entailing no set +tasks to be said the ensuing day under certain penalties, and, revelling +in extended play-hours, cared nothing for disgrace, having no character +to lose. + +Reginald bid fair to carry off all, or nearly all, the second-class +honors; still, there were in his class several whose determined +efforts and talents gave him considerable work in winning the battle. + +Amongst all this spirited warfare, it is not to be supposed +that Louis was tranquil; for, though naturally of an indolent +temperament, there was in him a fund of latent emulation, which +only wanted a stimulus such as the present to rouse him to action. +Louis was a boy of no mean ability, and now, fired with the hope of +distinguishing himself, and gaining a little honor that might efface +the remembrance of past idleness, and give some pleasure to his dear +parents, he applied himself so diligently and unremittingly to his +studies during the last month, as to astonish his masters. + +I do not mean to particularize the subjects for examination given by +Dr. Wilkinson to the two upper classes, for this simple reason, that +my classical and mathematical ignorance might cause mistakes more +amusing to the erudite reader than pleasant to the author. It shall +be sufficient to say, that whatever these subjects had been, the day's +examination had gone through in a manner equally creditable to masters +and pupils; and after a few turns in the fresh air when tea was over, +a knot, comprising the greater part of the above-mentioned classes, +assembled round their head man to congratulate him on his undoubted +successes, and to talk over the events of the day elsewhere. Reginald +and Louis could spare little time for talking, and were walking up and +down the playground, questioning and answering each other with the most +untiring diligence, though both of them had been up since four o'clock +that morning. There were a few who had risen still earlier, and who now +lay fast asleep on forms in the school-room, or endeavored to keep their +eyes open by following the example of our hero and his brother. + +"John's fast asleep," said Salisbury, laughing; "he has a capital way +of gaining time--by getting up at half-past three, and falling asleep +at seven." + +"How does he stand for the prizes?" asked Smith. + +"I'm sure I can't tell you; I suppose Mortimer's sure of the first +classics and history--and he ought, for he's coming to us next half. +John's next to him." + +"I hear little Mortimer's winning laurels," remarked Trevannion. + +"Oh! for _him_," said Harris, a second-class boy, "because he's +been such a dunce before;--I suspect Ferrers helps him." + +"Ferrers!" cried all at once, and there was a laugh--"Do you hear, +Ferrers?" + +"Of course I do," replied Ferrers. + +"He's not good-natured enough," remarked another. + +"He needs no help," said Ferrers. + +"You're sure of the mathematical prize, Ferrers; and Hamilton, +of course, gets that for Latin composition." + +Ferrers did not reply--his thoughts had flown to Louis, from whom they +were now seldom absent; and, though he had been generally successful, +yet the settled gloom and anxiety of his manner led many to suppose +that he entertained fears for the issue of his examination. There were +others who imagined that there was some deeper cause of anxiety preying +on his mind, or that he was suffering from illness and fatigue--and one +or two made mysterious remarks on his intimacy with Louis, and wondered +what all foreboded. + +"I wonder who'll get the medal," said one. + +"Hamilton, of course," replied Smith. + +"You're out there," said Frank Digby. "My magic has discovered that +either the Lady Louisa or myself will obtain it. I admire your +selfishness, young gentlemen--you assign to yourselves every thing, +and leave us out of the question. If I can't be a genius, I mean to +be a good boy." + +Many bitter remarks were then made on Louis' late good behavior, and a +few upon his manner towards Ferrers, which, by some, was styled meanness +of the highest degree. + +Ferrers could not endure it--he left the circle and walked about the +playground alone, full of remorse, thinking over every plan he had +formed for making amends to Louis for all. He looked up once or twice +with a gasping effort, and, oh! in the wrinkled and contracted forehead +what trouble might be read. "Oh! that it were a dream," he at last +uttered, "that I could wake and find it a warning." + +There was a soft, warm hand in his, and Louis' gentle voice replied, +"Do not grieve now about me, Ferrers, it will soon be over." + +Ferrers started and drew his hand away. + +"You are not angry with me, are you?" said Louis; "I saw you alone, +and I was afraid you wanted comfort--I did not like to come before, +for fear the boys should make remarks, Reginald especially." + +Ferrers looked at Louis a minute without speaking, and then, pushing +him off, walked quickly to the house, and did not show himself any more +that evening. + + * * * * * + +Breakfast had long been finished, and the school was once more +assembled; the second class was waiting impatiently on the raised +end of the school-room for the doctor's entrance, or for a summons +to his presence; and near, at their several desks, busily writing +answers to a number of printed questions, sat the first class. It +was nearly an hour past the time, and impatient eyes were directed +to the clock over the folding-doors, which steadily marked the +flying minutes. + +"Where can the doctor be?" had been asked many times already, +but no one could answer. + +"We shall have no time--we shall not get done before night," +muttered several malcontents. "What can keep the doctor?" + +At this moment the folding-doors were quickly flung open, and +Dr. Wilkinson entered, and rapidly made his way towards the upper +end of the school-room, but in such a state of unwonted agitation +that the boys were by common consent hushed into silence, and every +occupation was suspended to watch their master's movements. "How +strange he looks!" whispered one; "something's the matter." +Dr. Wilkinson took no notice of the open eyes and mouths of his +awe-struck pupils--all his aim seemed to be to reach his seat with +the greatest speed. + +"What's the row?" muttered Salisbury, in an under-tone to Hamilton, +having some idea that the latter could afford a clue to the clearing +up of the mystery. "Do you know of any thing, Hamilton?" Hamilton +shook his head, and fairly stood up to see what was going on. + +Dr. Wilkinson at length reached his place, and there stood a few +minutes to collect himself. He then looked around, and asked, in a +quick, low tone, for Louis Mortimer. Louis was almost behind him, +and in some terror presented himself; though he was unconscious of +any misdemeanor, he did not know what new suspicion might have attached +to him. His gentle "Here, sir," was distinctly heard in every part of +the large room, in the breathless silence which now ruled. Dr. Wilkinson +looked on him, but there was no anger in his gaze--his eyes glistened, +and though there might be indignation mixed with the many emotions +struggling for expression in his countenance, Louis felt, as he raised +his timid eyes, that there was nothing now to fear. The doctor seemed +incapable of speaking; after one or two vain efforts he placed both +hands on Louis' head, and uttered a deep "God bless you!" + +It would be impossible to describe the flood of rapture which this +action poured upon poor Louis. The endurance of the last few weeks was +amply repaid by the consciousness that somehow--and he did not consider +how--his innocence was established, and now, in the presence of his +school-fellows, publicly acknowledged. + +For another minute Dr. Wilkinson stood with both hands resting on the +head of his gentle pupil, then, removing one, he placed it under Louis' +chin, and turned the glowing face up to himself and smiled--such a smile +none remembered ever to have seen on that stern face. + +"Have you found all out, sir?" cried Reginald, starting forward. + +The doctor's hand motioned him back, and turning Louis round, so as +to face the school, he said in a distinct, yet excited manner, + +"Young gentlemen, we have been doing a wrong unconsciously, and I, +as one of the first, am anxious to make to the subject of it the only +reparation in my power, by declaring to you all that Louis Mortimer +is entirely innocent of the offence with which he was charged; and +I am sure I may say in the name of you all, as well as of myself, +that we are very sorry that he should have suffered so much on +account of it." + +[Illustration: Dr. Wilkinson proclaims Louis innocent.] + +There was a hum all around, and many of the lower school who knew +nothing of the matter, began whispering among themselves. But all +was hushed directly the doctor resumed his speech. + +"There are some among you who are not aware, I believe, to what I allude; +but those who do know, can bear testimony to the gentle endurance of +false accusation that Louis Mortimer has exhibited during the whole time +he has been made to suffer so severely for the fault of another. I cannot +express my admiration of his conduct--conduct which I am sure has had +for its foundation the fear and love of God. Stay, gentlemen," said +the doctor, stilling with a motion of his hand the rising murmur of +approbation, "all is not yet told. This patient endurance might be +lauded as an unusual occurrence, were there nothing more--but there +is more. Louis Mortimer might have produced proofs of his innocence +and cleared himself in the eyes of us all." + +"Louis!" exclaimed Reginald, involuntarily. + +Louis' head was down as far as his master's hand would allow it, and deep +crimson blushes passed quickly over the nearly tearful face--and now the +remembrance of Ferrers, poor Ferrers, who had surely told all. Louis felt +very sorry for him, and almost ashamed on his own account. He wished he +could get behind his master, but that was impossible, and he stood still, +as the doctor continued, "Three weeks ago Louis discovered that a little +boy was in the study on the day when Kenrick's Key was abstracted, who +could, of course, bring the desired information--the information which +would have righted him in all our eyes; but mark--you who are ready to +revenge injuries--because this would have involved the expulsion of one +who had deeply injured him, he has never, by sign or word, made known to +any one the existence of such information, persuading the little boy also +to keep the secret; and this, which from him I should never have learned, +I have just heard from the guilty person, who, unable to bear the remorse +of his own mind, has voluntarily confessed his sin and Louis' estimable +conduct. Young gentlemen, I would say to all of you, 'GO AND DO LIKEWISE.'" + +During this speech, Reginald had hardly been able to control himself, +especially when he found that Louis had never mentioned his knowledge +to himself; and now he sprang forward, unchecked by the doctor, and, +seizing his brother, who was immediately released, asked, "Why did you +not tell me, Louis? How was it I never guessed?" + +While he spoke, there was a buz of inquiry at the lower end of the +school, and those who knew the story crowded eagerly up to the dais +to speak to Louis. Alfred's voice was very distinct, for he had worked +himself up to his brother: + +"Edward, tell me all about it. I'm sure if I'd known I'd have told. +I didn't know why Louis was so joyful." + +Edward could answer nothing: his heart was as full as the doctor's, and +with almost overflowing eyes and a trembling step, he pushed his way to +Louis, who had thrown himself on Reginald and was sobbing violently. + +"Louis, I'm very sorry," said one. "Louis, you'll forgive me--I'm sure +I beg pardon," said other voices; and others added, "How good you are!--I +shouldn't have done it." + +Louis raised his head from that dear shoulder, so often the place where +it had rested in his troubles, and said, amidst his sobs, + +"Oh! don't praise me. I was very unwilling to do it." + +"Let him alone," said the doctor. "Reginald, take him up stairs. +Gentlemen, I can do nothing more, nor you neither, I think, to-day. +I shall give you a holiday for the remainder of it." + +There was a lull in the noise as Dr. Wilkinson spoke, but just as Louis +was going out, there arose a deafening cheer, three times repeated, and +then the boys picked up their books and hurried out of doors. + +Louis' heart was full of gratitude, but at the same time it was +sobered by the recollection of what Ferrers must now suffer, and the +doubt he felt respecting his fate; and as soon as he had recovered +himself, he sought the doctor to beg pardon for him. + +"As he has voluntarily confessed his fault, I shall not expel him," +replied the doctor; "but I intend that he shall beg your pardon before +the school." + +Louis, however, pleaded so earnestly that he had already suffered enough, +and begged as a favor that nothing more might be said, that at length +Dr. Wilkinson gave way. + +The sensation that this event had caused in the school was very great: +those who had been loudest in condemning Louis, were now the loudest in +his praise, and most anxious to load him with every honor; and when he +made his appearance among them with Reginald, whose manly face beamed +with satisfaction and brotherly pride, he was seized by a party, and +against his will, chaired round the playground, everywhere greeted by +loud cheers, with now and then "A groan for Ferrers!" + +"Louis, my man, you look sorrowful," said Hamilton, as he was landed +at last on the threshold of the school-room door. + +"No, no," said Salisbury, who had been foremost in the rioting; +"cheer up, Louis--what's the matter?" + +"I am afraid," said Louis, turning away. + +"Afraid! of what old boy?" said Salisbury. "Come, out with it." + +"I am afraid you will make me think too much of what ought not to be +thought of at all--you are all very kind, but--" + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Salisbury; "we're all so vexed that we have been +such bears, and we want to make it up." + +"I am sure I do not think any thing about it now," said Louis, holding +out both his hands and shaking all by turns; "I am very happy. Will you +let me ask one thing of you?" + +"A hundred," was the reply; "and we'll fly on Mercury's pennons to do +your bidding." + +"Put a girdle round the earth in forty minutes," said Frank Digby. + +"When poor Ferrers comes among us, for my sake, do not take any notice +of what has happened." + +There was a dark cloud on the faces before Louis, and Hamilton's lip +trembled with scorn. No reply was made. + +"I am the only one who has any thing to forgive; please promise me to +leave him alone." + +"Then," said Salisbury, abruptly, "whenever he comes in, I walk out, +for I can't sit in the same room and be civil. + +"I shan't be particularly inclined to favor him with my discourse," +said Frank; "so I promise to leave him alone." + +"Will you try to be the same as you were before? Do!" said Louis. + +"That's impossible!" they all cried; "we _cannot_, Louis." + +"If you only knew how unhappy he has been, you would pity him very much," +said Louis, sorrowfully. "He has been so very sad--and do not talk of +this to other people, please. I should be so much more happy if you +would try to be the same to him." + +"All we can promise, is not to notice it, Louis," said Hamilton; +"and now, don't be sad any longer." + +Yet Louis was sad and anxious; though now and then a thought that all +was clear, darted like a sunbeam across his mind, and called forth a +grateful emotion. He longed for the holidays to come,--the favor he was +in was almost painful. + +Ferrers was invisible till the next evening, when he joined his +class-fellows at prayers. In spite of the half-promise Louis had +obtained from them, a studied unconsciousness of his presence, and +a chilling coldness, greeted him. Louis alone stood by him, and looked +in the deadly white countenance by him with heartfelt sympathy and +compassion; and glanced at several of his companions to remind them +of his wish. Ferrers seemed hardly the same; the proud, bullying air of +arrogance had given place to a saddened, subdued despair; and yet his +expression was far more pleasing in its humility than the natural one. + +One or two, noticing Louis' anxiety, addressed him civilly, and even +wished him "Good-night!" which he did not return by more than an +inclination of the head. He expected no pity, and had nerved himself +to bear the scorn he had brought on himself; but any attention was a +matter of surprise to him. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Wearily and joylessly had the last week of the examination passed away +for Ferrers; although in one branch he had borne away the palm from all +competitors. His confession had, in some measure, atoned for his great +fault, in the eyes of his judicious master; for, however much it called +for the severest reprehension, the fact of the mind not being hardened +to all sense of shame and right feeling, made the doctor anxious to +improve his better feelings; and, instead of driving them all away by +ill-timed severity, considering how lamentably the early training of +Ferrers had been neglected, he endeavored, after the first emotion +of indignation had passed away, to rouse the fallen youth to a +sense of honor and Christian responsibility; and sought to excite, +as far as he was able, some feeling of compassion for him among his +school-fellows. + +There were, however, few among them who had learned the Christian +duty of bearing one another's burdens; few among them, who, because +circumstances over which they had had no control, had placed them out +of the temptations that had overcome their penitent school-fellow, did +not esteem themselves better than he, and look scornfully upon him, as +though they would say with the proud Pharisee of old, "Stand by, for +I am holier than thou!" And is it not the case around us generally? +Alas! how apt we are all to condemn our fellow-creatures; forgetting +that, had we been throughout similarly situated, our course might have +been the same, or even worse. "Who is it that has made us to differ +from another?" + +Louis, as I have mentioned, felt very deeply for Ferrers; for, besides +their late close connection, had he not known what it was to suffer for +sin? He knew what it was to carry about a heavy heart, and to wake in the +morning as if life had no joy to give; and he knew, too, what it was to +lay his sins at a Saviour's feet, and to take the light yoke upon him. +How anxious was he to lead his fellow-sinner there! Though his simple +efforts seemed impotent at the time, years after, when his school-fellow +had grown a steady and useful Christian, he dated his first serious +impressions to this time of disgrace; and the remembrance of Louis' +sweet conduct was often before him. + +Louis' mind had been so chastened by his previous adversity that his +present prosperity was meekly though thankfully borne. It came like +sunshine after showers, cheering and refreshing his path, but not +too powerful; for he was gradually learning more and more, to fear +any thing that had a tendency to draw his mind to rest complacently +on himself. + +But the prize-day came--the joyful breaking-up-day--the day that was +to bring his dear parents; and of all the bounding hearts, there were +none more so than those of the two brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer had +given their boys reason to expect them in the afternoon of that day, +and they were to go from Clifton to Heronhurst before returning home. + +Although Dr. Wilkinson's breaking-up-day was not ostensibly a public +day, yet so many of the pupils' friends claimed admittance to the +hall on the occasion, that it became so in fact, and was usually very +respectably attended. Many of the doctor's old pupils came, to recall +their old feelings, by a sight of this most memorable exhibition. And +on this day, Vernon Digby was present with a younger brother, not to +witness Frank's triumph, for that young gentleman had none to boast of, +but to look on the theatre of his former fame, and to see how his place +was now filled. + +Dr. Wilkinson's high desk had been removed from the dais, and in +its place stood a long table covered with a red cloth, on which were +arranged a number of handsomely bound books of different sizes; and in +front of the dais, in a semicircular form, were placed the rows of seats +for the boys. On each side of this semicircle, and behind and parallel +with Dr. Wilkinson's seat, was accommodation for the spectators. The +room was in the most inviting order, and had been hung with garlands +of flowers by the boys. At eleven o'clock the pupils assembled, and +under the inspection of two of the under masters, seated themselves in +the places assigned them, the little boys being placed in the front row. + +As the exact fate of each was unknown, though tolerably accurately +guessed, there was much anxiety. Some of the youths were quite silent +and pale, others endeavored to hide their agitation by laughing and +talking quietly, and some affected to consider their nearest companion +as more sure than themselves. Even Hamilton was not free from a little +nervousness, and though he talked away to Vernon Digby, who was sitting +by him, he cast more than one fidgety glance at the red-covered table, +and perceptibly changed color when the class-room door opened to allow +the long train of ladies and gentlemen to enter, and closed after +Dr. Wilkinson, and a few of his particular friends, among whom were +two great scholars who had assisted in the examination of the past week. + +When every one was comfortably settled, Dr. Wilkinson leaned forward +over the table, and drew a paper towards him. His preliminary "hem" was +the signal for many fidgety motions on the forms in front of him, and +every eye was riveted on him as he prefaced his distribution of the +prizes by a short statement of his general satisfaction, and a slight +notice of those particular points in which he could desire improvement. +He then spoke of his pleasure at the report his friends had made of +the proficiency of the upper classes, and particularly alluding to the +first class, stopped and mentioned by name those who had especially +distinguished themselves. Among these, as a matter of course, Hamilton +stood foremost, and carried away the prize for Latin composition, as +well as another. Ferrers gained that for mathematics--and two other +prizes were awarded to the next in order. Dr. Wilkinson mentioned +Frank Digby as having taken so high a place during the examination, +as to induce one of the gentlemen who assisted him to consider him +entitled to one of the classical prizes; but the doctor added that +Frank Digby's indifference and idleness during the term had made him +so unwilling that he should, by mere force of natural ability, deprive +his more industrious class-fellows of a hard-earned honor, that he had +not felt himself justified in listening to the recommendation, but +hoped that his talents would, the following term, be exerted from the +beginning, in which case, he should have pleasure in awarding to him +the meed of successful application. + +Frank colored, half angrily, but said, _sotto voce_, + +"I don't care--I just like to see whether I can't do as well as any one +else without fagging." + +Vernon was half provoked and half amused at his brother's discomfiture. + +Then came Reginald's turn, and he carried off three out of the +four prizes of his class, leaving one for John Salisbury. + +As each one was called up to receive his reward, an immense clapping +and stamping took place, and Louis, all exuberance, stamped most +vigorously when his brother and his particular friends went up. There +were very slight manifestations when poor Ferrers was summoned, but +Louis exerted himself so manfully in the applauding department, that +the contagion spread a little before the despised recipient was seated. + +The other classes were taken in order; and when all was finished, +Dr. Wilkinson took up a little morocco case, and, after clearing his +throat once or twice, began anew: + +"There remains now but one reward to be assigned, but it is the greatest +of all, though undoubtedly that one which it is the most difficult to +adjudge rightly. It is the medal for good conduct. Hitherto it has been +my practice never to give it to any one who has not been with me the +whole term, but on the present occasion I am inclined to depart from +my custom in favor of a young gentleman whose conduct has been most +praiseworthy, though he has only been with me since Easter. Before +adjudging it, I will, however, appeal to the young gentlemen themselves, +and ask them who they think among them is the most deserving of this +honor?" + +Dr. Wilkinson paused, and immediately a shout, led by Hamilton, arose, +of "Louis Mortimer." + +"I expected it," said the doctor, with a smile: "Louis Mortimer +has been placed, perhaps, in a situation in the school a little +beyond him, and has, therefore, made no great figure in the +examination, but of his conduct I can speak in the highest terms, +and believe that his sense of duty is so strong that he only wants +the conviction that it is his duty to exert himself a little more, +to make him for the future as habitually industrious as he has been +during the last six weeks.--Louis Mortimer!" + +Almost overcome with astonishment and delight, Louis hardly understood +the summons, but Reginald whispered, "Go, Louis, the doctor calls you," +and all made way for him with the most pleasant looks of sympathy and +congratulation. His modesty and elegance prepossessed the spectators +greatly in his favor, as he passed timidly along the ranks to the table. +Dr. Wilkinson smiled kindly on him as he delivered the bright silver +medal, in its claret-colored case, saying as he did so, + +"I have the greatest pleasure in giving this to you, and trust that you +will be encouraged, when you look on it, to go on as you have begun." + +Louis was covered with blushes--he bowed, and as he turned away, the +most deafening applause greeted him; and, as the last prize was now +given, the boys left their seats and mingled among the company. Louis +was drawn immediately into a little coterie, composed of Hamilton, +Reginald, his three cousins, and one or two others, all of whom +congratulated him upon his distinction. + +"And so, Louis, you are the hero," said Vernon; "and what is the +drama in which you have been acting so much to your credit?" + +"Too long a tale to tell now," replied Hamilton, smiling on Louis; +"we will talk over it by and by. We have been treating him very ill, +Digby, but next half-year we shall understand him better--shall we +not, Louis?" + +Louis was so full of delight that he could hardly speak--it was +especially a happy moment to stand before his cousin Vernon with +a right fame and well-established character. + +"I said my magic knew who would gain the medal," said Frank. + +"But your magic did not anticipate such magnificent honors for +yourself, I imagine," said Vernon. + +"I was a little out," said Frank, carelessly; "for it has proved that +Lady Louisa has all the goodness, and I the genius. My head is quite +overloaded with the laurels Fudge heaped on me: I shan't be able to +hold it up these holidays." + +"A good thing that something will press it down: it is generally high +enough," remarked Hamilton. + +"How delighted father and mother will be to hear of your industry!" +said Vernon. + +"I am sure," replied the incorrigible youth, "they ought to be proud of +having a son too clever to win the prizes. Louis, it puts me in mind +of the man in your tale, who had to bind his legs for fear he should +outrun the hares. I am, however, heartily glad for you, and amazingly +sorry we should have so misunderstood you." + +"Louis Mortimer," cried a little boy, very smartly dressed, "mamma +wants to look at your medal--will you come and show it to her?" + +"And go off, Reginald, with him, and tell Lady Stanhope all the news," +said Vernon, as Louis went away with little Stanhope; "I will come and +pay my respects as soon as it is convenient for me to be aware of her +ladyship's presence." + +Louis' medal was examined and passed from hand to hand, and many +compliments were made on the occasion. Lady Stanhope was very kind, +and would hear the history, a command Reginald was by no manner of +means unwilling to obey, though he suppressed the name of the guilty +party. The doctor was in great request, for many of the ladies were +very anxious to know more of "that lovely boy," but he was very guarded +in his accounts of the matter, though bearing the strongest testimony +to Louis' good conduct. He turned to Mr. Percy, who was present, and +said, quietly, "That, sir, is the boy you mentioned to me at Easter; +the son of Mr. Mortimer, of Dashwood." + +The excitement was almost too much for Louis, tried as he had been +lately by unusual fagging and early rising. He was glad to get away +into the playground, and after watching one or two departures he ran +wildly about, now and then laughing aloud in his delight, "Oh! papa and +mamma, how glad they will be!" and then the well-spring of deep gladness +seemed to overflow, and the excess of happiness and gratitude made him +mute. His heart swelled with emotions too great for any words; a deep +sense of mercies and goodness of which he was unworthy, but for which +he felt as if he could have poured out his being in praise. Oh the +blessing of a thankful heart! How happy is he who sees his Father's +hand in every thing that befalls him, and in whom each mercy calls +forth a gush of gratitude! + + "Ten thousand thousand precious gifts + My daily thanks employ; + Nor is the least a thankful heart, + To taste those gifts with joy." + ADDISON. + +The playground was empty, for the boys were either engaged with their +friends, or else departing; and Louis, from his little nook, saw many +vehicles of different descriptions drive away from the door. When the +dinner-bell rang he re-entered the house, but the dinner-table looked +very empty--there was not half the usual party. + +"Where have you been, Louis?" asked Reginald, as he entered; "I have +been looking everywhere for you. Hamilton was quite vexed to go away +without bidding you goodbye, and he begged me to do it for him." + +"I am very sorry, indeed," said Louis; "I have been in the playground. +Reginald, does it not make you feel very pleasant to see the heap of +boxes in the hall? I stood a long time looking at our directions." + +"I am almost cracked," cried Reginald, joyously;-- + + "'Midsummer's coming again, my boys, + Jolly Midsummer and all its joys!'" + +How far Reginald's reminiscences of his holiday song might have +continued, I cannot pretend to say, had it not been interrupted by +a desire from the presiding master, that "he would recollect himself, +and where he was;" but order was out of the question, most of the party +being in Reginald's condition--and, after several useless appeals to +the sense of gentlemanly decorum proper to be observed by the noisy +party, Mr. Witworth found his best plan would be to let every thing +pass that did not absolutely interfere with the business in hand, and, +dinner being over, the ill-mannered troop dispersed. Several of them, +among whom were Reginald and Louis, stopped in the hall to feast their +eyes on the piles of trunks and portmanteaus; and Reginald discovered +that a direction was wanting on one of theirs; "And I declare, Louis, +see what Frank has been doing." + +Louis laughed, as he perceived that one of the directions on his luggage +was altered to "Lady Louisa Mortimer," and ran away to rectify it. When +he returned, the party in the hall was considerably enlarged, and Ferrers +came towards him to wish him good-bye. "Good-bye, Louis, I am coming back +next half-year," he said, in a low tone; "and you must help me to regain +my character." Louis squeezed his hand, and promised to write to him, +though he hoped, he said, that he should not come back himself; and when +Ferrers left the hall, the business of affixing the necessary directions +went on very busily. Reginald was in a state of such overflowing delight, +as to be quite boisterous, and now and then burst out into snatches of +noisy songs, rendered remarkably effective by an occasional squeak and +grunt, which proclaimed his voice to be rather unmanageable. + +"Now, Louis, here's a piece of string, and my knife. + + 'Christmas is coming again, my boys!'" + +"_Christmas_, Reginald--Midsummer!" cried Louis, laughing. + +"Well then, ah, well! tie it tight. + + 'Midsummer's coming again, my boys, + Jolly Midsummer, and all its joys; + And we're all of us cracked, so we'll kick up a noise. + _Chorus_. Ri-toorul-loor, rul-loor, rul-loor-rul. Hip, hip, hurrah! + Hollo!'" + +The sensible chorus was shouted at the utmost pitch of the voices +of the assembled youths, who waved hats, hands, and handkerchiefs, +during the process. + +"Bravissimo!" exclaimed Reginald, quite red with his exertions, and +beaming with excitement. "But my beautiful voice is very unruly; the +last few times I have tried to sing, it has been quite disobedient. +I think it must be cracked, at last." + +"Are you not pleased?" said Louis, archly. + +"Not particularly," replied Reginald. + +"You said you should be, last Christmas. Do you remember the ladies +at grandpapa's?" + +"Well, there is that comfort at any rate," said Reginald, "we shan't +have any more of their humbug; but think of the dear old madrigals, +and--it's no laughing matter, Mr. Louis, for all your fun." + +"Acknowledge, then, that you spoke rashly, when you said you should +be glad of it," said Louis, who was full of merriment at his brother's +misfortune. + +And now Vernon, Arthur, and Frank Digby pressed forward, to bid good-bye. + +As Vernon shook Louis' hand, he said, "I shall see you at Heronhurst, +I suppose." + +"I suppose _I_ mustn't dare to go," said Frank. + +"And now I shall go and gather some of those white roses by the wall, +for mamma," said Louis. "I hope it won't be very long, Reginald, they +must be here soon--oh, how delightful it will be!" + +Louis ran off, and succeeded in finding a few half-blown roses for his +dear mother, and was engaged in carefully cutting off the thorns, when +one of his school-fellows ran up to him, and called out that his father +and mother were come. + +"Papa and mamma! Where's Reginald?" he cried, and flew over the +playground without waiting for an answer. "Where are papa and mamma? +Where is Reginald?" he cried, as he ran into the hall. His hurried +question was as quickly answered; and Louis, jumping over the many +packages, made his way to the drawing-room. Here were his dear father +and mother, with Dr. Wilkinson. Reginald had been in the room several +minutes; and when Louis entered, was standing by his mother, whose arm +was round him, and close behind him stood his father. + +"My Louis!" was his mother's affectionate greeting, and the next moment +he was in her arms, his own being clasped tightly round her neck, and he +could only kiss her in speechless joy, at first; and then, when the kind +arms that strained him to her bosom were loosened, there was his dear +father, and then words came, and as he looked with flashing eyes and +crimsoned cheek, from one to the other, he exclaimed, "Oh, mamma! I +have a medal--mamma, it is all come out! Papa, I am innocent; I have +a character now! Oh, dear mamma, I said it would--I am quite cleared!" + +His head sank on his father's shoulder; a strange, dull sound in his +head overpowered him; a slight faintness seemed to blow over his face; +his eyes were fixed and glassy, and he became unconscious. Mr. Mortimer +changed color, and hastily catching the falling boy, he carried him to +the sofa. Dr. Wilkinson sent Reginald immediately for some water, but +before he could return, and almost before Mrs. Mortimer could raise her +dear boy's head from the pillow to her shoulder, the color came again, +and his eyes resumed their natural expression. + +"What was the matter, my darling?" said his mother, kissing him. + +"I don't know, mamma," replied Louis, sitting up. "I only felt giddy, +and something like a little wind in my face." + +"I think he has been overwrought," said Dr. Wilkinson, kindly; "he has +gone through a great deal lately. We will take him up stairs and let +him lie down; I think he wants a little quiet." + +"I am quite well now," said Louis. + +"I will sit by your side; you had better go up stairs, dear," +said his mother. + +Louis yielded, and Mr. Mortimer assisted him up stairs, despite his +declarations that he was quite strong and well, and, being laid on a +bed, Mrs. Mortimer stationed herself by his side. + +All they said I have not time to relate, but long Louis lay with his +mother's hand in both of his, telling her of the events of the last +two months, and often she bent her head down and kissed his broad +forehead and flushed cheek; and when she would not let him talk any +more, he lay very passively, his eyes filling with grateful tears, +and now and then in the overflowing of his heart, raising them to +his mother, with "Mamma, thank God for me. Oh, how very grateful +I ought to be!" + +At length he fell asleep, and his mother sat still, watching the quiet +face, and the glittering tear-drop that trembled on his eyelash, and +she too felt that her mercies were very great--she did thank God for +him, and for herself. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues + of life."--Prov. iv. 23. + + +After a long and tedious journey Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer, with their two +boys, reached Heronhurst, where they met with the affectionate welcome +usually given by Sir George and Lady Vernon to all so nearly related to +them. The castle was full of visitors, amongst whom were Lady Digby and +her two eldest daughters, and many young people--personages grandmamma +never forgot in the holidays, however unimportant they may appear in the +eyes of some. Children liked to come to Heronhurst, for there was always +so much mirth and amusement, and Lady Vernon was so remarkably clever +in arranging pleasant pic-nics and excursions. Vernon and Frank Digby +arrived the same day as Mr. Mortimer, a few hours before him, and as +Vernon had announced the fact of Louis' having gained the medal, every +one was prepared to receive our hero with due honor. + +It was with no little satisfaction that Louis felt in the hearty shake of +the hand, and the kind tone, that he was now more than re-established in +his grandfather's good opinion. Had it not been for the salutary effects +of his former disgrace, and the long trial he had lately undergone, there +would have been great danger now of his falling into some open fault, +for he was praised so much by his kind relations, and flattered by the +company, and his medal had so often to be exhibited, that it needed much +that in himself he did not possess, to guard him from falling into the +error of imagining himself to be already perfect. + +It was settled that there was to be a fete on the 27th, which some of +my readers may remember was Louis' birthday; and Sir George, anxious +to efface from his grandson's memory any painful reminiscences of the +last, arranged the order of things much in the same manner, taking care +that Louis' proteges, the school-children, should not be forgotten. + +This news had just been communicated to Louis by his grandfather, with +many expressions of commendation, and he was in a state of complacent +self-gratulation, that feeling which would have led him to say, "By +the strength of my hand I have done this;" instead of, "My strength +will I ascribe unto the Lord," when a kind, soft hand, glittering with +rings, was laid upon his arm, and the pleasant voice of his old friend +Mrs. Paget greeted him. + +"So, Master Louis, we are to have a fete, I hear. Are you really +fourteen on the 27th? Come and sit down and tell me all about your +school. I knew you would soon be a favorite. What's all this long +story that everybody talks of and nobody knows? I said I would ask +you, the most proper person to know it; and I know you will tell me +the secret." + +"It is no secret, ma'am," said Louis; "I would rather not talk of it." + +"Just like your own modest little self: and it might not be kind to tell +every one all the story, perhaps; but with an old friend like me, you +know you are safe." + +"But, ma'am, you might forget when every one is talking--" + +Louis stopped and colored, for he thought it seemed rather conceited to +imagine every one must be talking of him, and he corrected himself, + +"At least, dear Mrs. Paget, I had much rather not, I mean." + +"You are a dear, kind little boy," said the injudicious lady; +"I know very well you are afraid of committing that naughty +school-fellow of yours. I can't understand about the _keys_--I +heard your brother saying something about them--what keys? Were +they the keys of the boy's desks?" + +Louis could hardly help laughing--"No, ma'am, Kenrick's keys." + +"And who is Kenrick--one of the masters?" + +"It is a book, ma'am--a key to the Greek exercises." + +"Oh, I see--a sort of translation--well, he stole this from +Dr. Wilkinson, and said you'd done it?" + +"No, not that," replied Louis. "He took it out of the study. Some +of the boys were in the habit of using the keys when they could." + +"Well, there was nothing so very terrible in it, poor fellows. +I dare say the lessons are very hard. I think every boy ought to +have an English translation of those frightful Latin and Greek books." + +Louis opened his eyes and quietly said-- + +"We think it very dishonorable and unfair, ma'am." + +"Well, if I understood all about it, I might too, I dare say. +I only see a little bit, but of course you know the rules and +all the rest,--well, was that all?" + +"No, ma'am," said Louis, uneasily. + +"He said you had taken it, I dare say?" + +"Something like it," replied Louis. "He slipped it among my books +to hide it, ma'am, but not intending to do me any harm; and when +it was found he was afraid to speak the truth." + +"And so you bore the blame--and did you not try to clear yourself?" + +"To be sure, ma'am; but he was older and better known than I was, +and so he was believed." + +"And you couldn't help yourself? I thought you bore it out of +kindness to him." + +"Afterwards I found it out, ma'am. I found that Alfred Hamilton +knew something about it." + +"Who is Alfred Hamilton?" asked Mrs. Paget. + +"A little boy, ma'am, at school." + +"And he found it out--and didn't he tell of it?" + +"I did not wish him," replied Louis, with less reserve. "It would +have been very unkind to poor Ferrers; he would have been expelled. +Alfred was going to tell, but you would not have wished him to do it, +I am sure." + +Ah Louis, Louis! anxiety for Ferrers' reputation was quite lost in the +selfish desire of admiration. Mrs. Paget put her arm round him, and her +kindly eyes nearly overflowed with affectionate emotion, for she, poor +lady, could only see the surface; the inward workings of the little vain +heart were hid from her, or she would have been surprised to find under +the appearance of sweetness and humility, Louis was only thinking of +seeming lovely and amiable in her eyes. + +"No, my darling, I know you could not do any thing unkind--you +are a sweet, dear creature, and I am sure I love you; and so this +Master Ferrers never spoke the truth, and you bore the blame?" + +"He did at last, ma'am, at the end of the half-year: but it was not +very long to bear it, only five weeks." + +"_Only!_ I wonder you could have done it for so long; Ferrers, +that was the name, was it?" + +"If you please, don't mention it," exclaimed Louis, with unaffected +earnestness; "I did not mean to say his name. Please, dear Mrs. Paget, +do not mention it. He is so very sorry, and confessed all so +handsomely--I think you would like him if you knew all about him, +for he is not so bad as others make him out to be." + +Mrs. Paget had only time to give him a kind of half promise, when she +was called away; and Louis, left to himself, became aware of the vanity +his foolish heart had persuaded him was Christian kindness. His enjoyment +was destroyed that evening, for he was full of anxiety lest Mrs. Paget +should talk of the matter, and he wandered restlessly about the rooms, +longing for an opportunity of speaking a kind word for Ferrers, wishing +vainly that what he had said could be undone. He felt more than ever +the necessity of keeping a watch over his heart and tongue, and almost +inclined to despair of ever overcoming the many stumbling-blocks in the +way of attaining to holiness. Thus, little by little, is the evil of +our hearts disclosed to us, and the longer the true Christian lives, +the less he finds to be satisfied with in himself; not that he is +further removed from holiness, but he has more sight given him to +know what he really is by nature--and the nearer he arrives to the +perfect day, the greater is the light to disclose his own deformities, +and the exceeding loveliness of the righteousness he possesses in +Jesus his Lord. + +Louis, in common with the young visitors at Heronhurst, thought often +and expectantly of his birthday--and when the morning at last arrived, +he awoke much earlier than usual, with a strong sensation of some great +happiness. The light on the blind of his window was not bright, nor +promising brightness--and when he jumped up and ran to examine the day, +expressing to his brother his hope that the weather was propitious, he +found to his dismay that the rain was pouring in torrents, and the dull +unbroken clouds gave but little promise of a change in the prospect. + +"Oh! Reginald, it's raining, raining hard." + +"How very provoking!" cried Reginald. "Let me see--there is not much +hope neither--how exceedingly tiresome--there's an end to our fun--who'd +have thought it--how VERY--" + +"Hush!" said poor Louis, who was very much disappointed, "it is not +right to say _tiresome_ when it pleases God that the weather shall +not suit us." + +"I can't help it," said Reginald. + +"I dare say we shall be very happy. I am most sorry about the +school-children." + +"I don't care a fig about them," said Reginald, impatiently; "there's +that cricket match, and all." + +"What, not the poor little things, Reginald? just think how they have +been expecting this day--it is quite an event for them, and we have so +many pleasures: I dare say you will have the cricket the first fine day." + +Reginald felt rather ashamed, and yet unwilling to acknowledge himself +in the wrong; therefore he satisfied himself with remarking, that Louis +did not like cricket, and he didn't care about the children, and there +was no difference. + +Louis' attention was at that moment attracted by something on the table. +"Oh! here is something for me, Reginald!--A beautiful new Bible from +dear papa and mamma--and a church service from grandmamma, and what's +this?--'_The Lady of the Manor_' from uncle and aunt Clarence; +how kind, look Reginald! and here's another--a beautiful little red and +gold book, '_Mrs. Rowe's Poems_,' the book I am so fond of--from +you: oh! thank you, dear Reginald." + +"And many happy returns of the day, dear Louis," said Reginald, who +had by this time completely recovered his ordinary good-humor. + +At the foot of the stairs, when he descended, Louis met some of the +young party, who hardly waited to offer the compliments of the day +before they loudly expressed the disappointment felt by each at the +unfavorable weather. "Raining, raining--nothing but splashing and dark +clouds--so tiresome, so disappointing--we shall be obliged to stay +in-doors," sounded round him in different keys as they marched in +close phalanx to the breakfast-room, where they found Bessie Vernon, +a little girl of seven years old, kneeling on a chair at the window, +singing, in the most doleful accents, + + "Rain, rain, go to Spain, + And mind you don't come back again." + +"Good morning, Bessie," said Louis. + +"Oh! Louis, many happy returns. I haven't got a present for you, +because I hadn't money enough." + +"Never mind," said Louis; "I would rather have your love and kisses +than any present." + +"And I will give you many, many kisses," cried the little girl, +fulfilling her promise in good earnest. + +"_My love and a kiss_," said her brother; "that's what Bessie always +sends at the end of her letters: isn't it, Bessie, _I send you my love +and a kiss_?" + +"Well, I mean it," said Bessie, "and you needn't laugh. I wonder what +we shall do to-day--dear me--I think, though, there's a little lighter +bit of sky over the oak." + +"Let me see--where are my spectacles?" said Frank. + +"Not much hope, I fear," said Sir George's hearty voice behind +her. "Not much hope, Bessie. What an array of long faces. How do +you do? Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, I hope I see you in +health and spirits. A happy birthday, and many of them to you, +my boy; the rain does not appear to have damped you so much as +some of your play-fellows--well, Miss Bessie?" + +"Grandpapa, grandpapa! what shall we do? you must find some pleasure +for us," cried Bessie, clinging round her grandfather's knees, and +looking up very beseechingly in the kind face so far above her. + +"Ah, well--we'll see, we'll see--now let me go to breakfast; when that +important business is dispatched, and grandmamma makes her appearance, +we will find something to do." + +Fortified with this promise, an excellent breakfast was eaten by the +martyrs to disappointment, and then, after some consultation, it was +decided that the band should be in attendance in the hall, and a +messenger should be sent forthwith to command the attendance of the +school-children at a banquet in the same place, and Lady Vernon was +of opinion that with charades, a magic lantern, bagatelle, tivoli, +and dolls, a very merry morning might be spent. The young people then +dispersed in search of their own peculiar amusements. Some of the young +men went into the billiard-room, and a few chess parties were formed. +Some began to act charades for the edification of such among the elders +as would choose to make an audience. A still larger party adjourned to +the school-room to play at houses with their dolls, and two tables were +soon spread with ground plans of three magnificent establishments for +paper ladies and gentlemen, by three young ladies between the ages of +twelve and eight, assisted by Mr. Frank Digby. + +At one o'clock they went to the hall, where the band was playing a merry +air. Here a long table was spread, well covered with a nice plain dinner, +and the school-children came two-and-two into the hall, just after the +visitors had arrived. + +When all were seated, the girls at the upper, and the boys at the +lower end, Mr. Mortimer came forward and said grace for them, and +then the viands disappeared with great rapidity. Some of the castle +children, headed by Louis, asked to be allowed to wait on them, and, +the permission being given, they made themselves very busy, though +it must be confessed that they were sometimes sadly in the servants' +way. Sir George Vernon went round the table very majestically, and +now and then spoke a word or two to one of the children--words which +were treasured up in their memories for many a long day, though they +meant little or nothing; but it is so easy to create a pleasant and +grateful feeling. + +Many of the spectators, including nearly all the gentlemen, had left +the hall very soon after the commencement of the feast, and now a summons +was given to the little ones of the castle to their own dinner. Louis, +not being included in the little ones, went with the school-children +into a large empty room, and with the help of his father and one or two +others, exerted himself successfully for their entertainment, until his +friends joined them, and, the room being darkened, the magic lantern was +displayed. The humble little guests then, being supplied each with a +cake and some fruit, returned to their homes, quite delighted with the +pleasures of the day. Frank and the three young ladies enjoyed an hour's +amusement during the late dinner; for the good-natured youth had yielded +to the pressing invitation of the merry little party, and dined with +them at two, to their great satisfaction, notwithstanding the declaration +of some, that he was "a great tease." + +The great dinner was much earlier than usual, to allow of the ball, +which began at seven o'clock for the convenience of the younger ones, +and was continued until eleven, at which time, though he had been very +happy, Louis was very tired, and could not help thinking, that, after +all, a whole day of pleasure-seeking in this manner, was very fatiguing +and unsatisfying. He could hardly keep his eyes open, when Mrs. Paget +seized him, and after a few compliments on his dancing, insisted upon +hearing him sing "_Where the bee sucks_." + +Louis complied as well as he was able, and though his sleepiness robbed +his song of some power, its sweetness not only satisfied the flattering +lady, but a more unscrupulous auditor who stood behind him in the person +of his grandfather. + +"Your mother taught you to sing, Louis?" said he. + +"Miss Spencer taught me," replied Louis. + +"The mechanism, perhaps, but it's your mother's teaching. +The taste, madam," said Sir George, turning to Mrs. Paget. + +"Both Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer are first-rate amateurs," said Mrs. Paget. + +"Mrs. Mortimer has great talent," replied Sir George; "and she has done +something with this boy. I suppose you are very fond of music, Louis?" + +Louis answered in the affirmative, and Sir George added-- + +"I shall give you a treat. You shall go on Sunday to A----, and hear +the singing at the church there. The little boys sing very sweetly. +Have you heard them ma'am?" + +"No, I never have." + +"Then I think it would be a wise step to pay a visit there during +divine service next Sunday. The church is worth looking at,--a good +specimen of the early English style of architecture. We can make up +a little party to go, if you would like it." + +Mrs. Paget expressed her entire approbation of the scheme, and Louis, +too sleepy to think much of it, wished her and Sir George good night, +and went to bed. + +The next day, the rain continuing, in the morning Louis enjoyed +_The Lady of the Manor_ in his own room. He was still much excited +by the yesterday's pleasure, and felt unsettled, and disinclined to +employ himself steadily with any thing. In the afternoon, as the +weather was fine, his mother insisted on his taking a walk, and +Reginald and Vernon Digby accompanied him. They had a great scramble +through the hilly district that surrounded Heronhurst, and merrily +the talk (we will not dignify it by the name of conversation) continued. +As they re-entered the grounds it fell upon the scheme of visiting the +church, and during the light and common-place discussion that ensued, +it struck Louis that there might be something wrong in the plan. He +became very silent, and when he reached his room, quietly thought over +the matter, and came to the conclusion that, though they intended going +to church, yet the motives that induced their doing so were not to the +glory of God, and that to employ servants for such an end, on God's holy +day, was certainly wrong. This was his first impression; and when he +next saw Reginald, he told him what he had been thinking of. + +"Well, but Louis, you know it won't make any difference whether we go +or not, and so _we_ shan't engage the servants. I don't see why, because +you like nice singing, you should go to the chapel where they screech +so abominably." + +Louis was silent, for he hardly liked to oppose his reasons to Reginald's +blunt speech, and Reginald, dismissing the subject from his mind, began +to talk of something else. He ran on very volubly for a little while, +without receiving any interruption from his brother, and, looking at him, +he saw very plainly that Louis was not paying the slightest attention +to him. + +"What is the matter, Louis? How dull you are!" + +"Nothing," replied Louis. + +"Nothing?" repeated Reginald; "_Something_, you ought to say. I know you +are making yourself miserable about this church-going, and what need is +there? We are going to church, and we can't prevent the carriage going. +If it were on purpose for us it would be different." + +"But there will be a great deal of nonsense, I know," said Louis, +uneasily. "It seems very much like going to a show place. I hope I +shall be able to ask mamma about it." + +"As to nonsense," replied Reginald, "when do we have any thing else +here?--you can't make Dashwood of Heronhurst, and I think if you go +to hear such beautiful singing, it is more likely to put good thoughts +into your head than those lovely singers here; and then, Mr. Perrott +is quite a famous man; everybody likes him better than Mr. Burton--you +are too scrupulous, Louis. I think, sometimes, you are guilty of +over-conscientiousness." + +Before Louis could reply, some of their young friends entered the +room, and one thing followed another so quickly that Louis had no +time to think clearly on the subject till he went to bed; but when +all was silent and nothing interfered with his thoughts, his anxious +mind ran over all that had passed, and turn it which way he would, it +still seemed wrong. What with this feeling, and the fear of making +his grandfather angry, Louis felt very uncomfortable; and then came +Reginald's sophistry, and Louis almost argued himself into the belief +that his brother was right and he too scrupulous: and when he tried to +pray for direction he did not feel sincere, for he was conscious of a +wish to go to the church, and a great dread of offending his grandfather. +After some hours' restless consideration, he dropped asleep, having made +up his mind to consult his father and mother, and to abide by their +counsel. The next day, however, he had no opportunity of speaking to +them alone, and Saturday night found him as miserably undecided as +before. "Oh dear, if there were any one I could ask!" There was One, +and though aid was feebly asked, it was granted; and with much fear and +anxiety, Louis declined accompanying the party to A---- church the next +morning. + +Vernon stared, and Reginald tried in vain to persuade him to alter his +mind,--but he stood firm, and turning away from them, afraid to trust +himself, stayed up stairs till the castle chapel bells began to ring, +and then hastened down with a happy, free, and light heart, to join +his mother. + +"Hey-day, Louis!" exclaimed his grandfather; "I thought you were off +long ago. You're too late: the carriage has been gone this hour. What's +the meaning of these late hours, sir?" + +"I was up quite early, grandfather," said Louis. + +"Then how was it you let them go without you?" + +"Because I had rather not go, sir," said Louis, with a heightened color. + +"And pray why could you not say so sooner?--you are the most uncertain +fellow;--not the smallest dependence ever to be placed upon you. Do you +know your own mind, Mr. Louis?" + +"Not always at first," replied Louis, in a low tone. + +"Hold up your head and speak out. And pray why has your weather-cock +mind changed? What new wind has blown you round now, eh?" + +"It's Sunday, grandpapa," said Louis, looking up at his mother with +a distressed face. + +"Well! Is the boy moon-struck? '_It's Sunday, grandpapa._' Don't you +suppose I know that?" + +"I didn't think it was quite right, sir, to go to A---- church when we +had one so near us." + +"Just as you please," said Sir George, contemptuously--"just as you +please, Master Louis; only do not expect me to plan any thing for your +pleasure again." + +"I am very much obliged, grandpapa--you don't understand me." + +"Oh, we understand each other very well, sir," said his grandfather, +turning off very haughtily. + +As he passed Mr. Mortimer he said, + +"This comes of _molly-coddling_ that boy at home; you'll make +a Methodist of him." + +What answer Mr. Mortimer made, Louis could not hear, and the next +moment they all went into the chapel. + +Many contemptuous smiles were exchanged among those of the visitors +who heard the colloquy, but Louis was comforted by an approving smile +from his parents, and from the sweet consciousness of having done what +was right. The service was very sweet to him, and the lightness of +his heart made even the inferior singing very pleasant, and he gained +something from "tedious Mr. Burton's" sermon; so much depends on the +frame of mind. Our Saviour has enjoined us to take heed _how_ we hear. + +Louis had a very pleasant stroll in the park with his father after +service, and when he entered the house with a happy quiet mind, he +contrasted his feelings with those he should have had, had he been +one of the giddy party at that time returning from A----, and joyfully +thanked his heavenly Father for keeping him from dishonoring His holy +day in "seeking his own pleasure" on it. + + * * * * * + +The following Thursday evening Mr. Mortimer's carriage was seen coming +along the road leading to Dashwood, and at each window was a very joyful +face noting all the familiar objects around; and as the horses dashed +round a corner under a short grove of limes, the tongues belonging to +the two began to move with astonishing rapidity. + +"Here's Dashwood!" cried one. + +"There's the river," exclaimed the other. + +"The Priory chimneys," shouted the first. + +"The Grange, Reginald," cried the second. + +"And Bessie Gordon in the garden,--she sees us," cried Reginald, who +had changed sides for a second. "Ann White's cottage, Louis--I saw the +old picture of Lazarus large as ever--and the sheep--and I smell hay. +Look, there's a hay-field, and Johnson with the hay-makers! Hillo, +Johnson! He sees me." + +"The bells, papa! The bells, mamma!" exclaimed Louis--"Oh, it's home, +dear, sweet home! The bells are ringing because you are come home, papa; +and look, there are all the people coming out of the cottages--how glad +they seem to be!" + +"Louis, Louis, here we go!" shouted Reginald, as the carriage swept +down a lane arched over with green boughs. + +Presently they came to the lodge gate; but not a moment had they +to wait; it was wide open, and they could scarcely exchange marks +of recognition with the gatekeeper and family, when they were out of +sight in the long winding carriage road that led through the park. + +"Welcome, welcome--home! The dear, dear old Priory," said Louis, +with increasing enthusiasm. + +"Take care you are not out on the grass, Louis," said his mother, +seizing his arm. + +"Here we are!" cried Reginald. "And there's Mary, the little pussy, +and sober Neville, looking out of his wits, for a wonder. Here we are!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy + might."--Eccles. ix. 10. + + "Watch and pray."--Matt. xxvi. 41. + + "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through + God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, + and every high thing that exalteth itself against the _knowledge_ + of God."--2 Cor. x. 4, 5. + + +"Ah! Louis, _this_ is home," exclaimed Reginald, as, after the +embraces in the hall, they entered the pleasant drawing-room. It _was_ +home, home with all its sweet associations and dear beings; and, in +a few minutes, Reginald and Louis had run all over the house for the +pleasure of seeing "the dear old places;" had shaken hands with the old +servants, given nurse a kiss, and, having finished by wakening Freddy +from his first sleep, returned to the drawing-room, where tea was ready. +It was a very pleasant tea that night. Every one had so much to say, +and there was so much innocent mirth--all agreed it was worth while +going away from home, for the pleasure of returning. Gradually the +broad yellow light faded from the wall, table, carpet, and window; +and, the gray twilight usurping its place, little Mary was obliged +to leave her seat on her father's knee, and with many kisses was +marshalled up stairs by nurse and Neville. + +When Neville returned, the happy party sat round the open window +watching the bright stars in their trembling beauty, and the half-moon +rise over the dark trees, whitening their tops, silvering the water, +and casting the deep shadows into deeper darkness. There was something +in the still beauty that hushed the speakers, and at last only a low +remark was now and then made, until Louis asked his mother to walk out +into the garden. Mrs. Mortimer at first pleaded the heavy dews as an +excuse, but the request was so urgently pressed by Reginald and Neville, +and a large shawl and pair of clogs being procured, they sallied forth, +Neville and his father first, then Reginald and Miss Spencer, and lastly, +to his great satisfaction, Louis and his mother. + +"I am so fond of moonlight, mamma," said Louis. + +"I think most people are," replied his mother. + +"I wonder what is the reason that moonlight is so much sweeter than +sunlight," said Louis. + +"Do you like it better?" said his mother. + +"I don't know that I like it _better_," replied Louis; "but it always +seems so quiet and soothing. I always liked moonlight when I was a very +little boy--but I thought very differently about it then." + +"How so?" asked his mother. + +"Oh! mamma, I thought it was very beautiful, and I felt a strange +sort of feeling come into my mind--a sort of sad happiness: and +sometimes I thought of fairies dancing in the moonlight; and when +I grew older, I used to think a great deal of nonsense, or try to +make poetry, and I called the moon 'Diana,' and 'queen of night'--and +imagined a great deal that I hardly like to tell you, about lovers +walking in moonlight." + +"And your feelings are quite changed now?" asked his mother. + +"Oh, yes! quite, mamma, it only seems more soothing, because I feel +as if I were alone with God. Does it not seem to you, mamma, as if we +see something of heaven in these lovely nights? I often wonder whether +the bright stars are the many mansions our Saviour speaks of. Oh! mamma, +what an immense thought it is to think of all these bright worlds +constantly moving--either suns themselves with their planets revolving +in ceaseless circles, or else themselves going round some bright sun!" + +"And, perhaps," added his mother, "that bright sun carrying all its +attendant worlds round some larger and brighter sun, whose distance +is too great to be calculated. By the aid of powerful telescopes may +be seen in the extremity of our firmament, appearances which those who +have devoted themselves to this glorious science have decided are other +firmaments, each one containing its countless systems. Oh! Louis, God +is infinite--what if these wondrous creations have no limit, but circle +beyond circle spread out to all eternity! We may see the infinity of +our Maker in the smallest leaf. There is nothing lost. What we destroy +does but change its form." + +"Mamma, I once remember cutting a bit of paper into halves--that is to +say, I first cut it into halves, and then cut one half into halves and +so on, till my scissors would not divide the little bit. I was very idle +that day, but I remember thinking that if I could get a pair of scissors +small enough I could cut that speck up _forever_--and even if there only +happened to be a grain left, I could not make that nothing." + +Louis paused; he was lost in thoughts of wonders that human imagination +cannot grasp: the immensity and mystery of the Almighty's works. +Presently he added, "I cannot imagine it, mamma, my mind seems lost +when I try to think of _forever_. But there is a little hymn you used +to teach me that I cannot help thinking of--I often think of it--it was +the first I ever learned: + + ''Twas God, my child, that made them all + By His almighty skill; + He keeps them that they do not fall, + And rules them by His will. + How very great that God must be!'" + HYMNS FOR INFANT MINDS. + +"Do you remember learning that hymn?" said his mother; "I should have +thought it had been too long ago." + +"Oh, no, mamma. I remember once very distinctly, you had drawn up the +blind that I might look at the stars, and you leaned over my crib, and +taught me that verse. Mamma, even when I did not love God, I used to +like to hear _you_ tell me Bible stories and hymns sometimes, but I +did not think much of them after they were over; but now, almost every +thing reminds me of something in the Bible; or seems a type or a figure +of some of our heavenly Father's dealings with us." + +"That is what the Apostle says," replied Mrs. Mortimer: "'The weapons +of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling +down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing +that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into +captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.' Your imaginations +before were not according to the will of God; you never saw any thing +lovely in Him, but now He has become 'altogether lovely' in your eyes; +every imagination that is contrary to His will is subdued, and all +brought into obedience to Him. And are you not far happier?" + +"Indeed I am; oh, how much more happy!" said Louis: "but, dear mamma, +I do not wish you to think that I am always so happy, because that +would not be true. Very often, I seem almost to forget that I am a +child of God, and then, nothing awakens those happy feelings." + +"I do not suppose you are always so happy, my dear boy. It is too +often the case with Christians, that instead of drawing their pleasures +from the fountain of life, they imagine that they can make cisterns of +their own; they look to the comforts around them, to the friends God has +given them, for satisfaction; and numberless other things have a tendency +to draw their minds from their heavenly Father, which must inevitably +destroy their peace of mind. But how sad it should ever be so! we have +only ourselves to blame that we are not always happy. A Christian should +be the most joyous creature that breathes." + +"Dear mamma, how many pleasant conversations I have had with you!" +said Louis, affectionately kissing his mother's hand, as it lay on his +arm. "They have been some of my sweetest hours. It makes me so happy to +talk of God's love to me." + +"An inexhaustible subject," said his mother: "'Then they that feared the +Lord, spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it; +and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared +the Lord, and thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the +Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.' + +"Our favorite poet has expressed your feelings very beautifully: + + 'Oh, days of heaven, and nights of equal praise, + Serene and peaceful as those heavenly days + When souls drawn upward, in communion sweet + Enjoy the stillness of some close retreat; + Discourse, as if released and safe at home, + Of dangers past and wonders yet to come; + And spread the sacred treasures of the breast + Upon the lap of covenanted rest.'" + COWPER'S "Conversation." + +"Come, I think I must order you in," said Mr. Mortimer, who came up +with the others, just as these lines were finished. "These nocturnal +perambulations will not improve your health, my love; and it is past +prayer-time already. What a sweet night!" + +"I am afraid I have been a little imprudent, but it was a temptation +when the dear boys pressed me so earnestly; our first night at home too, +after so long a separation." + +"Mamma's very carefully wrapped up," said Neville. + +"And it's so deliciously warm," said Reginald. + +"Well, let us not increase the evil," said Mr. Mortimer. + +They presently re-entered the drawing-room, and the servants being +summoned, Mr. Mortimer read prayers, and the boys went to bed. + +The weather being generally wet for the next fortnight, all the in-door +resources were drawn upon by the young people of the Priory, and time +seldom hung heavily on their hands. I do not mean to say that there was +never a moment wasted; on the contrary, Louis had many lazy fits. It +must be allowed that in holiday time, when no one is expected to do +much regularly, there are great temptations to be idle, and boys are +apt to forget that it is not particularly for parents and teachers' +good that they are exhorted to make the most of their time. + +Louis' father and mother gave him many gentle reminders of his failing, +and many were the struggles which he had with his dreamy indolence. +Sometimes, when in accordance with a plan laid down by his mother's +advice, he sat down to study for a stated time, he would open the book, +and, after leaning over it for half an hour, find that he had built +himself a nice little parsonage and school, and established himself +a most laborious and useful minister in the prettiest of villages. At +other times he was a missionary, or an eminent writer, and occasionally +a member of Parliament. Then, at other times, he must draw the plan of a +cottage or church, or put down a few verses; and sometimes, when he heard +the clock strike the hour that summoned him to his studies, he had some +excessively interesting story to finish, or very much preferred some other +occupation. + +"Now, Louis, my dear, there is ten o'clock." + +"Yes, mamma, I will go directly." + +"Directly," in some persons' vocabulary, being an ambiguous term, +another quarter of an hour saw Louis in the same place, quite absorbed. + +"Louis, Louis!" + +"Yes, mamma." And Louis got up, book and all, and walked across the +room, reading all the way. After knocking his head against the door, +and walking into the library instead of into the school-room, he at +last found himself at the table where his writing-desk stood, without +any further excuse, but there he stood for a minute or two reading, +and then, still continuing, felt for his key, and slipped it along the +front of his desk for some time in the most absent and fruitless manner. +Being obliged, at length, to lay aside the book, he unlocked the desk, +and opening it, laid the dear volume thereon, and read while he carried +his desk to another table. Then a few books were fetched in the same +dawdling way, Louis all the while persuading himself--foolish boy--that +he was merely occupying the time of walking across the room in reading. +A few minutes more, and a chair was dragged along, and Louis seated. +Then he reluctantly laid his book down open beside him and commenced. +It would be tiresome to say how often when the dictionary or something +else had to be referred to, a half page or more of the story was read, +and to remark how equally Louis enjoyed his amusement and profited by +his study. He was finally overwhelmed with confusion when his father, +entering the room, came and looked over his shoulder, making some remark +on the economy of time exhibited in thus ingeniously blending together +his work and play without profiting by either. + +"But indeed, papa, I don't know how it is; I made up my mind to be +very industrious, and I was very steady yesterday." + +"You put me in mind of a story of a man who made a vow to abstain from +frequenting beer-shops, and who, on the first day of his resolution, +passed several successively, until he came to the last that lay on his +way home, when he stopped and exclaimed, 'Well done, Resolution! I'll +treat you for this,' and walked in." + +"Oh, papa!" exclaimed Louis, laughing. + +"Don't you think this looks very much like treating resolution?" +said his father, taking up the open book. + +"I can't tell how it is, papa," said Louis, looking ashamed. "I assure +you I did not mean to waste time; I cannot help being interested in +stories, and unless I leave off reading them altogether, I don't know +what to do." + +"As reading stories is not a duty," said his father, "I would certainly +advise your leaving off reading them if they interfere with what is so +clearly one; but do you not think there is any way of arranging your +affairs so as to prevent a harmless recreation from doing this?" + +"I can't depend upon myself, papa. If it were Reginald, he could +throw his book down directly, and do at once what he ought, and so +would Neville, but it is quite a trouble to me sometimes even to +bring my thoughts to bear upon dry studies, particularly mathematics, +which I hate." + +"I allow there is some difference of constitution; Reginald is not so +fond of reading as you are, and has naturally more power of turning his +attention from one subject to another; but this power may be acquired, +and if you grow up with this inclination to attend only to those things +for which you take fancies and fits, you will not be a very useful +member of society; for it must always be remembered that consistency +is essential to a useful character, and that without it, though many +may love, few will respect you." + +"I wish I could be like Neville; he is like a clock, and never lets any +one thing interfere with another, and he always has time for all he wants +to do, and is never in a hurry and flurry as I am; I think he has nothing +to struggle with." + +"Indeed, my dear Louis, he has. Neville has as many faults as the +generality of boys, but you must not forget how much longer he has +begun the good fight than yourself; and the earlier we begin to +struggle against the corruptions of our nature, the easier the task +is; but, Louis, instead of wishing yourself like Neville, or any one +else, think how you may approach most nearly to the high standard of +excellence which is placed before us all." + +"But, father, how can I? What must I do?" sighed Louis. "You cannot +tell how difficult it is to keep good resolutions. I fear I shall +never be any better." + +"What is the grace of God, my boy?" said Mr. Mortimer, laying his hand +on Louis' shoulder; "tell me, what is the grace of God?" + +"God's favor and help," replied Louis. + +"And to whom is this promised?" + +"To all who will ask for it, father." + +"And will you say you can do nothing? Oh, my dear son! God is a God of +all grace, and can give to each of us what we need for every emergency. +Without Him, we can, indeed, do _nothing_, but with _Him_ we may do +_all things_; and blessed be His name for this unspeakable gift by which +He works in man a gradual restoration to more than his primeval condition. +Called with a holy calling, my boy, seek to glorify God in every little +affair of life; take your religion into these unpleasant studies, and +you will find them pleasures." + +"But, father, there is one thing I want to say. Often when I pray, +I do not seem able to do things that I wish and ought." + +"There may be two reasons for that," replied his father. "The first, that +you are not sufficiently in earnest in your petitions; and next, that you +imagine that your prayers are to do all, without any exertion on your +part--that the mere fact of having asked the help of the Almighty will +insure you a supernatural ease and delight in performing these duties, +forgetting that, while we are in this world we have to fight, to run +steadily forward, not to sit still and expect all to be smooth for us. +We must show diligence unto the end--we must watch as well as pray. +You remember the parable of the withered hand?" + +"Yes, father." + +"And you remember that our Lord commanded the man to stretch forth his +hand. He might have pleaded that it was powerless; but no, the Lord had +given him power at the moment he desired him to exert it; and just so to +every Christian, God is a God of all grace, and will give to each of us +the peculiar grace we need; but we must not lock it up and imagine it +to be efficacious without exertion on our part." + +Louis was silent for some minutes. At length he turned his face up to +his father, and said-- + +"What would you advise me to do?" + +"What do you think yourself would be best?" said his father. "Think +always _after_ earnest prayer for divine guidance, what seems right +to do, what the Bible says, and how it will be to the glory of your +Saviour; then, when you have made up your mind as to the rectitude +of any plan of action, let your movements be prompt and decided, +and do not leave the silly heart any room to suggest its excuses and +modifications. Your judgment may sometimes err, but it is better for +the judgment than the conscience to be in fault. Be assured that if +you thus acknowledge God in all your ways, He will direct your paths." + +Louis paused another moment, and said-- + +"Will you take that book, father, and not let me have it any more to-day, +as it has interfered so much with my study; and I will try to be more +industrious. I will finish my Prometheus and Euclid, and the projection +of my map, and then, perhaps, I shall be ready for the reading." + +Mr. Mortimer shook his head as he held up his watch before his +son's eyes-- + +"Too late, Louis. The time is lost, and something must be missed to-day." + +"Then, papa, I will do my Greek, and go to the reading, and then, +instead of amusing myself after lunch, I will do the other things--and +please take that book away with you." + +"I had rather leave it," said Mr. Mortimer. "You must learn to act for +yourself and by yourself. You do not expect to be always a boy, and if +these weaknesses are not checked now, you will grow up a weak man, sadly +dependent upon external influences and circumstances. Put the book out +of your way by all means, but let it be your own act. And now I will +leave you to do your work, for I see you have done very little, and +that little very ill." + +When his father had left the room, Louis put the book on a shelf, and, +turning his back to it, set himself to work with earnest determination. +He rewrote what he had done so badly, took great pains with the new +edition, and had the satisfaction of receiving his father's approval +of his work in the evening. After lunch his disagreeable Euclid was +completed, and the map finished, and Louis refrained steadily from +looking at the book for the rest of the day; nor did he, though sorely +inclined, open it the next day until he could do so with a safe +conscience. + +For the remainder of the holidays Louis adhered to his resolution; +but I do not mean to say he trusted on his own resolution: that he +had found, by painful experience, to be a broken reed. In dependence +upon an Almighty helper, he steadily endeavored from day to day to +perform what was required of him in his station and circumstances, +and found his reward in peace of mind and consciousness of growing +in grace. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +It seems, by common consent, established among school-boys, that school +and school-masters are necessary evils, only endurable because incurable, +and that, as a matter of course, the return to school must be looked on +as a species of martyrdom, the victims of which are unanimously opposed +to the usual persuasives that school-days are the happiest, and that +they will wish themselves back again before they have left it long. +We will not attempt to account for this perversity of opinion in the +minds of the individuals alluded to, nor have we any intention of +instituting an inquiry as to the probability of the origin of this +repugnance to scholastic life being in the natural opposition of man's +mind to discipline or order, and the tendency therein to dislike all +that is especially arranged and placed before him plainly for his +benefit; but I am sure that most of those among my readers who either +have been, or are school-boys at this moment, will agree with me in +declaring that, returning to school, after the vacation, is a dismal +affair, and that, during the first week or fortnight, certain rebellious +feelings are prominent, which it would be treason to breathe. + +The close of the holidays had arrived, and it was decided that Louis +should return to school with his brother, notwithstanding his great +wish to the contrary; but now his principles were firmer, his father +was of opinion that mixing with a large party of boys was more calculated +to supply what was wanting in his character than staying at home with his +mother and sister, and, consequently, a day or two after the reopening +of Ashfield House, Reginald and Louis were placed by their father safely +in a coach that started from Norwich, and, in a rather sorrowful mood, +began their long journey. + +I have no adventures to mention; romantic incidents are rarely met +with in a school-boy's life; nor was there any thing remarkable to +relate in the day and a half's travel, beyond the stoppage for meals, +and the changes of vehicle. Louis and his brother generally patronized +the top of the coach, but as they drew near Bristol, Louis grew so sleepy +and tired, from the length of the journey, as well as the imperfect +slumber obtained inside the preceding night, that he preferred changing +his quarters, to the risk of falling from his perch above. It so happened +that the coach was empty inside, and Louis indulged himself by stretching +at full length on one of the seats, and soon lost the recollection of +his troubles in sleep. How long he had slept he could not tell, when the +stopping of the coach disturbed him, and rising lazily, he looked out to +see where they were. Instead, however, of the "White Lion," in Bristol, +or the "Roadside Inn," with the four waiting horses, there was opposite +the window a pretty house, standing in a moderately sized garden, gay +with countless flowers, green grass, and waving trees. It was such +a house as Louis with his romance loved; low and old-fashioned, +with a broad glass door in the centre, on one side of which was a +long casement-window, and on the other, two thick sashes. The house, +extending to some length, displayed among the evergreen shrubs, +delicate roses and honey-suckles, a variety of odd windows, from +the elegant French to the deep old-fashioned bay; and over the front, +almost entirely concealing the rough gray stucco, was a vine, the +young grapes of which fell gracefully over the little bedroom windows, +suggesting the idea, how very pleasant it would be, when the fruit was +ripe, to obtain it at so little trouble. Louis especially noticed the +sheltering trees, that grew to a great height close behind the house, +and the long shadows thrown by the evening sun across the smooth +green lawn. + +While he was admiring the little prospect before him, a maid-servant, +assisted by the guard of the coach, appeared at the door, carrying +a black trunk, and behind followed another elderly servant, with a +carpet-bag and basket. It was very evident that another passenger +might be expected, and a few seconds more threw considerable light +on the doubt enveloping the expected personage. The glass door before +mentioned, opened into a low square hall, and at the further end, just +as the carpet-bag reached the garden gate, appeared a group, of which, +till it arrived at the door, little could be discerned but some white +frocks. Presently, however, a pleasant middle-aged gentleman came out, +holding by the hand a tearful-looking little boy, seemingly about nine +or ten years old. The shade of his cap was pulled down very far over +his forehead, but enough of his face was visible to betray some very +showery inclinations. Two little girls, one older and the other younger, +clung round him; the little one was weeping bitterly. When they reached +the gate, the gentleman shook the boy's hand, and gave him in charge +of the guard, to see him safely into a coach to convey him to +Ashfield House. + +"No fear of that, sir," replied the guard, opening the coach door, +and putting in the bag and basket. "I daresay these young gentlemen +would let him ride with them: they are for Dr. Wilkinson's." + +"Indeed," said the gentleman, looking at Reginald, and then following +the jerk of the guard's thumb at Louis; "perhaps you will share your +fly with my son?" Reginald replied that they would be most happy. The +gentleman thanked him, and turning to his little boy, who was hugging +his youngest sister at the moment, said cheerfully, "Well, Charles, +this is pleasant; here are some school-fellows already. You will have +time to make friends before you reach the doctor's. Come, my boy." + +Charles had burst into a torrent of fresh tears, and sobbing his +"Good-byes," got into the coach very quickly. + +"Come, come, you mustn't be a baby," said his father, squeezing both +his hands; and he shut the coach door himself. + +"Good-bye, Charlie," said the little girls. + +"Good-bye, master Charles," said the servants. + +"I shall be so glad when Christmas comes," sobbed the little one. + +The coach rolled away, amid the adieus and blessings poured on the +disconsolate boy, who watched his home eagerly as long as he could +see it. There they were all--father, sisters, and servants, watching +at the gate till the coach was out of sight. For some time, Louis did +not attempt to console his new companion, who threw himself into the +opposite corner, and burying his face in his handkerchief, sobbed +passionately, without any effort at self-control. At length, the +violence of his grief abating, Louis gently spoke to him, asking if +he had ever been away from home before. At first, Charles was very +reserved, and only answered Louis' questions; but by degrees his sobs +decreased, and from declaring that he could not see the reason of +his being sent away from home, he at last talked freely to Louis +of his father, sisters, and home; and asked Louis of his. Louis was +ready enough to enlarge on these topics, and entered into an enthusiastic +description of home and its pleasures, and before they had reached their +journey's end, they had become very good friends. + +Charles had informed Louis that his father was a clergyman, and that +his home was the parsonage house; and enlarged very much on the pleasure +of being taught by his father. There was something in his manner of +expressing himself that often surprised Louis, and made him think that +he must be older than he appeared. Before they reached Bristol, they had +agreed to be "great friends," and to help each other as much as possible. +Charles had evidently been very carefully brought up, and Louis found +that they had many things in common. They decided to be companions on +Sunday, and to be together whenever they could. + +Between seven and eight o'clock, the coach stopped in Bristol, where +Reginald joined his brother; and after a few minutes spent in taking +a hasty tea, the three boys were consigned to a suitable conveyance, +and drove on to Dr. Wilkinson's. + +Reginald had a mortal aversion to tears in any boy but Louis, and had +consequently taken an antipathy to his new school-fellow, besides caring +very little about so small a boy. He was just civil to him, and his +manner bringing out all Charles's shyness, he became very silent, +and scarcely any thing was said during the ride from Bristol to +Ashfield House. + +It would be of little use describing the interesting appearance that +Ashfield House presented when the three young gentlemen arrived there. +Such descriptions are generally skipped; consequently, I leave it to my +reader's imagination to picture how romantic the edifice looked, with +the last faint yellow daylight glowing on its front, and the first few +stars peeping out on the green park. + +Our young gentlemen, be assured, noticed nothing but the very dismal +impression that they were once more at school. Inquiring if the doctor +were to be seen, they were informed that he was expected in a few +minutes, as it was nearly prayer-time; and accordingly Reginald +marshalled the way without a word to the school-room. There was no +one in the hall or school-room, but a murmur from the half-open door +of the adjoining class-room drew them in that direction. The room was +nearly full, for besides the first and second classes there were many +belonging to the third class, and one or two others who had either +arrived late, or taken advantage of the little additional license +given the first few days to stay beyond their usual bedtime. It was +too dark to distinguish faces, but the figure of Frank Digby, who had +managed with great pains to climb the mantelpiece, and was delivering +an oration, would have been unmistakable if even he had been silent;--who +but Frank Digby could have had spirit to do it the third night after +the opening of the school? + + "Gentlemen and ladies," began the merry-andrew; "I beg your + pardon, the Lady Louisa not having arrived, and Miss Maria + Matheson being in bed, I ought to have omitted that term--but, + gentlemen, I take this opportunity, gentlemen, the opportunity + of the eleventh demi-anniversary of our delightful reunion. + Gentlemen, I am aware that some of you have not been fortunate + enough to see eleven, but some among us have seen more. I, + gentlemen, have seen eleven at this auspicious moment. I may + say it is the proudest moment of my life to be able to stand + on this mantelpiece and look down on you all, to feel myself + enrolled a member of such an august corps. I may say I feel + myself elevated at this present moment, but as, gentlemen, + there is no saying, in the precarious situation I am now + placed, how long I may be in a position to contemplate the + elegance of his majesty and court, I hasten to propose that + his majesty's health be eaten in plum-cake, and that if I + fall somebody will catch me. + + "With kind regards to all, + "Believe me your attached school-fellow, + "FRANK DIGBY." + +A little on one side of the fireplace, which was not far from the open +window, Trevannion was leaning back in a chair that he had tipped on +the hind legs till the back touched the wall behind him, his own legs +being stretched out on another poised in like manner on the two side +legs; this elegant and easy attitude being chosen partly for the +convenience of speaking to Salisbury, who was nicely balanced on +the window-sill, eating plum-cake. As the young gentleman concluded +his delectable harangue, he made an involuntary leap from his narrow +pedestal, plunging on the top of Trevannion's legs, and, tumbling over +him, struck with some violence against Salisbury, who was thrown out +of the window by the same concussion that brought his more fastidious +compeer to the ground, chairs and all. There was a burst of merriment +at this unexpected catastrophe, but nothing could exceed the mirth of +the author of the mischief, who sat in unextinguishable laughter on the +floor, to the imminent danger of his person when the enraged sufferers +recovered their legs. + +[Illustration: The finale to Digby's speech.] + +"Really! Digby," exclaimed Trevannion, angrily, "this foolery is +unbearable. You deserve that we should give you a thrashing; if it +were not beneath me, I most certainly would." + +"You--ha! ha!" returned Frank: "ha! ha!--you must stoop to--ha! ha!--you +must stoop to conquer--for, oh! oh! I can't get up. Pardon me, my dear +fellow, but--oh! ha! ha!--you did look so ridiculous." + +"Get up, you grinning donkey!" said Salisbury, who, in spite of his +wrath, could not help laughing. + +"Trevannion's legs!" exclaimed Frank, in a choking fit of laughter. + +"Get up, Digby," exclaimed Trevannion, kicking him; "or I'll shake some +of this nonsense out of you." + +"Do be rational, Frank," said Hamilton's voice from a corner; "you are +like a great baby." + +How long Frank might have sat on the floor, and what direful events +might have transpired, I cannot pretend to say, for just at this +juncture the further door opened, and Dr. Wilkinson entered, bearing +a candle in his hand. Frank very speedily found his legs, and retired +into a corner to giggle unseen. The light thus suddenly introduced +brought Reginald and his brother into notice, and one or two near the +door recognizing them, pressed forward to speak to them, and before +the doctor had fairly attained his place, Reginald had run the gauntlet +of welcomes through all his school-fellows--and Louis, half-way on the +same errand, was forcibly arrested by something scarcely short of an +embrace from Hamilton, who expressed himself as surprised as pleased +at his appearance, and in whose glistening eyes, as well as the friendly +looks of those around, Louis experienced some relief from the almost +insupportable sense of dulness that had oppressed him ever since his +entrance into the house. But now, the doctor having opened his book, +the young gentlemen were obliged to separate and form into their places. +Hamilton kept Louis by him, and Louis beckoned the sorrowful little boy +who had accompanied him towards them. + +"Who is that?" asked the doctor, as the child moved shyly towards Louis. + +"A new boy, sir," said one. + +"What is your name?" said the doctor. "Come here. Oh! I see, it is +Clifton, is it not?--how do you do?" + +Charles had reached Dr. Wilkinson by this time, and, encouraged by +his kind tone, and the sympathizing though slightly quizzical gaze +on his very tearful face, replied to his queries in a low, quick tone. + +"When did you come?" asked the doctor. + +"He came with us, sir," said Reginald, stepping forward. + +"Mortimer here!" said the doctor. "How do you do? and Louis, too, +I presume--where is he? I am very glad to see you again," he added, +as Louis came forward with a blushing but not miserable countenance. +He then spoke to the other new-comers, and then, commanding silence, +read prayers. + +The young gentlemen were just retiring, when Dr. Wilkinson desired them +to stay a moment--"I have one request to make, young gentlemen," he said, +gravely; "that is, I particularly wish when Mr. Ferrers returns that no +allusion be made to any thing gone by, and that you treat him as one +worthy to be among you." + +The doctor paused as he spoke, and glanced along the row of faces, +many of which looked sullen and cloudy: most of them avoided their +master's eye, and looked intently on the ground. Dr. Wilkinson sought +Hamilton's eye, but Hamilton, though perfectly conscious of the fact, +was very busily engaged in a deep meditation on the texture of Louis' +jacket. + +"Hamilton." + +"Sir," replied Hamilton, reluctantly raising his eyes. + +"I look to you, as the head of the school, to set the example. I am +grieved to see so little Christian spirit among you. Why should you +feel more aggrieved than the injured party, who has, I am sure, +heartily forgiven all, and will wish no further notice to be taken +of what has passed?" + +Louis looked up acquiescently, and slipped his hand into Hamilton's. +A slight pressure was returned, and Hamilton, bowing to the doctor, +led the way out of the room. + +On the way up stairs many rebellious comments were made on the +doctor's speech, and some invoked tremendous penalties on themselves +if they had any thing to do with him or any like him. Hamilton was +quite silent, neither checking nor exciting the malcontents. He put +his hand into Louis' arm, and, walking up stairs with him, wished him +a warm good-night, and marched off to his own apartment. + +This evening, as there were one or two new-comers, an usher was present +in the dormitory to insure the orderly appropriation of the several +couches; and, to Louis' great satisfaction, he was able to get quietly +into bed--where, feeling very dull and sad, he covered his head over +and unconsciously performed a crying duet with his new friend. + +Hardly had the usher departed than Frank Digby popped his head +out of bed: + +"I don't know," said he, "whether any one expects a feast to-night, +from a few unlucky remarks which fell from me this morning; if so, +gentlemen, I wish immediately to dispel the pleasing delusion, +assuring you of the melancholy fact, that my golden pippins have +fallen victims to Gruffy's rapacity." + +"Oh, what a shame!" exclaimed one. + +"What's that, Frank?" said Reginald. + +"How did Gruffy get hold of them?" asked Meredith: "I thought you +were more than her match." + +"Why, the fact is, her olfactory nerves becoming strongly excited, +she insisted upon having a search, and after snuffing about, she +came near my hiding-place, and found the little black portmanteau: + +"'Upon my word, Mr. Digby,' said she, 'I am surprised at your +dirtiness--putting apples under your pillow!' and insisted on +having the key or the apples. I disclaimed all ideas of apples, +but quite failed in persuading her that I had Russian leather-covered +books inside, that were placed there to enable me to pursue my studies +at the first dawn of day. You should have heard her: 'Did I suppose +she was an idiot, and couldn't smell apples!' and oh--nobody knows +how much more. But I should have carried my point if ill-luck hadn't +brought Fudge in the way, and the harpy carried off my treasures." + +Frank paused, and then added, in a tone that set every one laughing, +"It's a pity she can't be transported into heathen mythology; she'd +have made an excellent dragon. Hercules would never have been so +successful if she'd been that of Hesperia. I'll be even with her yet; +but there's something very forlorn in one's troubles beginning directly." + +The next morning brought with it the stern reality of school. Louis +was dreaming that he was in Dashwood with Charles Clifton, when the +bell-man came into the breakfast-room, crying out that the golden +pippins belonging to his attached school-fellow, Frank Digby, were +lost, stolen, or strayed; and that he would be even with any who +should find them, and bring them to the Hesperides; and he was in +the act of proving, more to his own satisfaction than to that of the +bell-man, that the books in the library were what he wanted, when +Reginald discovered them,--i.e., the golden apples,--peeping from +under his pillow, and shook him violently for his deceit. + +"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 passion. 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 classes 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 class. 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 class. + +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 class, 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 passed: 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 +class-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 assistance 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 Casson +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' embarrassment. 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 attitudinize; while Trevannion gazed +on his friend with a quiet, gentlemanly air of inquiry, that was not to +be put out of countenance by any circumstance 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 gratitude 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 class, 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, assumed 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 assist in +the transition of the thick volume, but all his politeness obtained +was a haughty, cold stare, and a determined rejection of assistance. +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 gratitude 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 associate 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." + +"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 Casson, 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 Saturday 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 Casson," replied Louis, hesitatingly. "He has +a cold and headache, and he asked me if I would stay with him in the +class-room, where he is obliged to stay while we are out." + +"Casson!" 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 Casson to your friend Clifton?" + +"Oh, Hamilton, I don't much like Casson; 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. + +Before Hamilton could answer, Frank Digby, one of the large audience +alluded to, came up. "Of course," he replied; "Hamilton is one of our +party." + +"One of your party?" asked Hamilton. + +"Your majesty's oblivious of the fact," said Frank, "that among the +many offices, honorary and distinctive, held by your most gracious +self, the presidency of the 'Ashfield Cricket Club' is not altogether +one of the most insignificant." + +"We will thank our faithful amanuensis to become our deputy this +afternoon," said Hamilton; "having a great desire to refresh ourself +with a quiet discourse on the beauties of Nature." + +"No cricket this afternoon, Hamilton!" cried Louis; "I shall be so +much disappointed if you go!" + +"_No cricket!_" exclaimed Frank: "we will enter into a conspiracy, and +dethrone Edward, if he refuses to come _instanter_." + +"Dethrone me by all means, this afternoon," said Hamilton; "my deposition +will save me a great deal of trouble. I am only afraid that my freedom +from state affairs would be of short duration; my subjects appear to be +able to do so little without me." + +"Hear him!" exclaimed Jones, laughing; "hear king Log!" + +"No favoritism!" cried Smith; "I bar all partiality. We'll treat you in +the Gaveston fashion, Louis, if you don't persuade your master to accede +to our reasonable demands." + +"That would be treason against my own comforts," said Louis, laughing, +and struggling unsuccessfully to rise from the ground, where he had been +playfully thrown by Salisbury. "To the rescue! your majesty; I cry help!" + +"To the rescue!" shouted Reginald, pouncing suddenly upon Salisbury, and +diverting his attention from Louis who would have recovered his feet, but +for the intervention of one or two of the party. + +"Your majesty perceives," said Frank, "that a rebellion is already +broken out. A word from you may compose all." + +"I have engaged to walk with Louis Mortimer, and I declare I will not +stir anywhere without him," said Hamilton. + +"We cannot do without you, Hamilton," said Trevannion, who had just +joined the council. "You are engaged for all the meetings." + +"Which meetings have no right to be convened without the concurrence +of the president;--eh, Mr. Secretary?" rejoined Hamilton. + +"Of course you can please yourself," said Trevannion, proudly. + +"Let Louis get up, Jones," said Hamilton. + +"Does your majesty concede, or not?" said Jones, who was sitting +upon Louis. + +"I will answer when you let him get up." + +Jones suffered Louis to rise, breathless and hot with his laughing +exertions to free himself from durance vile. + +"I will come, on condition that Louis comes too." + +"Certainly," said Salisbury. + +"And join our game, mind," said Hamilton. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Smith; "that's decidedly another affair. You can't play, +Sir Piers, can you?" + +"He can learn," said Hamilton, who was perfectly aware of his ignorance. + +"I've not the smallest objection," said Jones, "as I'm on the opposition +side." + +"Nor I," cried Salisbury; "though I should be a loser, as is probable." + +"Really, Hamilton," exclaimed Trevannion, sulkily, "it's impossible! +He'll only be in the way. I never saw such a fuss about a boy; it's +quite absurd. If you want him, let him look on." + +"I don't like cricket," said Louis. + +"Humbug!" exclaimed Salisbury. + +"I shall be in the way, as Trevannion says," continued Louis; "I am +sure I shall never learn." + +"'_Patientia et perseverantia omnia vincunt_,'" remarked Frank; +"which may be freely translated in three ways: + + 'If a weary task you find it, + Persevere, and never mind it;' + +or, + + 'Never say die;' + +or, thirdly, + + 'If at first you don't succeed,--try, try again,'" + +"Louisa, I am ashamed for you," said Hamilton; "and insist +on the exhibition of a more becoming spirit." + +"That's right, Hamilton," cried Reginald; "make him learn." + +Louis pleaded as much as he dared, in dread of a few thumps, +friendly in intent, but vigorous in execution, from Salisbury, +and a second shaking from Hamilton, but all in vain, and they +sallied forth. Trevannion fastened on Hamilton, and grumbled +ineffectual remonstrances till they reached a convenient spot +for their game. Here, under the active supervision of Hamilton, +Salisbury, and Reginald, Louis was duly initiated; and after a +couple of hours' play they returned home, Louis being in some +doubt as to whether his fingers were not all broken by the +concussion of a cricket-ball, but otherwise more favorably +disposed towards the game than heretofore. He was, likewise, +not a little gratified by the evident interest most of the +players took in his progress. Hamilton had entirely devoted +himself to his instruction, encouraged him when he made an +effort, and laughed at his cowardliness, and Salisbury had +been scarcely less kind. + +As they entered the playground, Salisbury held up a silver +pencil-case to Frank: + +"Remember, Frank," said he, warningly. + +"Do you think I've forgotten?" said Frank; "my memory's not quite +so treacherous, Mr. Salisbury." + +"What's that, Salisbury?" said Jones. + +"Only my wager." + +"Wager!" repeated Hamilton. "What absurdity is Frank about to +perpetrate now?" + +"He is going to make Casson swallow some medicine of his own +concoction. My pencil-case against his purse, contents and all, +he isn't able to do it. Casson's too sharp." + +"I am surprised," said Hamilton, "that Frank is not above playing +tricks on that low boy. I thought you had had enough of it, Frank." + +Frank laughed;--"No, he has foiled me regularly twice lately, and +I am determined to pay him off for shamming this afternoon." + +"I think it is real," said Louis. + +"Then he has all the more need of medicine," said Frank; "and if he +supposes it, my physic will do him as much good as any one else's." + +"You'll certainly get yourself into some serious scrape some day +with these practical jokes, Frank," said Hamilton. "It is a most +ungentlemanly propensity." + +"Hear, hear," said Reginald. + +"What's that? Who goes there?" said Frank, directing the attention +of the company to the figure of a tall woman neatly dressed in black +silk, with an old-fashioned bonnet of the coal-scuttle species, who +was crossing from the house to the playground at the moment; the lady +in question being no other than the housekeeper, clothes-mender, &c., +to Dr. Wilkinson introduced by Mr. Frank Digby as Gruffy, more properly +rejoicing in the name of Mrs. Guppy. + +"It's Gruffy, isn't it? Where is she going, I wonder." + +Without waiting for an answer, Frank flew round the house, and +disappeared in the forbidden regions of the kitchen. + +"What is he after?" said Meredith. "I suspect we shall have some +fun to-night." + +"I do wish Frank wouldn't be so fond of such nonsense," said Hamilton, +angrily. "Come, Louis, and take a turn till the tea-bell rings." + +They had taken two or three turns up and down in front of the +school-room, when the bell rang, and Frank Digby came back full +of glee. + +"I've done it, Salisbury," he cried, as he threw his hat in the +air. "I've done it. I shall kill two birds with one stone. I'm sure +to win; it's all settled; only I must be allowed to put the school-room +clock forward half an hour." + +"That wasn't in the bargain," said Salisbury. + +"It wasn't out of it, at any rate," said Frank. + +"It's all fair," said several voices; "he may do it which way +he pleases." + +"Remember, _tace_," said Frank. "_Tace_ is the candle that +lights Casson to bed to-night." + +"I promise nothing, Frank," said Hamilton. + +"Nevertheless you'll keep it," said Frank, laughing. + +When tea was over, Frank disappeared rather mysteriously. + +Salisbury had just begun to make use of one of the pile of books he had +brought to the table in the class-room, when a notification was brought +to him from the school-room, that Mrs. Guppy wanted to speak to him. + +"Bother take her!" he exclaimed. "Why can't she come and speak to me? +Interrupting a fellow at his work! Don't take my place; I shall be back +presently." + +Some time, however, elapsed, and no Salisbury. Now and then a few +wonderments were expressed as to how Frank's wager would be won, and +as to what Mrs. Guppy could want with Salisbury. + +"Where is Frank, I wonder?" said one. "Just see, Peters, if Casson's +gone yet." + +Peters departed, and returned with the news that Casson had gone to bed +a little while before. + +"The farce has begun, I suspect," said Meredith. "It's more than half +an hour since Salisbury went,--and depend upon it, wherever he is, +there is Frank." + +At this moment Salisbury rushed into the room, and throwing himself +in a sitting posture on the floor, with his back against the wall as +if completely exhausted, laughed on without uttering a word, till his +mirth became so infectious, that nearly all the room joined him. + +"Well, Salisbury!" "Well, Salisbury!" "What is it?" "Tell us." "Have +done laughing, do, you wretch, you merry-andrew." "Do be sensible." + +"Sensible!" groaned Salisbury, laying his head against a form; +"oh, hold me, somebody--I'm quite knocked up with laughing. It's +enough to make a fellow insensible for the rest of his life." + +"Well, what is it, madcap?" said Reginald, jumping up from his seat, +and approaching him in a threatening attitude. + +"Frank Digby!" said Salisbury, going off into another paroxysm +of laughter. + +"Shake him into a little sense, Mortimer," said Jones. + +"Come, Salisbury, what is it?" said several more, coming up to him. + +Salisbury sat upright and wiped his eyes. + +"It was the clearest case of stabbing a man with his own sword I ever +saw. I don't know whether I shall ever get it out for laughing, but +I'll try." + +Louis looked up at Hamilton, rather anxious to get nearer to Salisbury, +but Hamilton wrote on as if determined neither to let Louis move, nor +to pay any attention himself, and Louis dared not ask. + +"Well, you know, Mrs. Guppy sent for me. I went off in a beautiful humor, +as you may imagine, and found her ladyship in a great dressing-gown, +false front, and spectacles, surrounded by little boys in various stages +of Saturday night's going to bed, tucking up Casson very comfortably. + +"'Oh, Mr. Salisbury,' said she, 'I'll speak with you presently,--will +you be so good as to wait there a minute?' + +"Well, I thought she looked very odd, but she spoke just the same +as ever; and being very cross, I said, 'I am in a hurry; perhaps +when you've done you'll call on me in the study,' Whereupon her +ladyship comes straight out of the room, and says on the landing, +in Frank Digby's voice, 'Know me by this token, _I am mixing a +black draught by the light of a Latin candle_.'" + +Salisbury burst out into a fresh fit of laughter, in which he was +joined by all present except Hamilton, who steadily pursued his work +with an unmoved countenance. + +"Well, you may imagine," said Salisbury, when he had recovered himself, +"I wasn't in a hurry then. I came back and waited behind the door very +patiently. You never saw any thing so exact--every motion and tone. He +had pulled the curls over his eyes, and tied up his face with a great +handkerchief over the cap, as Gruffy has been doing lately when she +had the face-ache, and he went about among the little chaps in such +a motherly, bustling way, it was quite affecting. Sally, who helped +him, hadn't the least idea it wasn't Gruffy. However, the best of it +is to come," said Salisbury, pausing a moment to recover the mirth +which the recollection produced:--"He was stirring up a concoction +of cold tea, ink and water, slate-pencil dust, sugar, mustard, and +salt, when I thought" (Salisbury's voice trembled violently) "that I +heard a step I ought to know, and I had hardly time to get completely +behind the door when it was widely opened, and in walked the doctor!" + +A burst of uproarious mirth drowned the voice of the speaker. There +was a broad smile on Hamilton's face, though he did not raise his head. +As soon as Salisbury could speak, he continued: + +"'Oh!' said I to myself, 'it's all up with you, Mr. Frank,' and I +felt a little desirous of concealing my small proportions as much +as might be. What Frank might feel I can't say, but he seemed to +be very busy, and, as he turned round to the doctor, put up his +handkerchief to his face. + +"'Does your face ache, Mrs. Guppy?' says the doctor; and--imagine the +impudence of the boy--he answered, it was a little troublesome. 'How +is Clarke this evening?--I hear he has been asleep this afternoon.' +I imagine Frank has as much idea of the identity of Clarke as I have--I +don't even know who he is, much less that he was ill--but he answered +just as Gruffy would do, with her handkerchief up to her mouth, 'Rather +better, sir, I think--he was asleep when I saw him last, and I didn't +disturb him.' 'Hem,' said the doctor, 'and who's this?'" + +The audience was here so convulsed with laughter that Salisbury could +not proceed; Louis could not help joining the laugh, though rather +checked by the immovable gravity of Hamilton's countenance. + +"Really, Hamilton," he said, "I wonder how Frank could tell such +stories." + +"He doesn't think them so," said Hamilton, abruptly. + +"Well, Salisbury!" "Well, Salisbury!" exclaimed several impatient +voices. "The impudence of the fellow." "How will he ever get out +of it?" "Get on, Salisbury." "The idea of joking with the doctor." +"Go on, Salisbury." "What a capital fellow he'd make for one of those +escaping heroes in romances--he'd never stay to have his head cut off." + +"Well, and the doctor says, 'Who's this, Mrs. Guppy? Casson? How--what's +the matter with you? How long have you been here?' 'Just come to bed, +sir,' says Casson; and then the doctor makes a few inquiries about +his terrible headache, et cetera; and Mrs. Guppy had a twinge of the +toothache, and could only let the doctor know by little and little how +she had thought it better to put him to bed. + +"'And that is medicine for him?' + +"The doctor looked very suspiciously at the cup, I fancy, for his tone +was rather short and sulky. Frank seemed a little daunted, but he soon +got up his spirits again, and, stirring up the mess, was just going to +give it to Casson, when, lo! another strange footfall was heard; doctor +turned round (I was in a state of fright, I assure you, lest he should +discover me) and in marched the real Simon Pure! It was a picture--oh! +if I had been an artist:--there stood Gruffy, in her best black silk, +looking more puzzled than angry; Frank--I couldn't see what he looked +like, but I'll suppose it, as he says--and doctor turning from one +to the other with a face as red as a turkey-cock, and looking so +magnificent!" + +[Illustration: The counterfeit Mrs. Guppy.] + +"Poor Frank!" exclaimed several laughing voices. + +"Well, at last Fudge found words, and in such a tone, exclaimed, +'MRS. GUPPY! who is THIS, then?' Then she stormed out; 'Ay, sir, who +is it, indeed? perhaps you will inquire.' I didn't see what followed, +for my range of vision was rather circumscribed--but I imagine that +doctor pulled off part of Frank's disguise, for the next words I heard +were, '_Digby_, this is _intolerable_!' uttered in the doctor's most +magnificent anger--'What is the meaning of this?' Frank said something +about _a wager_ and _a little fun, meaning no harm_, et cetera; and +Fudge gave him such a lecture, finishing off by declaring, that 'if he +persisted in perpetrating such senseless follies he should find some +other place to do so in than his house.' All the little boys were +laughing, but doctor stopped them all with a thundering 'SILENCE!' and +then he asked what Frank had in that cup. 'Cold tea, sir,' said Digby, +quite meekly. 'And what's this at the bottom?' 'Sugar, sir,' I saw the +doctor's face--it was not one to be trifled with, but there seemed +a sort of grim smile there, too, when he gave the cup to Frank and +insisted upon his drinking it all up; and Digby did it, too--he dared +not refuse." + +Another peal of laughter rang through the room, in which Hamilton +joined heartily. + +"Then," continued Salisbury, "doctor said he hoped he would feel +a little better for his dose--and, becoming as grave as before, he +desired he would return Mrs. Guppy's things, and beg her pardon for +his impertinence." + +"He didn't do so, surely?" said Jones. + +"He did, though," replied Salisbury; "and I wouldn't have been him if +he'd been obstinate; but he added--I wondered how even _he_ dared--_I've +saved you a little trouble, ma'am, there are six of them in bed_." + +"Oh! oh! disgraceful!" exclaimed Hamilton. + +"What did Fudge say?" asked Smith. + +"'THIS TO MY FACE, SIR!' and then, what he was going to do I don't know, +but Frank was quite frightened, and begged pardon so very humbly that +at last Fudge let him off with five hundred lines of Virgil to be done +before Wednesday evening, and then sent him to bed--and there he is, +for he was too much alarmed to play any more tricks." + +"I'd have given something to have seen it," cried one, when the laugh +was a little over. + +"I think," said Jones, "all things considered, that the doctor was +tolerably lenient." + +"Oh! Digby's a little bit of a favorite, I fancy," said Meredith. + +"Not a bit," said Reginald. "What do you say, Hamilton?" + +"Nothing," said Hamilton, shortly. + +"One would think you never liked a joke, Hamilton," said Peters. + +"Nor do I, when it is so low as to be practical," said Hamilton. +"I feel no sympathy whatever with him." + +The event furnished idle conversation enough for that evening, and it +was long before it was forgotten; and, in spite of Frank's reiterated +boast that he did not care, and his apparent participation in the +mirth occasioned by his failure, it required the utmost exercise of +his habitual good-humor to bear equally the untiring teasing of his +school-fellows, and the still more trying coldness and sarcasm of +his master, whose manner very perceptibly altered towards him for +some time after. Casson took care that no one in the lower school +should be ignorant of Frank's defeat, and stimulated the little boys +to tease him--but this impertinence, being an insult to the dignity of +the seniors, was revenged by them as a body, and the juvenile tormentors +were too much awe-struck and alarmed to venture on a repetition of their +offence. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +During Louis' frequent walks with Hamilton, it must not be supposed +that his home and home-doings were left out of the conversation; before +very long, Hamilton had made an intimate mental acquaintance with all +his little friend's family, their habits of life, and every other +interesting particular Louis could remember. Hamilton was an excellent +listener, and never laughed at Louis' fondness for home, and many were +the extracts from home-letters with which he was favored; nay, sometimes +whole letters were inflicted on him. + +Among the many delightful topics of home history, Louis dwelt on few +with more pleasure and enthusiasm than the social musical evenings, +and said so much on them, that Hamilton's curiosity was at length +aroused, after hearing Louis sing two or three times, to wonder what +a madrigal could be like. Louis tried to satisfy this craving by +singing the treble part, and descanting eloquently on the manner in +which the other parts ought to come in; but all in vain he repeated, +"There now, Hamilton, you see this is the _contralto_ part; and when +this bit of the _soprano_ is sung, it comes in so beautifully, and the +bass is crossing it, and playing hide and seek with the tenor." + +Hamilton was obtuse, but at length, by fagging very hard with one +or two boys in the school-room, and getting one of the ushers, who +generally performed a second in all the musical efforts in the school, +to make some kind of bass, Louis presented his choir one evening in the +playground, and made them sing, to the great rapture of the audience. + +After this exhibition, the whole school seemed to have a fever for +madrigals; nothing was heard about the playground but scraps of that +which Louis had taken pains to drill into his party; and one or two +came to Louis and Reginald to learn to take a second part. In play-hours, +nothing seemed thought of but part-singing, and suddenly the propriety +of giving a grand public concert was started; and after a serious debate, +a singing-class was established, Louis being declared president, or +master of the choir. + +We will not say how fussy Louis was on the occasion; but he went about +very busily trying the voices of his school-fellows for a day or two +after his appointment, and picking out the best tones for his pupils. +Casson owned a very fine singing voice, though it was one of the most +rude in speaking, and having been partially initiated in the mystery +before, by Louis was declared a treasure. Frank Digby was another +valuable acquisition; for, joined to an extremely soft, full _contralto_ +voice, he possessed, in common with his many accomplishments, a refined +ear and almost intuitive power of chiming in melodiously with any thing. +Salisbury was a very respectable bass, as things went; and Reginald, who +was certainly incapacitated for singing treble, declared his intention of +assisting him, being quite confident that his voice would be a desirable +adjunct. The members of the class having at last been decided on, a +subscription was raised, and Hamilton was commissioned to purchase what +was necessary, the first convenient opportunity; and accordingly, the +next half-holiday, he obtained leave for Louis to accompany him, and +set off on his commission. He had scarcely left the school-room when +Trevannion met him, and volunteered to accompany him. + +"I shall be very glad of your company," said Hamilton; "I am going to +choose the music. You may stare when I talk of choosing music--it is +well I have so powerful an auxiliary, or I am afraid I should not give +much satisfaction to our committee of taste." + +"What powerful auxiliary are you depending on?" said Trevannion; +"I shall be a poor one." + +"You--oh, yes!" exclaimed Hamilton; "a very poor one, I suspect. +I was speaking of Louis Mortimer; he is going with me." + +"Indeed," said Trevannion, coldly; "you will not want me, then!" + +"Why not?" asked Hamilton. "We shall, I assure you, be very glad of +your company." + +"So will Hutton and Salisbury," said Trevannion; "and I can endure my +own company when I am not wanted;" as he spoke, he walked away. + +Hamilton turned, and looked after his retreating figure, as, drawn up +to its full height, it quickly disappeared in the crowd of boys, who +were chaffering with the old cake-man. His puzzled countenance soon +resumed its accustomed gravity, and with a slight curl of the lip, +he laid his hand on Louis' arm, and drew him on. + +"Trevannion is offended," said Louis. + +"He's welcome," was the rejoinder. + +"But it is on my account, Hamilton," said Louis, anxiously; +"I cannot bear that you should quarrel with him for me." + +"I have not quarrelled," said Hamilton, coldly. "If he chooses +to be offended, I can't help it." + +"But he is an older friend than I am in two senses--let me go after +him and tell him I am not going. I can go with you another afternoon." + +Louis drew his arm away as he spoke, and was starting off, when +Hamilton seized him quite roughly, and exclaimed in an angry tone, +"You shall do no such thing, Louis! Does he suppose I am to have no +one else but himself for my friend--_friend_, indeed!" he repeated. +"It's all indolence, Louis." + +Louis looked up half alarmed, startled at his vehemence. + +"Perhaps," said Hamilton, relaxing his hold, and laughing as he spoke, +"perhaps if I had not been so lazy, I should have found a more suitable +friend before; as it is, I do not yet find Trevannion indispensable--by +no means," he added, scornfully. + +"Dear Hamilton," said Louis, "I shall be quite unhappy if I think I am +the cause of your thinking ill of Trevannion. You used to be such great +friends." + +"None the worse, perhaps, because we are aware of a common absence +of perfection in each other," replied Hamilton, whose countenance had +gradually regained its calmness. "It is foolish to be angry, Louis, +but I was; and now let there be an end of it--I don't mean to forsake +you for all the Trevannions in Christendom." + +They had by this time reached the playground gates, and were here +overtaken by Frank Digby, who had before engaged to be one of the +party. + +"Better late than never," said Louis, in reply to his breathless +excuses. "I had my doubts whether your pressing engagements with +Maister Dunn would allow you to accompany us." + +"Why, I got rid of him pretty soon," said Frank; "only just as I had +wedged myself out of the phalanx, who should appear but Thally." + +"_Who?_" said Louis. + +"Tharah," repeated Frank. + +"Sally Simmons, the boot-cleaner, Louis," said Hamilton; +"you are up to nothing yet." + +"She's a queer stick," said Frank. + +"What a strange description of a woman!" remarked Louis. +"It is as clear as a person being a brick." + +"And so it is," replied Frank; "only it's just the reverse." + +"Up comes Thally with my Sunday boots as bright as her fair hands +could make them, and wanted me to look at a hole she had scraped in +them, nor, though I promised to give her my opinion of her handiwork +when I came back, was I allowed to depart till she had permission +to take them to her 'fayther.'" + +Nothing worthy of record passed during the walk to Bristol till +the trio reached College Green. Here Louis began to look out for +music-shops, while Frank entertained his companions with a running +commentary on the shops, carriages, and people. It was a clear, bright +day, and Clifton seemed to have poured itself out in the Green. + +"Look there, Hamilton, there's a whiskered don! What a pair of +moustaches! Hamilton, where is your eye-glass? Here's Trevannion's +shadow--was there ever such a Paris! Good gracious! as the ladies say, +what a frightful bonnet! Isn't that a love of a silk, Louis? Now, +Hamilton, did you ever see such a guy?" + +Hamilton was annoyed at these remarks, made by no means in a low tone, +and, in his eagerness to change the conversation and get further from +Frank, he unfortunately ran against a lady who was getting out of a +carriage just drawn up in front of a large linen-draper's shop, much +to the indignation of a young gentleman who attended her. + +Hamilton begged pardon, with a crimson face; and, as the lady kindly +assured him she was not hurt, Louis recognized in her his quondam +friend, Mrs. Paget, and darted forward to claim her acquaintance. + +[Illustration: The meeting with Mrs. Paget.] + +"What, Louis! my little Master Louis!" exclaimed the lady; +"I did not expect to see you. Where have you come from?" + +"I am at school, ma'am, at Dr. Wilkinson's, and I had leave to come +out with Hamilton this afternoon. This is Hamilton, ma'am--Hamilton, +this is Mrs. Paget." + +"Our rencontre, Mr. Hamilton," said the lady, "has been most fortunate; +for without this contretemps I should have been quite ignorant of Master +Louis' being so near--you must come and see me, dear. Mr. Hamilton, I +must take him home with me this afternoon." + +"It is impossible, ma'am," said Hamilton, bluntly; "I am answerable +for him, and he must go back with me." + +"Can you be so inexorable?" said Mrs. Paget. "Will you come, too, and +Mr. Francis Digby--I beg your pardon, Mr. Frank, I did not see you." + +"I beg yours, ma'am," replied the affable Frank, with a most engaging +bow; "for I was so taken up with the tempting display on the green this +afternoon, that I only became aware this moment of my approximation to +yourself." + +"The shops are very gay, certainly; but I should have thought that +you young gentlemen would not have cared much for the display. Now, +a tailor's shop would have been much more in your taste." + +"Indeed, ma'am, we came out with the express purpose of buying a silk +for the Lady Louisa." + +"I wonder any lady should commission you to buy any thing for her." + +"Oh!" replied Frank, "I am renowned for my taste; and Hamilton is +equally well qualified. Can you recommend us a good milliner, ma'am?" + +"I am going to look at some bonnets," said the lady. "But, Mr. Frank, I +half suspect you are quizzing. What Lady Louisa are you speaking of?" + +Frank had drawn up his face into a very grave and confidential twist, +when Mrs. Paget's equerry, the young gentleman before mentioned, offered +his arm, and, giving Frank a withering look, warned the lady of the time. + +"You are right. It is getting late," she said. "Good-bye, dear boy. +Where are you now? Dr. Williams?" + +"Dr. Wilkinson's, Ashfield House," said Louis. + +"Henry, will you remember the address?" said the lady. + +The young gentleman grunted some kind of acquiescence; and, +after due adieus, Mrs. Paget walked into the shop. + +"Frank, I'm ashamed of you," said Hamilton. + +"I am sure," replied Frank, "I've been doing all the work; +I'm a walking exhibition of entertainment for man and beast." + +Hamilton would not laugh, and, finding all remonstrances +unavailing, he quickened his pace and walked on in silence +till they reached the music-seller's, where, after some +deliberation, they obtained the requisite music, and, after +a few more errands, began to retrace their steps. + +The walk home was very merry. Louis, having unfastened the bundle, +tried over some of the songs, and taught Frank readily the contralto +of two. Then he wanted to try Hamilton, but this in the open air +Hamilton stoutly resisted, though he promised to make an effort at +some future time. After Frank and Louis had sung their duets several +times over to their own satisfaction while sitting under a hedge, +all the party grew silent: there was something so beautiful in the +stillness and brightness, that none felt inclined to disturb it. +At last, Louis suddenly began Eve's hymn: + + "How cheerful along the gay mead + The daisy and cowslip appear! + The flocks, as they carelessly feed, + Rejoice in the spring of the year; + The myrtles that shade the gay bowers, + The herbage that springs from the sod, + Trees, plants, cooling fruits, and sweet flowers, + All rise to the praise of my God. + + "Shall man, the great master of all, + The only insensible prove? + Forbid it, fair gratitude's call! + Forbid it, devotion and love! + THEE, Lord, who such wonders canst raise, + And still canst destroy with a nod, + My lips shall incessantly praise, + My soul shall be wrapped in my God." + DR. ARNE. + +Frank joined in the latter part of the first verse, but was silent +in the second. + +"Why did you not go on, Frank?" asked Hamilton. + +"It was too sweet," said Frank. "Louis, I envy you your thoughts." + +"Do you?" said Louis, looking up quickly in his cousin's face, with +a bright expression of pleasure. + +"When you began that song," continued Frank, "I was thinking of +those lines, + + 'These are Thy glorious works, Parent of good, + Almighty, Thine this universal frame, + Thus wondrous fair; Thyself how wondrous then!'" + +"'Thyself how wondrous then!'" repeated Hamilton, reverentially. + +"I don't know how it is, Louis," said Frank; "in cathedrals, and +in beautiful scenery, when a grave fit comes over me, I sometimes +think I should like to be religious." + +Louis squeezed his hand, but did not speak. + +"Take care, Frank," said Hamilton with some emotion. "Be very, very +careful not to mistake sentiment for religion. I am sure it is so easy +to imagine the emotion excited by beauty of sight or sound, religious, +that we cannot, be too careful in examining the _reason_ of such +feelings." + +"But how, Hamilton?" said Frank. "You would not check such impressions?" + +"No; it is better that our thoughts should be carried by beauty to the +source of all beauty; but to a poetical, susceptible imagination this +is often the case where there is not the least vital religion, Frank. +The deist will gaze on the splendid landscape, and bow in reverence +to the God of nature, but a Christian's thoughts should fly to his +God at all times; the light and beauty of the scenes of nature should +be within himself. When a person's whole religion consists in these +transient emotions, he ought to mistrust it, Digby." + +"But, dear Hamilton," said Louis, after a few minutes' silence, +"we ought to be thankful when God gives us the power of enjoying +the beautiful things He has made. Would it not be ungrateful to +check every happy feeling of gratitude and joy for the power to see, +and hear, and enjoy, with gladness and thankfulness, the loveliness +and blessings around?" + +"The height of ingratitude, dear Louis," said Hamilton, emphatically. +"But I am sure you understand me." + +"To be sure," said Louis. "Many good gifts our Almighty Father has +given us, and one perfect gift, and the good gifts should lead us to +think more of the perfect ONE. I often have thought, Hamilton, of that +little girl's nice remark that I read to you last Sunday, about the +good and perfect gifts." + +Hamilton did not reply, and for a minute or two longer they sat in +silence, when the report of a gun at a little distance roused them, +and almost at the same instant, a little bird Louis had been watching +as it flew into a large tree in front of them, fell wounded from branch +to branch, until it rested on the lowest, where a flutter among the +leaves told of its helpless sufferings. + +"I must get it, Hamilton!" cried Louis, starting up. "It is wounded." + +"The branch is too high," said Hamilton. "I dare say the poor thing is +dying; we cannot do it any good." + +"Indeed I must try!" exclaimed Louis, scrambling partly up the immense +trunk of the tree, and slipping down much more quickly. "I wish there +were something to catch hold of, or to rest one's foot against." + +"You'll never get up," said Hamilton, laughing; "if you must get it, +mount my shoulders." + +As he spoke he came under the tree, and Louis, availing himself of +the proffered assistance, succeeded in reaching and bringing down the +wounded bird, which he did with many expressions of gratitude to Hamilton. + +"I am sure you ought to be obliged," said Frank. "Royalty lending itself +out as a ladder is an unheard-of anomaly. Pray, what are you going to do +with cock-sparrow now you have got him?" + +Louis only replied by laying some grass and leaves in the bottom of +his cap, and putting the bird on this extempore bed. He then seized +Hamilton's arm and urged him forward. Hamilton responded to Louis' +anxiety with some queries on the expediency of assisting wounded +birds if pleasant walks were to be thereby curtailed, and Frank, +after suggesting, to Louis' horror, the propriety of making a pie +of his favorite, walked on, singing, + + "A little cock-sparrow sat upon a tree," + +which, with variations, lasted till they reached the playground gates, +where Louis ran off to find Clifton, that he might enter into proper +arrangements for due attendance on his sparrow's wants. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin; but he that + refraineth his lips is wise."--Prov. x. 19. + + "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, + and not thine own lips."--Prov. xxvii. 2. + + +We are now considering Louis Mortimer under prosperity; a state +in which it is much more difficult to be watchful, than in that +of adversity. When he first came to school, his struggle was to +be consistent in maintaining his principles against ridicule and +fear of his fellow-creatures' judgment. In that he nearly failed; +and then came the hard trial we have related, the furnace from +whose fires he came so bright: and another trial awaited him, but +different still. + +By the beauty of conduct Divine grace _alone_ had enabled him to observe, +he now won the regard of the majority of his school-fellows; and no one +meddled with him or his opinions. He was loved by many; liked by most, +and unmolested by the rest. We are told, "When a man's ways please the +Lord, even his enemies are at peace with him;" and this was Louis' +case. If a few remarks were now and then made on the singularity and +stiffness of his notions, the countenance of the seniors, and the +general estimation in which he was held, prevented any annoyance or +interference. His feet were now on smooth ground, and the sky was +bright above his head; and he began to forget that a storm had +ever been. + +One day between school-hours, when Louis and his brother were diligently +drilling the chorus, they were summoned to the drawing-room, where they +found the doctor standing talking with a lady, in the large bay-window. +Her face was turned towards the prospect beyond, and she did not see +them enter; and near her, leaning on the top of a high-backed chair, +stood a tall gentlemanly youth, whom Louis immediately recognized as +Mrs. Paget's esquire. The lady was speaking as they entered, and her +gentle lady-like tones fell very pleasantly on Louis' ears, and made +him sure he should like her, if even the words she had chosen had been +otherwise. + +"I have been quite curious to see him; my sister has said so much, +poor little fellow!" + +Dr. Wilkinson at this moment became aware of the presence of his pupils, +and, turning round, introduced them to the lady, and the lady in turn +to them, as Mrs. Norman. + +"I am personally a stranger to you, Master Mortimer," said Mrs. Norman; +"but I have often heard of you. You know Mrs. Paget?" + +"Oh, yes!" replied Louis. + +"She is my sister, and, not being able to come herself to-day, she +commissioned me to bring an invitation for you and your brother to +spend the rest of this day with her, if Dr. Wilkinson will kindly +allow it." + +[Illustration: The invitation.] + +Louis looked at Dr. Wilkinson; and Reginald answered for himself-- + +"I am much obliged, ma'am; and, if you please, thank Mrs. Paget +for me, but as it is not a half-holiday, I shall not be able to +come this afternoon. I shall be very glad to come when school is +over, if Dr. Wilkinson will allow me." + +Dr. Wilkinson smiled. "Mrs. Norman will, I am sure, excuse a +school-boy's anxiety to retain a hard-earned place in his class," +he said. "I have given my permission, you may do as you please." + +"Mrs. Paget will be so much disappointed," said Mrs. Norman; +"are you anxious about your class, too, Master Louis?" + +Louis blushed, hesitated, and then looked from Reginald to the doctor, +but Dr. Wilkinson gave no assistance. Louis demurred a little; for he +had a place to lose that he had gained only the day before, and that, +probably, he might not be able to gain from Clifton for the rest of the +half-year. But at length, on another persuasive remark from Mrs. Norman, +he accepted the invitation in rather a confused manner; and, it being +decided that Reginald was to join them at dinner, he went away to make +some alteration in his dress. When he returned, Mrs. Norman carried +him off in her carriage, which was waiting at the door, having first +introduced him to her companion, as her son, Henry Norman. + +During the ride to Clifton, Louis became very communicative. He liked +Mrs. Norman very much, she was so very sweet, and now and then made +little remarks that reminded Louis of home; and then he was sure she +liked him; even if he had not guessed that the few words he first heard +from her lips referred to him, her very kind full eyes and affectionate +manner spoke of unusual interest, and Louis felt very anxious to rise +in her estimation. Things that are not sinful in themselves, become +sins from the accompanying motives; the desire of favor in the eyes +of so excellent a person was not wrong, had it been mixed with a wish +to adorn the doctrine of Christ, and thankfulness for the love and favor +given; but now Louis talked of things which, though he really believed +them, and of feelings which, though he had once really experienced them, +were not now the breathings of a heart that overflowed with all its +fulness of gratitude. He had quickness enough to see what was most +precious in his new friend's sight, and tried to ingratiate himself +with her, by dwelling on these subjects, and showing how much he had +felt on them. _Had felt_, for he had "left his first love." + +Let it not be supposed that Louis meant to deceive--he deceived himself +as much as any one; but he was in that sad state when a Christian has +backslidden so far as to live on the remembrance of old joys, instead +of the actual possession of new. + +The carriage stopped, at length, at a house in York Crescent, where the +trio alighted. Mrs. Norman led Louis up stairs into the drawing-room, +while her son, who had scarcely spoken a word during the drive, stayed +a minute or two at the house-door, and then ran down the nearest flight +of steps leading to the carriage-road, jumped into the carriage, which +was just driving off, and paid a visit to the stables. + +The room into which Louis entered was very large, and littered so +with all descriptions of chairs, stools, and non-descript elegancies, +that it required some little ingenuity to reach the further end without +upsetting the one, or being overthrown by the others. Near one of the +three windows, reclining on a sofa, was Mrs. Paget, who welcomed Louis +with her usual warmth. + +"You see," said she, "I am a prisoner. I sprained my ankle the very +day I saw you; and I am positively forbidden to walk. But where is +Master Reginald?" + +Louis informed Mrs. Paget of his brother's intentions, and, after +expressing her regrets at his non-appearance, the lady continued: + +"Now, sit near me, and let us have a little talk; I want to hear +how you are going on, and how many prizes you are likely to get. +But, perhaps, my dear, you would like to go on the downs, or into +the town, or to----Where's Henry, I wonder: where is Mr. Norman?" +she asked of a servant who came to remove a little tray that stood +beside her. + +"Just gone round to the stables, ma'am." + +"Dear, how unfortunate! You can't think what a beautiful little horse +he has; I tell him it is quite a lady's horse. He will show it to you. +I can't think how he could go away this afternoon. You'll be very dull, +my dear--but my sister will take you out." + +Louis assured her he should enjoy sitting with her. + +"That is very kind of you; very few of your age would care about +staying with a lame, fidgety, old woman." + +Louis protested against the two last epithets, and as Mrs. Norman +had left the room he began talking of the pleasant ride he had had +with her, and how much he loved her. + +Mrs. Paget warmly admitted every thing, only adding that in some +things she was a little too particular. + +"But, dear me! you must be very hungry," she exclaimed, interrupting +herself. "How could I forget? Just ring the bell, dear boy--there's +lunch down stairs. Oh, never mind, here is Charlotte." + +As she spoke, Mrs. Norman re-entered, and took Louis down to lunch. + +When he returned to the drawing-room, Mrs. Paget had her sofa moved +so as to face the window, and a little table was placed in front of +her. A low armchair was near her for Louis, and another quite in the +window Mrs. Norman took possession of, when she had provided herself +with some work. + +"Oh, what a beautiful view!" exclaimed Louis, as he looked for the +first time out of the window. "How very, very beautiful! I think this +is the pleasantest situation in Clifton." + +"It is very beautiful," said Mrs. Norman. "But you have a magnificent +prospect at Dr. Wilkinson's." + +"Dr. Wilkinson's is a very nice place, I believe, is it not?" said +Mrs. Paget. "It is a pity such a pretty place should be a school." + +"Nay," said Mrs. Norman, smiling; "why should you grudge the poor +boys their pleasure?" + +"I don't think they appreciate it," said Mrs. Paget; "and, poor +fellows, they are always so miserable that they might as well be +miserable somewhere else." + +"We are not at all miserable after the first week," said Louis. + +"I thought you were not to go to school again, my dear," said +Mrs. Paget. + +"So I thought, myself, but papa wished me to go, and he is the +best judge." + +"Well, dear it's a very nice thing that you are wise enough to see +it,--and you are happy?" + +"I should be very ungrateful not to be so ma'am; Dr. Wilkinson and +all the boys are so kind to me this half. It is so different from +the first quarter spent at school." + +"They are kind, are they? Well, I dare say; they couldn't help it, +I'm sure," replied Mrs. Paget. "I suppose you will have the medal +again this half year. I am sure you ought to have it to make up." + +"Oh, but I shouldn't have it to make up for last half, ma'am," +said Louis, smiling. + +"But you will get it, I dare say," said the lady. + +"I don't know," said Louis; "perhaps--I think I have a very good +chance yet, but we never can tell exactly what Dr. Wilkinson thinks +about us. There are only one or two I am afraid of." + +"I should think you needn't be afraid of any," said Mrs. Paget. "I +told you, Charlotte, about that story we heard at Heronhurst last +summer--dear boy--you know he bore--" + +"Yes," interrupted Mrs. Norman. "You have a large number of +school-fellows, Master Louis," she added. + +"Yes, ma'am, there are seventy-six of us this half, so many that +we hardly know the names of the lower school." + +"Is that M. _Ferrar_ or _Ferrers_ there still?" asked Mrs. Paget. + +"Yes, ma'am, and he is so much improved, you cannot think." + +Louis looked very earnestly at her as she spoke, and she put her +hand on his forehead, stroking his hair off, while she replied, + +"He is very happy in having so kind a friend, I am sure; he ought +to have been expelled." + +"Oh no, ma'am--I think kindness was much the best way," said Louis; +and remembering how incautiously he had spoken of him before, he said +all that he could in his praise. + +The conversation then turned upon the school in general, and it +was astonishing to watch how much Louis said indirectly in his own +praise, and how nearly every thing seemed to turn in the direction +of _dear self_, in the history of his lessons, progress, and rivals--and +even when it branched off to his friends, among whom in the first rank +stood Hamilton. + +"You would so like Hamilton, he is so kind to me. I told you about him +before," said Louis, eagerly. + +"Is that the young gentleman who had charge of you the other day?" +asked Mrs. Paget. + +Louis answered in the affirmative. + +"I did not much like him, only one doesn't judge people fairly +at first, often." + +"Oh, Hamilton's such a good creature!" exclaimed Louis, in his energy +letting fall one end of a skein of silk he was holding. He gathered it +up, apologized, and resumed his defence of his friend. + +"He is, perhaps, a little blunt, but he is so sincere, and so steady +and kind, Dr. Wilkinson is very, _very_ fond of him, I know; he +makes me sit by him every night, and I learn my lessons with him. +I am sure if it were not for him I should be terribly behind Clifton." + +"I saw them coming out of Redland Chapel yesterday morning," said +Mrs. Paget. "At least I saw Mr. Hamilton, but I did not see you." + +Louis informed her of the division of the school on Sunday, and she +continued, + +"I noticed a very aristocratic young gentleman with Mr. Hamilton--quite +a contrast, so very handsome and elegant; who was he?" + +"Was he tall?" asked Louis; "and dressed in black, with a light +waistcoat?" + +"I don't know what waistcoat he had," said Mrs. Paget, laughing. +"His dress was in perfect gentlemanly taste. He was, I should think, +tall for his age, and had dark hair and eyes." + +"I have no doubt it was Trevannion; he is the handsomest fellow in the +school, except Salisbury." + +"That he is not," said Mrs. Paget, significantly. + +Louis blushed, and felt rather foolish, certainly not wholly insensible +to the injudicious hint. + +"Only Fred Salisbury is so different: he is not elegant, and yet he +is not awkward; he is rough and ready, and says all kinds of vulgar +things. He is very much liked among us, but I don't think Trevannion +is, though he gets his own way a great deal: he thinks nobody is equal +to himself, I know, but I am sure he is not a favorite." + +"Why not?" said Mrs. Paget. + +"He is so very selfish, and so contemptuous, and so dreadfully offended +if Hamilton does not treat him with the deference he wants. I think we +know more of each other than any one else does, and no one would think, +in company, when Trevannion is smiling and talking so cleverly, that he +is so unamiable." + +"He does not look like an ill-tempered person," said the lady. + +"I don't think he is what is generally called an ill-tempered person; +for he never puts himself into passions, nor does he seem to mind many +things that make others very angry. But he is sometimes dreadfully +disdainful and haughty when any one offends him, and especially when +Hamilton seems to like anybody as well as himself. Only last Saturday +he was so much affronted because Hamilton had asked leave for me to go +into Bristol with him. When he found I was coming, he wouldn't go with +us. I think he is very jealous of me, though I begged Hamilton to let +me stay at home, and I was just going after him to call him back, only +Hamilton wouldn't let me. I did not like to see such old friends quarrel. +I am sure I would very gladly have stayed at home to keep peace." + +"I am quite sure of that," said Mrs. Paget. "But how came your perfect +Mr. Hamilton to choose such a friend?" + +"I have often wondered," said Louis; "and last Saturday, when that +happened that I told you of just now, and Hamilton (he is so kind) +said he wouldn't give me up for anybody, he said he thought he made +Trevannion his friend because he was too lazy to find another for +himself." + +"_Too lazy to find another?_" repeated Mrs. Paget. + +"Hamilton does not like taking trouble, generally," said Louis; +"it is his greatest fault, I think. He takes things as they come. +I have often wished he would concern himself a little more about +the wrong things that go on among us. You know it would be of no +use my speaking about them, though I try sometimes; it is so much +easier to do right when the great boys support you." + +"So it is, dear," said Mrs. Paget, kindly. + +Mrs. Norman had scarcely spoken during the whole conversation, though +she had once or twice laid down her work and looked very gravely at +Louis; but he had not noticed it; for he was so elated with himself, +and the relations of his own importance at school, and the idea of his +superiority above his school-fellows, that there was no room for any +thing else in his head, and he went on with the firm conviction that +both the ladies were, like every one else, extremely delighted and +interested in him and his sentiments. There had been another auditor +in the room almost ever since the beginning of the long chat, and that +was Henry Norman, who, when he had seen his horse and lunched, entered +the room unperceived by Louis or Mrs. Paget, and passed noiselessly +along to the furthest window, where he sat, with a book, hid by the +curtains from a careless glance. A few words caught his ear as he +was finding out his place; and, whether the matter of the first page +required deep consideration and digestion or not, we cannot pretend +to determine, not knowing the nature of the chosen volume, but it is +certain that that leaf was not turned over that afternoon, and the +eyes that professed to convey its meaning to the mind of the reader +not unfrequently wandered on the hills in the distant prospect, or, +on being recalled, on the nearer objects of Mrs. Paget's sofa--the +skein of silk and the pair of hands, which were the only portions +visible to him of the loquacious little visitor. That he was listening +with interest of an equivocal nature might be gathered from the +frequent, impatient knitting of the brow, biting of the lips, and +sudden laying down of the book altogether; but there he sat till Louis, +having flown off from Hamilton to the general school failings, had +finished relating the history of Frank Digby's memorable Saturday +night's exploit, and concluded by an emphatic delivery of his upright +sentiments on the heinousness of practical jokes. He paused a minute +to take breath, after a Philippic that elicited a small dose of +flattery from Mrs. Paget, and, with a face flushed with satisfaction +and excitement, stooped to pick up a fallen pair of scissors, when +Mrs. Norman, laying down her work looked again at him and uttered a +sound indicative of an intention of speaking. This time Louis was +fully aware of an expression in her countenance far from satisfactory, +but she had not time to express her sentiments, for at this moment +Reginald was announced, and a general move took place. Henry Norman +came forward and welcomed him, and then took him and Louis out on +the Crescent till dinner-time. Here they were joined by some of +Norman's acquaintances, whom he introduced to his visitors. Louis +thought uncomfortably, for a few minutes, of Mrs. Norman's look of +disapprobation; but he persuaded himself that there was nothing meant +by it, and soon became very lively. There was something he did not like +about Norman, who, though perfectly well-bred and attentive, showed a +degree of indifference and disregard to any thing he said or did, that +did not altogether suit Louis' present state of mind. If Louis addressed +him, he listened very politely, but with a slight, sarcastic smile, and +either returned a very short and cool reply, or, if the remark did not +require one, an inclination of the head, and turned immediately to one +of his other companions. Reginald did not much fancy him; but, upon the +whole, they managed to pass the time very pleasantly till they were +summoned to dinner. + +Several persons came in in the evening, and Louis was called upon by +Mrs. Paget to sing, "_Where the bee sucks_." This led to other +songs, and Louis attracted the notice of a musical gentleman, who was +much pleased with him, and who gave him a general invitation to his +house. Louis was in the midst of his thanks when Reginald summoned him +to go home, and, in spite of Mrs. Paget's remonstrances and offers of +her carriage, carried his point. + +"Well, Louis, how did you get on?" said Reginald, as they were walking +home; "I think you must have been dreadfully bored with holding skeins +and talking fine for Mrs. Paget's edification for two hours at least, +to say nothing of all the stuffing you have had this evening." + +"Oh! I have been very happy," said Louis. "Do you know Mr. Fraser has +invited me to his musical parties?" + +"I wish you joy, I am sure. What a nice woman Mrs. Norman seems!" + +"Yes," said Louis, doubtfully. + +"_Yes_--that sounds very much like _no_," said Reginald. + +"I did not mean it." Louis recalled her manner lately towards him, +and mentally went over the conversation of the day. + +"Well, what's the matter?" asked Reginald. + +"I am afraid I have been very foolish; I talk so foolishly sometimes, +Reginald--I said so many foolish things this afternoon. I don't think +Mrs. Norman likes me." + +"Rubbish! stuff and nonsense! Just like you, Louis, always imagining +somebody's displeased with you--I won't hear a word more; I have no +patience with you." + +"Then you don't think she seemed vexed with me?" + +"Not I; and if she were, what's the odds? What difference need she make +in your happiness? What a wretched creature you'll make of yourself, +Louis, if you think so much of the opinion of every one--a person, too, +you may never see again." + +Louis was relieved, and talked on other matters with his brother till +they reached home. He was a little annoyed to hear that Hamilton had +expressed considerable vexation at his going with Mrs. Norman before +afternoon school, and this, combined with the excitement and vanity +under which he labored, disturbed considerably the tranquillity of +his slumbers, and prevented his earnestly seeking that aid he so much +needed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + "A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful + spirit concealeth the matter."--Prov. xi. 13. + + "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love, but he that + repeateth a matter separateth very friends."--Prov. xvii. 9. + + "When pride cometh, then cometh shame."--Prov. xi. 2. + + "A haughty spirit goeth before a fall."--Prov. xvi. 18. + + +Perhaps those who have read the first part of the story of Louis +Mortimer will remember that I there endeavored to explain the nature +of the Christian's warfare, and that I stated that there were sad +periods when the Christian, too confident in his own strength, perhaps +too much inclined to exult in his victories as evincing some latent +power in _himself_, becomes less watchful, and gradually falls back +in his glorious course. It is certain, that if we do not advance +we go back, and oh, how sad it is that redeemed sinners, called by +so holy a name as that of Christian, should, in any degree, forget +to whom they owe all their might to do well, as well as their final +salvation, that they should relax, in the least, their prayers, their +efforts in the strength of the Holy Spirit to press forward towards +the mark of the prize of their high calling. It is not that all those +who thus sadly backslide are allowed to fall into open sin. Many, by +the great mercy of their Lord, are preserved from thus dishonoring +His holy name and cause; but alas! too often is there a falling off +in devotion, in singleness of heart, in perseverance, in watchfulness +against besetting sins, when the prayers are fewer and colder, the +praises fainter, and the Christian, after languishing for a time +in this divided state, hardly making an effort to return, becomes +conscious, to his alarm, how far he has wandered, and feels with +our sweet poet, in the bitterness of his spirit, + + + "Where is the blessedness I knew, + When first I saw the Lord? + Where is the soul-refreshing view + Of Jesus and His word? + + "The peaceful hours I once enjoyed + How sweet their memory still! + But they have left an _aching void_ + _The world can never fill_." + +For the next fortnight the singing class was indefatigable, and owing +to the cultivated taste of Louis and Reginald, and the superior musical +education of one or two others, among whom Mr. Witworth and Frank were +not the least in importance, the members at length considered themselves +competent to exhibit before an audience. + +Accordingly, after Dr. Wilkinson had been favored with a specimen +of their skill, his permission was obtained to invite such of their +friends as they chose. + +Tickets of admission, which had been prepared before-hand, were then +sent out in various directions, accompanied by notes of invitation. +As soon as Mrs. Paget's arrived at its destination, a most kind answer +was dispatched to Louis as president, adding a request to be allowed +to provide refreshment for the performers; and, as her proposal was +hailed with three cheers, and gracefully accepted by Louis, on the +morning of the eventful day came grapes, peaches, biscuits, and wine, +which were very elegantly set out in the class-room by the committee. + +The concert passed off as propitiously as could be wished. Hamilton, +who, from utter want of ear, was totally incapacitated for singing, +acted the part of steward with Trevannion, Meredith, and one or two +others, with great decorum, and actually stood near Mrs. Paget during +part of the performance, listening quietly to Louis' praises with such +evident interest, that a few words of commendation he uttered quite +won the lady's heart, though she had certainly been prejudiced against +him before. It was remarked by some, that the doctor did not seem much +pleased with Louis' manners on this occasion; for, when Mrs. Paget, +between the parts, began to praise Louis' extraordinary musical +talents (as she was pleased to call them), and to relate how much +he pleased the company at her house, Dr. Wilkinson coolly replied, +that he considered he had been well taught, but doubted his having +more than an average good taste and general ability; and as his eye +turned upon Louis, who was moving rather affectedly and conceitedly +from rank to rank on his way to the refreshment-room, his forehead +wrinkled ominously, and his lips became more tightly compressed. He +was observed to watch Louis for a minute, and then turn suddenly away +as if disgusted. + +The madrigal concert took place about the end of the quarter, and on the +following Saturday afternoon, the monotony of Ashfield House was varied +by the arrival of a new scholar, in the person of Mr. Henry Norman, who +was placed as a parlor boarder with the doctor. + +When Hamilton and Louis returned from the playground together, +they discovered this young gentleman sitting on the table, carefully +balancing the doctor's chair with one of his feet, deeply immersed +in the contents of a new book with only partially cut leaves, left +by accident on the table. His back was turned towards them, and he +was so engrossed in the twofold occupation of reading and keeping the +heavy chair from falling, that he did not notice their entrance, and +Louis, not recognizing his figure at first, nor knowing that he was +expected, left the business of welcoming the stranger to his senior. + +"Our new school-fellow, Louis, I suppose," said Hamilton, in a low tone, +as he scrutinized the lengthy figure before him. "I know that fellow, +Louis--he is a friend of yours." + +Before Louis had time to answer, the low murmur had disturbed +Norman; and, looking up without altering his position in the least, +he acknowledged his acquaintance with Louis by a nod, and a careless +"How do you do?" + +Louis advanced directly with a warm welcome and out-stretched hand +that was met by two fingers of Norman's left hand, tendered in a +manner so offensive to Hamilton that he debated whether he should +turn the intruder out of window, or walk himself out of the door; +and concluded by drawing back in disdainful anger. + +Louis was not so ready to take offence, though he was sensitive +enough to feel a little hurt; and, turning round to his friend, +introduced Norman to him. + +Norman took a steady quick glance at Hamilton, and, though his lips +were full of propriety, there was something like a sarcastic smile +in his eyes. + +"You are not altogether a stranger to me, Mr. Hamilton, though, +I imagine, I am to you," he said, as he allowed the chair to regain +its legs, and got off the table, throwing the book on another, +several yards distant. + +"I must confess you have the advantage of me," said Hamilton, +coldly. "I was not aware that I had the honor of being known +to you." + +"I assure you, then, that you had that honor.--Dear me!" he +added, as he threw himself into the doctor's chair, stretching +out his legs to their utmost length: "absurd of me to sit on that +table, when I might have initiated myself so admirably into the +art of reading made easy. Comfortable chair this of Fudge's--I beg +his pardon, Dr. Wilkinson's. I am so accustomed to that elegant +_nom du guerre_ that I occasionally forget myself. The old +gentleman knows how to make himself comfortable; I suppose that +book belongs to him. I took the liberty of cutting a few leaves." + +"Which will be a peculiar satisfaction to him, doubtless," said +Hamilton; "and perhaps you may have the pleasure of hearing so +from his own lips." + +"_Verbum sat_," replied Norman. "It is a peculiar gratification, +Mr. Hamilton, to discover that your natural good sense is overcoming +your usual disinclination to notice those things which are not +_comme il faut_ in your school-fellows, thereby depriving them of the +aid of your countenance and example in their little endeavors; and +I feel peculiar satisfaction in thus early becoming the recipient of +the good services bestowed by the blunt sincerity and kindliness +of your nature." + +Hamilton crimsoned and stared; but there was nothing insolent in the +tone; it was inexplicable. That something was meant he could not doubt; +and presently, perceiving that Louis was uncomfortable and embarrassed, +he said haughtily, + +"I really am at a loss to understand you, sir; but your manner towards +your friend and mine is particularly unpleasant. What you may have +been used to I cannot pretend to know; but, whatever it be, you will +be kind enough to remember that here we are accustomed to the society +of gentlemen, and to treat each other as such." + +"My dear Mr. Hamilton," said Norman, blandly, slightly moving as if to +arrest Hamilton's progress towards the door, "you entirely misunderstand +me. Master Mortimer and I now understand each other better. Indeed, I am +laid under a weighty obligation to Master Louis for my acquaintance with +your royal self and various members of your court; and could not possibly +have any intention of quarrelling with so kind a benefactor. As for you, +I have made up my mind to know and like you. Shake hands, will you?" + +Hamilton hesitatingly touched the proffered hand, and looking at his +watch at the same moment, wondered to Louis why tea was not ready. + +"There's the bell!" exclaimed Louis; and seizing Hamilton's arm, +he hurried off, leaving Norman to follow at his leisure, as neither +Hamilton nor himself felt at all inclined to be ceremonious. + +Louis felt a little afraid of Norman, though he did not exactly +know why. + +Norman did not follow them immediately; and Hamilton had nearly +emptied his first cup of tea when he came in, in company with +Trevannion and Frank Digby, the latter of whom had a marvellous +facility for making acquaintances on the shortest notice. They +sat down at the end of one of the three long tables, and continued +laughing and talking the whole of the tea-time, after which Norman +went to his own tea with the doctor. + +"So, Louis, Norman's come!" exclaimed Reginald, pouncing upon his +brother just as he reached the school-room door. + +"Is he a friend of yours?" asked Trevannion. + +"He is, and he is not. Make that riddle out at your leisure," +replied Reginald, gayly. + +"Oh, that settles the matter!" said Trevannion. + +"What matter?" asked Louis. + +A look of the most withering description was the only answer +Louis received; it was enough, however, to deter him from +repeating his question. + +Happily, Reginald did not see it. + +"How do you like our new-comer, Trevannion?" asked Hamilton, +linking his arm in his friend's, preparatory to a short, after-tea +turn in the playground. "There is something very peculiar about +him--insolent, I think." + +"He's a nice fellow, in my opinion," said Trevannion. + +"A very knowing chap," said Salisbury. "Has he been here before?" + +"No," said Frank Digby; "but somebody's been kind enough to give +the full particulars, history, and lives, peccadilloes, _et cetera_, +_et cetera_, _et cetera_, of the gentlemen, generally, and individually, +at Ashfield Academy. Why, Hamilton, he called Trevannion and Salisbury +by their names, without any introduction, and is as much up to every +thing here as yourself, I believe." + +"I don't much fancy him," said Hamilton; "and strongly suspect he won't +add much to our comfort." + +"He doesn't like your pet, I suppose, then," said Trevannion, +marking the slight color that rose in Hamilton's face. "He told +me of your strange rencontre in the class-room; he has taken a +fancy, I am sure, to you." + +Hamilton did not look particularly delighted, and changed the subject +to one on which he and Trevannion conversed most amicably till past +their usual time for re-entering the study. + +Norman did not come among them that evening till prayer-time; and, +to his great satisfaction, Louis saw very little of him for the next +day or two. + +One day, during the first week of Norman's initiation, at the close +of the morning school, a party similar in size and kind to that which +had the honor of greeting Louis on his arrival the preceding half-year, +was assembled on the raised end of the school-room. Frank and Salisbury +were both of them seated on the top of a desk; the former, generally +silent, relieved himself by sundry twists and contortions, smacking of +the lips, sighs, and turnings of the eyes, varied by a few occasional +thumps administered to Salisbury, who sat by him, apparently unconscious +of the bellicose attitude of his neighbor, listening attentively, with +a mixed expression of concern and anger on his honest countenance, to +Norman, who, on this occasion, was the principal speaker. Louis was +in the room, at his desk, hunting for a top; but too intent upon his +search, and too far off to hear more of the topics that engrossed so +much attention, than a few words that conveyed no impression to him, +being simply, "Ferrers--my aunt--clever--hypocritical." + +Just as he had given up all hope of finding his top, Hamilton came up +to him. "Louis," said he, "if Trevannion goes out with me, I shall have +time to hear your Herodotus before afternoon school, directly after +dinner, mind." + +"I shan't forget;--oh, Hamilton, you haven't such a thing as another +top, have you? Reginald's broken two of mine, and I can't find my other." + +"I do happen to have taken care of yours for you, you careless boy. +Here is my desk-key, you will find it there; you can give me the key +after dinner." + +With many thanks, Louis proceeded to Hamilton's desk, and Hamilton went +up to Trevannion, who was one of the party at the upper end of the room. +Louis was now so near the speakers, as to be unavoidably within hearing +of all that passed; and, astonished by the first few words, he proceeded +no further in his errand than putting the key into the lock. + +"Are you inclined for a walk, Trevannion?" asked Hamilton, as he +reached him. + +Trevannion was leaning against the doctor's desk, in a more perturbed +state than his calm self usually exhibited. As Hamilton spoke, he turned +round, stared, and drew himself proudly up, replying, in a tone of great +bitterness, "Thank you, Mr. Hamilton, but perhaps if you _will_ take the +trouble, you may find some one better suited to you than myself." + +"What is the matter?" said Hamilton. + +"Some of your friends appear to have better memories than yourself," +replied Trevannion, folding his arms, and assuming an indifferent air; +"you will, perhaps, not find mine quite so capricious; I am much obliged +for all favors bestowed, Mr. Hamilton. Perhaps you considered me too +lazy to look out for another friend; I am active enough, I assure you, +to provide myself with one, and to release you from the irksome ties +your indolence has imposed upon you." + +Hamilton looked, as he was, seriously annoyed. He did not remember the +expression that had given so much offence, and was quite at a loss to +understand the mystery:--he looked from one to the other for explanation; +at one time inclined to walk away as proudly as Trevannion could have +done; at another, his more moderate feelings triumphing, urged him into +an inquiry. + +"I really cannot understand you," he said, at length; "do explain +yourself. If I have done any thing to offend you, let me know what +it is, and, if reasonable, I am willing to apologize." + +Trevannion sneered. "Apologies can do little good--eh, Norman?" + +"If you know what this is, Norman," said Hamilton, "I must beg you +to enlighten me." + +"I have no business to interfere," said Norman, carelessly. + +"What a tragedy scene! What's the matter?" cried Reginald Mortimer, +who came up at the moment. "You lazy-bones of a Louis! where are you?" + +"The matter is simply this," said Frank Digby: "Norman has heard from +a veracious source that Mr. Hamilton once said, in confidence (between +you and me, you know), that the reason he retained Mr. Philip Trevannion +in the rank of first bosom-friend, was because he was too lazy to look +out for one better suited to his tastes: consequently, as Mr. Trevannion +can aver that Mr. Hamilton never confided this matter to him, it is +certain that some one has betrayed confidence reposed in him--oh, yes! +oh, yes!" + +"What a fuss about a nonsensical report!" exclaimed Reginald. +"Do you believe it?" + +"Does he deny it?" said Trevannion, tuning to Hamilton. + +Hamilton's color rose; and, after a little pause, in which he carefully +considered what he had said, he replied, "No, I do not deny having said +something like this one day when Trevannion and I had fallen out; but +how much it was more than a momentary fit of anger our long friendship +ought to decide. Trevannion, we have been friends too long for such a +silly thing as this to separate us. I am very sorry it should ever have +escaped my lips; but if every thing we say in a moment of impatience and +vexation were repeated and minded, there would be very little friendship +in the world. Come, Trevannion, shake hands, and forget it for auld lang +syne, as I will do when any one brings such a tale to me." + +As Hamilton spoke, his eye rested on Norman, fired with indignation, +and lighted a second on the principal offender, but no longer, for he +did not wish to draw Louis into notice. + +"It may seem a little nonsensical matter to you, Hamilton," said +Trevannion, putting his hand behind him; "but these little things +exhibit more than the greatest professions. I am not too lazy to +cure myself of old habits, if you are." + +"I never make professions," said Hamilton, proudly; "and I have done." + +He was turning away, when a sudden motion from Jones arrested him. +Jones had been standing silently by Trevannion, and now, leaping over +a desk, seized Louis, and dragged him in the centre of the group, to +the great astonishment of both himself and his brother, exclaiming: + +"Here's the offender, the tell-tale, the hypocrite, the meek good boy, +so anxious of Ferrers' reputation!" + +"What do you want with me?" exclaimed Louis angrily, struggling to free +himself from his captor. + +"Hands off! Leave him alone, Jones," shouted Reginald. "What's all +this about?" + +"Do let him go," said Hamilton. "Can't you let him alone?" + +"He's the traitor, Hamilton." + +Hamilton could not deny it, for it could have been no one else. + +"Well, it is past, and the punishment he has in his own feelings will +be enough," he said. "Let him alone." + +"Louis, _you_ haven't been telling tales and making mischief?" +cried Reginald. + +"I don't know," said Louis. "I said something to Mrs. Paget, I believe--I +didn't know there was any harm. Hamilton didn't say he didn't want any +thing said about it." + +"_Didn't say!_" echoed Jones, scornfully. + +Hamilton's look was more in reproach than anger. Louis felt struck to +the heart with shame and anger; but so much had he lately been nursed +in conceit and self-sufficiency, that he drove away the better impulse; +and, instead of at once acknowledging himself in the wrong and begging +pardon, he stood still, endeavoring to look unconcerned, repeating, +"I didn't mean any harm." + +"Oh, Louis!" exclaimed Reginald, reproachfully, "I didn't think +you could." + +"Let the boy go, Jones," said Hamilton, trying to remove the grasp +from Louis' shoulders. + +"Not so fast, an't please your majesty," said Jones: "I like to see +hypocrites unmasked. Here, gentlemen, forsooth, here in this soonified +youth, the anxious warden of Ferrers' reputation, you see the young +gentleman who not only tells the story, but gives the name of the +party concerned to a dear, good, gossiping soul--" + +"Gently, gently there, Jones," remarked Norman. + +"A gossiping old soul," repeated Jones, "who'd have the greatest +delight in retailing the news, with decorations and additions, all +over the kingdom with the greatest possible speed." + +"I don't believe a word of that, Jones," said Reginald. +"It is impossible!" + +"What! is it impossible?" asked Jones, giving Louis a shake. + +"What business have you to question me?" + +"Did you?" repeated Jones, with another shake. + +"Fair questioning, Jones," cried Reginald. "No coercion, if you please." + +"Hold him back, Mason, if you please. Norman, will you hold him back? +Now, Louis, if you don't answer I'll give you a thrashing." + +"You and I are friends, Mortimer," said Salisbury, jumping off the +desk and coming close up to Reginald; "but I mean to have fair play +in this matter. He shan't be hurt--but, if you interfere till they've +done questioning him, I shall help them to hold you back." + +"Don't meddle with it, Salisbury," said Hamilton; "it's nobody's affair." + +"Nobody's affair, indeed!" exclaimed Frank. "Here we've been making a +_cher ami_, a _rara avis_, or something or other of this boy, because he +professed to be something superior to us all--and now, when we find +he has been telling tales of all of us, we are told it's _nobody's +affair_. He's been obtaining credit upon false pretences. We're the +strongest party, and we'll do what we please." + +Reginald restrained himself with a violent effort, and Jones proceeded. + +"Now, sir, answer directly--is this impossible?" + +Louis felt very much inclined to cry, but he replied without tears +very reluctantly, "Mrs. Paget would make me tell her some things--she +had heard almost all from others. I don't know how the name slipped +out; I didn't mean to tell, I am sure." + +"WHAT?" said Hamilton; "you tell _that_ story, Louis!" + +Louis felt that Hamilton despised him; and perhaps, had they known +all the circumstances relative to the Heronhurst disclosure, the clamor +would not have been so great; so much evil is done by repeating a small +matter, exaggerated, as these repetitions usually are, according to the +feelings of the speaker. But in every case now bearing so unexpectedly +down upon him, had Louis, thoughtless of himself, been less anxious for +admiration, he would not have committed himself; had he not attracted +Norman's attention by his folly and conceit, the circumstance of his +having disclosed the name of the offender, at Heronhurst, would, most +probably, not only have been unknown to his school-fellows, but to +Norman also. + +"Oh, Hamilton, I didn't tell all the story!" he exclaimed. + +"No, only just enough to appear magnanimous," said Frank. + +"Seeing that such is the case," continued Jones, "it cannot be a +matter of great astonishment, that the same meek crocodile should +also deliver to the same tender mercy various particulars of minor +import respecting sundry others of his school-fellows; among which, +we discover the private conversation of an intimate and too indulgent +friend. Upon my word, young gentleman, I've a great mind to make you +kiss Ferrers' shoes. Where's Ferrers?" + +Jones turned round with his victim towards the door, perceiving that +Ferrers was not in the room, but neither Hamilton nor Reginald would +permit matters to proceed further. + +"Let him go," said Norman; "it is not worth while taking so much trouble +about it. You know whom you have to deal with, and will be careful." + +"Thanks to you," said Hamilton in a tone of the most cutting irony. + +He released Louis, and stood still till he saw him safely in the +playground, whither he was followed by the hisses and exclamations +of his inquisitors, and then turned in the opposite direction to +the class-room. + +"Mr. Hamilton!" exclaimed Norman, "may I ask what your words meant +just now?" + +"You may," said Hamilton, turning round and eyeing the speaker from +head to foot, with the most contemptuous indifference. "You are at +liberty to put whatever construction you please upon them; and perhaps +it will save trouble if I inform you at once that I never fight." + +"Then, sir," said Norman, whose anger was rising beyond control, +"you should weigh your words a little more cautiously, if you are +so cowardly." + +Hamilton deigned no reply, and proceeded to the class-room, where +he shut himself up, leaving the field clear for Reginald, who, +before long, was engaged in a pitched battle with Norman. + +Louis retreated to his play-fellows who were yet unconscious of +his disgrace with the higher powers; and, after playing for a little +while, wandered about by himself, too uneasy and sick at heart to +amuse himself. He found now, alas! that he was alone; that he had +lost all pleasure in holy things; and, conscious of his falling away, +he was now afraid to pray,--foolish boy. And thus it is--Satan tempts +us to do wrong, and then tempts us to doubt God's willingness to +forgive us, in order that, being without grace and strength, we may +fall yet deeper. + +As Louis wandered along, he heard sounds familiar enough to him, +which portended a deadly fray, and when he came upon the combatants, +he discovered that one of them was his own brother. He knew it was +useless to attempt to stop the fight, and he wandered away again, +and cried a little, for he thought that something would happen, and +he and Reginald would be placed together in some unpleasant situation; +and he dreaded Dr. Wilkinson's hearing of either affair. + +I must be excused for stopping my story to remark here, that in this +world, it is certain that we have great influence on one another, and +that for this influence we are responsible. Had Louis' school-fellows +acted more kindly, endeavoring to set before him the fault of tattling, +the effect would have been to raise a feeling of gratitude in his mind, +which would have been far more effectual in preventing the recurrence +of the fault, than the plan of repudiation they had adopted. Had they, +even after a day or two's penance, given him an opening into their +good graces, he would not have felt, as he did, that he had lost his +character, and it was "no use caring about it," and so gone from bad +to worse, till his name was associated with those of the worst boys +in the school. It may be said, How can school-boys be expected to have +so much consideration? but this a school-boy may do. He may mentally +put himself in the position of the delinquent, and considering how he +would wish to be treated, act accordingly. + +Every thing seemed to go wrong with Louis that day. The Herodotus +that Hamilton was to have heard, was scarcely looked at; and Louis +lost two or three places in his class. Hamilton never noticed him, +and even Reginald was offended with him. Louis tried to brave it out, +and sung in a low tone, whistled, and finally, when he was roughly +desired to be quiet, walked into the school-room, and finished his +evening with Casson and Churchill. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + "Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good + manners."--1 Cor. xv. 32. + + +For the next few days Louis was regularly sent to Coventry, and +though Hamilton took no part in any thing that was said against him, +his manner had so entirely changed, and his tone was so cold when he +addressed or answered him, that Louis needed no further demonstration +to feel assured of the great difference in the feeling with which he +was regarded. Clifton alone remained unchanged, but he was so much +absorbed in his dear classics that he had hardly time to notice that +any thing was the matter: and as Reginald, thoroughly disappointed, +was also highly displeased with his brother, Louis was either thrown +entirely upon his own resources, or driven to seek the society of the +lower school; and, as he was in a very unhappy state, and could not +bear to be left alone, he naturally chose the latter. For the first +two days he struggled to assume an independent air, and, changing his +place of his own accord from Hamilton to Clifton, talked incessantly, +though nearly unheeded by the latter, to show how perfectly well able +he was to do his own business without assistance. Hamilton missed him, +and glanced down the table with a gaze of mingled disappointment and +displeasure. A few words from him might have recalled Louis, but they +were not spoken, and the only impression conveyed to the poor truant +was, that the friend he most cared about, in common with the rest, +considered him beneath his notice. + +The third evening some affair was to be taken into consideration, of +which the proceedings were intended to be kept very secret. Louis was +sitting by Clifton, when Trevannion, who was to open the business, +entered with a folded paper and a pencil in one hand, and took his +place at the head of the long table. He looked down the table, and +his eyes meeting Louis', he laid down his pencil, and taking up a +book, began, or pretended to begin, to read. + +"Hey! What's that, Trevannion?" asked Salisbury. "Are we to be prepared +with a choice quotation from Thucydides, or is it a hint that we are to +remember duty first and pleasure afterwards?" + +"Rather," said Frank, "that some people have long ears and tongues." + +"Perhaps," said Trevannion, looking over the top of his book, +"Louis Mortimer will have the civility to hasten his studies +this evening, as we have pressing business to perform." + +"And why need I prevent it?" said Louis, crimsoning. + +"Simply for this reason," said Trevannion, "that we do not choose +to have every thing that passes our lips this night carried over the +country; therefore, Master Louis, we can dispense with your company." + +"Without so much circumlocution, either," said Jones. "We like your +room better than your company just now, Louis Mortimer; so please +to decamp." + +"Evaporate!" said Meredith. + +"I have my lessons to learn," said Louis. + +"Is there any moral or physical impossibility in your lessons being +learned in the school-room?" asked Smith. + +"I don't choose." + +"Don't choose!" repeated Jones. "We'll see about that. Do you choose +to go quietly, or to be turned out, eh?" + +"You have no right to do it," exclaimed Louis. "I have as much right +to be here as you." + +"Ho, ho!" exclaimed Jones. "You'll find might is right here, my pretty +young gentleman. Salisbury, will you have the kindness to put the door +between us and his impertinence?" + +"The procacity of the juvenile is progressing," remarked Frank. + +Hamilton was not in the room, and there was no one to assist +Reginald in his resistance to the numbers by whom he was soon +overpowered, and in a few minutes, in spite of his exertions, +he found himself turned out with Louis, whom he had vainly +endeavored to defend. + +Boiling with fury, Reginald at first attempted to kick open the door, +and then, being called to his senses by the interference of the usher +in the room, walked into the playground, and getting in at one of the +class-room windows, opened the door to Louis before his antagonists +had recovered from their surprise. + +There was another scuffle, which was at length settled by the usher's +taking Louis' side, and desiring him to go in; but Louis found the study +so thoroughly uncomfortable, that in a few minutes he returned to the +school-room, and seated himself, in a restless, idle mood, by Casson. + +The idle conversation of an idle, uprincipled boy is sure to be of a +hurtful description, and after Casson had heard Louis' grievances, and +condoled with him in the fashion of encouraging him in all that was bad, +the discourse fell upon Casson's last school, and many things Louis heard +and learned of which he had remained, till then, in blissful ignorance. +One or two ushers usually sat with the boys in the evening. One of these +was an elderly man, uncouth and ungainly in person, and possessed of a +very unfortunate temper, that was irritated in every possible manner by +those whose duty it was to have soothed the infirmities and considered +the trials of one whose life was spent in their service. Louis had felt +a great pity for the poor solitary man who never seemed to have a friend, +and now and then had spared a few minutes of his play-time to talk to +him, and would ask to be allowed to cut the pencil that was employed so +constantly in ruling the ciphering books; and when his flowers were in +bloom, a half-open rosebud was usually presented to Mr. Garthorpe to +put in his button-hole on Sunday morning. The poor usher loved Louis +as warmly as any one else in that house, nor would he have believed +that "that good lad," as he called him, could have spent a great part +of an evening in laughing at practical jokes played off on him, though +Louis could not yet be prevailed upon to take part in them. + +The next few days were spent as might be expected. Louis had now put +himself under the guidance of some of the worst boys in the school, +and the consequence was (for the downward path is easy) the neglect of +all that was good, and the connivance at, if not actual participation +in all that was wrong. His place was lost, his lessons so ill prepared, +that, as formerly, he was kept in day after day, and Casson, his chief +adviser, persuaded him that Mr. Danby was unjust and tyrannical, and +instigated him to impertinence as a retaliation. Louis was miserable, +for miserable must he be who sins against light. + +It was not long before Dr. Wilkinson became aware of a change in Louis' +conduct, and he took an early opportunity of speaking very seriously to +him on the subject. Louis was very humble, and longed to throw open all +his troubles to his master, the only person who had spoken kindly and +sensibly to him since his disgrace, yet foolishly afraid to declare the +whole truth to him, especially as, by the doctor's recommendation to him +to follow the example of his friends Hamilton and Clifton, he found that +his master was not aware that Hamilton was so much displeased with him. +Unhappily, Dr. Wilkinson did not know of Louis' intimacy with Casson, +nor had Casson been long enough with him to enable him to know more of +him than as an idle, troublesome dunce. The doctor's admonitions were +so far beneficial to Louis, that besides producing decidedly better +behavior for a few days, they were instrumental in restraining him +afterwards from the commission of many things which might have been +both hurtful to his well-doing and future peace of mind; but unassisted +by prayerful efforts on Louis' part, they could go no further than this; +and as he had not strength of mind to shake off his evil companions, he +soon fell back into much of his idle, giddy habits, and was classed with +some of the worst boys by those of the upper school who had formerly so +unwisely flattered and spoiled him. Oh, had they known how often his sad, +restless, though at times reckless mind, yearned for a little kindness +from them, that he might feel that every chance of retrieving their +esteem had not gone! Once, after standing some time by Hamilton, he +ventured to ask if he were still offended with him. Hamilton coldly +disclaimed any idea of offence, and declining all discussion on the +matter, hinted that Louis' conduct was too disreputable to be noticed. +Louis turned from him with a proud resolve never to speak to Hamilton +again. Hamilton's conscience smote him when he saw him a short time +after in company with Casson and Harris, whispering and laughing in a +corner, at no good, assuredly; but though he inwardly felt that he had +forced Louis, in some measure, to take refuge with these boys, he was +too proud to stoop from his throne of dignity to save him. + +That day, when the boys returned from their walk, they entered at the +back of the playground from a lane, on the opposite side of which lay +some fields belonging to Dr. Wilkinson, and close on the edge of the +field nearest to the ditch bounding the lane, were some out-houses, +consisting of a cow-house, stables, and barn. As the lane was public +property, the boys were forbidden to wander beyond the boundary of +their playground, which on this side was a high wall, a wooden door +shutting out all communication with any thing beyond. Notwithstanding +the prohibition regarding this lane, there were now and then excursions +over the wall in the direction of the cottage of an old woman, who kept +a small day-school, and sold bull's-eyes and gingerbread, with other +dainties of a doubtful description, and who was, more than all, willing, +for "a consideration," to perform any hazardous errand for the young +gentlemen. Other sallies of a still more doubtful character occasionally +took place, and Dr. Wilkinson felt sure that his orchard had been robbed +more than once, though by what hands he did not always discover. On this +day the boys had just entered from the lane, and, as the ushers had not +been careful in seeing the door closed, it stood open for some time, +while several of the boys availed themselves of the crowd of their +school-fellows near it to slip out on their various errands to old +Mary Simmons. Louis had been collecting mineralogical specimens during +his walk, all of which he had consigned to the depths of a large green +baize bag which he carried with him. He stopped a few minutes near +the gate to talk about his treasures to Clifton, who had been walking +with him, but the concourse becoming rather greater than Clifton found +convenient, he presently moved away, and Louis was following him, his +bag in one hand and two unpromising-looking stones in the other, when +Casson arrested him with, + +"I say, Louis, what a famous bag--lend it us a minute. I'm going to +old mother Simmons's; it would hold half her shop." + +"There are stones in it," said Louis, drawing back. + +Casson verbally execrated the stones, and, declaring it was of no +consequence, snatched the bag out of Louis' hand and ran away. + +Rather startled by this abrupt manner of proceeding, Louis followed +Casson to the verge of the lane, and waited there till he came back. + +"I haven't eaten your bag, you see, but I can't spare it till we get in." + +"But are the stones there?" said Louis. + +"To be sure; what do you suppose I've done with them? What a famous +receptacle! I say, Louis, did you ever see the inside of the stable +over the way?" + +"No--I am not very fond of stables." + +"But I suspect there's something worth seeing there," said Casson; +and he proceeded to tell Louis, under a promise of the strictest +secrecy, in a manner so exceedingly vulgar and improper that I do +not choose to write it, that he believed that the doctor kept his +winter apples in the loft of that stable, and concluded by hinting +that some of them meant to find them out and help themselves. "We +used to do it regularly at old Stennett's, where I went before, +Louis," he continued. "It's such fun: you must lend us your green +bag, and come with us." + +"Oh! Casson, how can you think such a thing of me!" exclaimed Louis, +shrinking back. + +The exclamation was so loud that Casson laid his hand upon his mouth +with a muttered angry ejaculation. + +"One would think I had spoken of breaking open a house," said Casson. + +"It's stealing," said Louis, in a tone of anger. + +"Nonsense." + +"I tell you, Casson, it is--don't talk to me any more about it--I +wish I had never known you!" + +Casson burst out laughing. "What a ninny you are!" he exclaimed. +"You are as easily frightened as a bird with a pop-gun. And now, +I suppose, you will go with this nice little story to some good +friend and make something interesting and romantic out of nothing." + +"Is it _really_ nonsense?" said Louis, after a pause. "Tell me, +Casson, truly, did you mean nothing just now?" + +"Nothing, upon honor," said the unprincipled boy. "I wanted to see +you horrified." + +Louis looked doubtfully at him. "Well, please give me my bag." + +"What a hurry you are in!--you must wait till I've unloaded." + +Louis followed him to the school-room, but, Casson's crowded desk not +holding all the contents of the bag, he was obliged, notwithstanding his +anxiety, to wait for his property for a day or two, at the expiration of +which time it was returned to him, and borrowed the next day for another +expedition to Mary Simmons. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + "Open rebuke is better than secret love." + + +It now wanted little more than three weeks to the holidays. +Sticks for notching were in great request, and "days" cut in +paper were fastened to the testers of the several beds, to mark +more securely the weary time that must elapse before the joyful +breaking-up. Reginald and Louis had jointly decorated theirs +with an elegant drawing of Dashwood Priory, with a coach and +four in the distance, which drawing would remain uninjured till +even the last of the twenty-eight strips of paper had been detached, +when the owners tore the remainder for excess of joy. The subjects +for examination had already been given out, and those who had any +interest at stake had already commissioned Maister Dunn for candles, +and begun to rise early and sit late, or as late us was allowed, at +their various studies. It was with some little dismay that Louis +looked down the long list of subjects for the examination of his +class, for he felt that, though (thanks to Hamilton at first, +and latterly some degree of perseverance on his own part) he had +made some progress during the half-year: his friend Clifton's +indefatigable industry had placed him so far first, that it +would be almost impossible to hope for any advantage. + +Hamilton was now busily engaged in the composition of a prize poem +in Latin, besides the many other things with which (to use his own +expression) he found it necessary "to cram himself"; for, however +easy, comparatively, he had found his post the preceding half-year, +he had now competitors sufficiently emulous and talented in Norman +and Frank Digby--the latter of whom had shown a moderate degree of +diligence during the half-year, and now, exerting to the utmost the +great powers with which he was gifted, bid fair, if not to distance +all his rivals, at least to claim the lion's share of the honors +held out. + +As Hamilton scarcely allowed himself time to run once round the +playground in the day, it cannot be supposed that even had he +condescended to notice Louis he would have found much time to +attend to him. More than once, however, he looked rather anxiously +down the long table where Louis now sat (Reginald having insisted +on his leaving the school-room and his companions to their fate), +and, apparently satisfied that he was doing something, resumed his +own work. Louis' mind was more than ever occupied now--every moment +was taken up with lessons of one kind or another. The first waking +thoughts, which were formerly, at least, a consciousness of the +presence of his Maker, were now so mixed up with Latin verses, +English translations, French plays, ancient and modern history, +that a very short time sufficed for his cold prayer--and then +poured in the whole flood of daily business, only checked by as +cold a semblance of a petition at night. The former half-year the +case, though similar in many respects, differed in the greatest +essential. Louis was not less diligent than now, but he was more +prayerful; he had not more time, but he used it better; he did not +leave his religion for a few minutes at night and morning, and forget +it for the rest of the day; he did not shut up his Bible, and scarcely +look at it from Sunday to Sunday. He who waits closely upon his God +is sure to be enabled to serve him in the beauty of holiness: and +those who thought at all about Louis could not but be struck with +the wide difference between the gentle, humble, happy-looking boy, +who bore so meekly what was unkindly done and spoken, and the equally +industrious, but fevered, restless, anxious, and now rather irritable +being, who toiled on day after day almost beyond his strength. + +The first day of the examination, Charles Clifton and Louis were +walking together, between school-hours, settling the order in which +their labors were to be undertaken. As they turned the corner of +the playground, near the kitchen, they encountered Harris, Casson, +and Churchill, who, with Sally Simmons and her basket of apples, +blocked up a narrow passage between the side of the house and the +kitchen-garden wall. + +"Aint they beauties, Louis?" said Churchill, at the sight. The mention +of apples sufficiently disturbed Louis in the present company, and he +made a violent effort to get past Harris, who was, however, so much +engaged in choosing an apple from the basket, that he did not move +an inch. Finding it useless at present to attempt the pass, Louis was +turning back, when Sally offered the basket to him, with "Mathter Louis, +you mutht hide it; I donnoh what mathter would thay." + +"There are plenty more where they came from, Sally," said Casson. + +"Here'th a nithe one, thir," said Sally, looking in Louis' alarmed +face, and pointing to one of the apples. + +"They are not yours to give, Sally," said Louis, stepping back against +the wall. "Harris, Casson, Churchill, don't take them--it's dishonest." + +Sally protested in great dismay, that it was only one or two, and +Dr. Wilkinson wouldn't mind. + +"You know he would, Sally, or why did you say I was to hide it?" +said Louis. + +"Do you mean to tell him you have given away any?" asked Clifton. + +"Not she; she knows better--don't you, Sally?" said Casson. + +"You are not to be trusted," said Clifton. + +"Mathter Louis, you won't be going and making mithchief?" said the girl. + +"If he does," ejaculated Harris, "I'll--" + +What he would do Louis never heard, for he had by this time freed himself +from the basket and run away, followed more leisurely by Clifton. + +"I am sure," he said, when Clifton rejoined him, "that Sally Simmons +ought not to be employed here; she is always doing forbidden things +for the boys." + +"If you know of any thing wrong in her, why don't you tell Dr. Wilkinson?" +said Charles. + +"The next thing I know of, I shall. But I should get the boys into such +a scrape," said Louis. + +"If they are bad boys they deserve it," replied Clifton; "my father +says, if we conceal evil, when we may remove it by mentioning it, we +make ourselves partners in it." + +"The boys would call me a sneak if I did," said Louis. + +Charles looked at Louis in simple wonderment. "That wouldn't hinder +you from doing what is right, would it? What does it matter what such +fellows as those think or say?" + +"Yes, but I shouldn't like to get them into a scrape," repeated Louis, +uneasily. + +"Why don't you tell your friend Hamilton of it, and ask his advice?" + +"Oh, Clifton! surely you know that Hamilton won't speak to me." + +"No, I didn't," said Clifton, in a tone of surprise. "Why not? he used +to be so fond of you." + +"He's offended now," replied Louis, looking down. + +"He doesn't like me, I know," said Charles; "but he used to be so very +fond of you." + +"_Used_--that's long ago," said Louis, with a suppressed sigh. + +"Well, but," remarked Clifton, without showing the least curiosity +to discover the cause of Louis' quarrel with Hamilton, "if you can't +consult him, ask your brother." + +"I know very well what Reginald would do; he wouldn't think it right +to tell of them, or of her either." + +"Then, Louis, make up your own mind." + +"It's not so easily done," replied Louis; "oh, Charlie, I wish I were +like you!" + +"Oh, why?" said Charles, gravely; "you have a great many more friends, +and are much better liked than I am. I have no friend but you--not that +I care at all about it, but I should think you would." + +"Yes; but I wish I _could_ make up my mind. I am not half so happy +as you are, for I cannot make up my mind to do a thing because it is +right. You only think about that and do it at once; and because I have +so many friends, and even care about pleasing those I do not like, I am +always getting into scrapes, and always doing wrong. I think there never +was anybody so bad as I am. I wish papa hadn't sent me to school." + +"I like you very much," said Clifton; "and I am sure you have done me +good--on Sunday, at least." + +"Ah, it is much easier to know and talk of what is right than to do it," +replied Louis, sighing very deeply. "Oh, _domum, dulce domum!_ But there +is Reginald, and I must go and ask him a question." + + * * * * * + +For several days after this occurrence, Louis was too busy, and too much +with his brother, to see much of his evil advisers; and very pleased in +having, as he imagined, thus got rid of them. The examination was going +on in earnest; Louis had now nearly regained his old place, and was, on +the whole, favorably reported of: but Clifton was not to be overcome. +Thoroughly prepared, and thoroughly understanding all he had learned, +he kept the first place undaunted by any difficulty, and apparently +unexcited by the crisis; at least, Louis remarked to Reginald, that +Clifton was so cool, he didn't seem to care whether he won or not. +He had a little more color than usual, and the only beauty his face +possessed--his intelligent eyes--wore perhaps a keener and more anxious +expression, but this was not noticed by a casual observer; nor was +the violent palpitation of the heart, when the chances ran so closely +between him and the next, at the close of a two days' struggle for the +mathematical prize. There were few that congratulated him on his almost +unparalleled success; but few that did not respect his ability and +steadiness. Never once, from the first day he came to school, had he +on any occasion incurred the displeasure of his masters; and yet no +one cared for him, for he had lived only for himself. + +But to return to Louis. The mathematical contest was finished, and there +was a little lull before the second class would be again called on, and +Louis determined to spend this little interval of leisure in giving a +finishing scrutiny of the history likely to be in demand. Full of his +purposes, he burst into the class-room, where only Hamilton and Reginald +were, the former writing very fast, and the latter looking carefully +over an English essay he had just finished. Louis flew to the shelves +and ransacked them in vain: almost every book he wanted was gone. +At length, in despair, he asked Reginald if he knew who had Rollin's +History. Reginald absently replied in the negative, as he noted down +something in the page he was reading. + +"The books are always gone," said Louis, pettishly. "I suppose Charlie +has it. He had it yesterday--he might as well let me have it to-day." + +"Trevannion has it, I think," said Reginald. + +"You may have mine," said Hamilton. + +Louis stood still; he wanted the book very much, but was too proud +to accept the offer. + +"It is in my room," continued Hamilton, without looking up. + +"Thank you, I don't want _yours_," replied Louis, proudly, walking +out of the room. + +As he entered the school-room he confronted Dr. Wilkinson, who, having +given orders for a brisk walk, was inquiring for Hamilton. Louis had +scarcely taken his hand from the lock when Hamilton abruptly opened it +and came quickly out of the room. + +"You are the person I want," said the doctor, laying his hand on his +arm. "Hamilton, I want you to come out with me this bright day." + +"To-day, sir?" said Hamilton, whose countenance expressed any thing +but delight at the proposition. + +"And why put off till to-morrow what may be done to-day so well?" +said the doctor, smiling. "I suppose you have hopes of the weather +making a walk impracticable to-morrow: but I must have you all out, +or some of you will be laid up before you go home." + +His eye fell upon Clifton, who was sitting with his elbows on a desk +close by, his fingers pushed through his hair, wholly absorbed in +"_Gibbon's Decline and Fall_." Dr. Wilkinson addressed him twice, +but, producing no impression, he removed one of the props of his +head, and turned his face towards himself. + +"What are you doing there?" + +"History, sir," said the boy, getting up mechanically, and looking +very much as if he were not pleased at the interruption. + +"I hear your name is very high in the list to-day." + +"Yes, sir," replied Charles, gravely; and, as the doctor released him, +he settled down precisely in the same attitude, without showing the +least satisfaction at the notice he had received. + +Hamilton turned away with an impatient gesture. + +"Are you going immediately, sir?" he said. "Can you spare me a +few minutes?" + +"I shall be at the garden-gate in a quarter of an hour from this time," +replied the doctor. + +"I will not fail, sir," said Hamilton; and, crossing the room in +immense strides, he flew up stairs, and returned almost immediately +with a large volume under his arm. He made some inquiries of +Trevannion's whereabouts, and, learning that he was in the playground, +went in search of him. He very soon found him, walking briskly +up and down with Norman, making extracts from an old book in his +hand, and questioning his friend alternately. Hamilton and he had +scarcely exchanged a word since their quarrel, and it was with some +surprise that he saw Hamilton present himself, and still more, when +a request was made that he would exchange books. + +"I particularly want this just now," he replied. + +"This is Rollin," said Hamilton. "I should feel obliged if you would +exchange copies." + +Trevannion opened his eyes wider, but after a second's pause, he took +Hamilton's and gave him his book in exchange, without any comment. + +"What a strange whim!" remarked Norman, when Hamilton had left them, +after shortly expressing his thanks. + +"What can he mean, Norman?" said Trevannion. "This is his own, too." + +"Perhaps some new way of trying to make up an old quarrel," +said Norman, sneeringly. + +"I don't think so," replied Trevannion; "he would not have tried +so odd a plan--no, there's something deeper than that." + +"Are the histories alike?" asked Norman. + +"I believe so," answered Trevannion; "if there's any advantage, I am +sure to have it, at any rate." + +"You have a very high opinion of him." + +"VERY," said Trevannion. "If Hamilton did mean this to make up our +quarrel, I am sure I shall be willing." + +"Upon my word," said Norman, "this is dignity." + +Trevannion made no answer, for something had attracted his attention +on the opposite side of the playground. + +"Holloa! Norman, look there!" he exclaimed. + +"Where? what! oh, horror!" cried Norman. + +"There they are--they're hid; now, there they are again!--now look, +who is it? Stand behind this tree a minute--now let us look out." + +Obedient to his instructions, Norman looked, and saw three boys drop +down one after another from the branch of a tree, that had evidently +assisted their descent from the playground wall, and then run across +the playground. + +"Who are they?" said Trevannion, putting up his eye-glass (which, +gentle reader, be it known he carried for use). "One is Churchill, +I'm sure! Who's that long fellow? Why, it's Harris, isn't it? It +can't be, surely!" + +"It is," said Norman; "and the other's Casson." + +"I'm sure they are at no good," said Trevannion; "I shall make +a note of this remarkable occurrence." + +So saying, he made a memorandum of the circumstance in his +pocket-book, and had just finished when the boys poured out +cloaked and great-coated, and informed him of the doctor's +desires. + +The reader will be at no loss to discover Hamilton's reason for +exchanging the books. As Louis was out, he took Dr. Wilkinson's +with him into the class-room, and sat down to finish the six last +words of his poem; and then, folding it neatly up, enveloped it in +half a sheet of writing-paper. He was just pressing the seal upon +the wax, when his watch, which he had laid open before him, warned +him that the last minutes of the quarter of an hour had arrived. +He just pushed his things together, and left them on the table; +and snatching up his hat as he ran through the hall, scarcely +arrived at the garden-gate in time to save his character for +punctuality. + +It so happened that Casson was Louis' companion during the walk, +and entertained him with a flowing account of all the vulgar tricks +he had been in the habit of playing at his former school. Louis could +not help laughing at them; nor would his vanity allow him to refrain +from boasting of--what he had before been properly ashamed--his own +share in some of Casson's late exploits. So afraid was he of seeming +inferior, even to a person he despised, and in those things which his +better feelings taught him equally to despise. Casson inwardly laughed +at Louis' boasted feats, as he had always done to others when Louis was +out of hearing; but he now quizzed him, stimulating him, by applauding +his spirit and ingenuity; and by the time they had reached the house, +Louis was in a thoroughly giddy humor, ready to try, at the risk of +disgrace, the new schemes to which he had just been listening. + +The boys stayed in the playground till the dinner-bell rang, which +was a few minutes after they had entered the playground; but these +few minutes sufficed for Louis, in his present humor, to get himself +in a scrape, the consequences of which, at the time, he certainly did +not contemplate. He had been complaining to Casson, in the beginning +of their walk, that he could not get "Rollin's History," and, as Casson +persisted that it was in the study, Louis took him there to show him +his error, when they returned home. + +"Ha, ha! Mr. Louis Mortimer, who's right?" cried Casson, +holding up the book. + +"That can't be; I wonder how it got there," said Louis, +approaching the table in a mystified manner. "These must +be Trevannion's things, I suppose; only Hamilton was writing +here; and here is his dictionary,--I wonder what he wanted +with it--he never said he had it--he let me suppose Trevannion +had it--kind of him--I suppose he wanted to prevent my getting +it; but I'll have it now--he's got one of his own." + +"I'd be even with him," said Casson; "what a heap of things! See, +here's an exercise of his; or a letter, I suppose--it's too neat +for an exercise. A good thick letter--sealed, too. I'll tell you +what, Louis--" + +Accordingly, what Casson did tell Louis was, what a "capital dodge" +it would be to abstract Hamilton's sealed packet, and to leave another +folded like it in its place. + +"We often used to trick the boys at old Stennett's with their +exercises," continued he; "they never wrote in books there--we +used to tear the leaves out of the exercise-books, and write on +them. It was such jolly fun to see them open the paper and find +nothing in it, or only some rubbish." + +"How did you do it?" asked Louis. + +"Oh, we doubled up a bit of an old exercise-book, and exchanged, that's +all!" replied Casson; "see, why here's half a sheet of paper, that'll +do for the cover; and now then, Louis, more paper--he'll never miss +it--that's it--fold it up just the size; how beautifully you have +done it!" + +"But there's no seal," said Louis. + +"He'll forget he sealed it," replied Casson; "oh, how jolly!--here's +a piece of sealing-wax--it is sealed with the top of a pencil-case." + +"I have one just like that," said Louis; "oh, no; here's E. H. on +this--that won't do, Casson." + +Casson presently relieved this difficulty by discovering Hamilton's +pencil-case; and the paper was quickly sealed, when Louis began to +doubt: + +"But we don't know what it is, Casson." + +"If it turns out to be any thing, send it by post, directed to him, +at his father's," said Casson; "he'll get it safely enough." + +The dinner-bell rang loudly at this moment, and with a little laugh +at the idea of the oddity of sending it to Hamilton's home, and a +strong feeling of doubt as to the wisdom of his proceeding, Louis +hastily exchanged the packets, and ran out of the room. On his way +to the dining-room he paused-- + +"If it should be of any consequence, Casson," he said. + +"Well, if it is, so much the better fun; he won't treat you so shabbily +another time." + +"Ah, but--I don't want to revenge myself, and I don't like playing +tricks on Hamilton exactly, either: I think I must give it back." + +"I thought you were such a dab at these kinds of things," said Casson, +sneeringly. + +"What have I done with it now?" Louis exclaimed suddenly, as they +reached the dining-room door, after stopping a few seconds in the +hall to hang up his coat. "What can I have done with it? I must have +slipped it into my desk just now, when I put my Livy in." + +He was not able to turn back then; and, in the mean time, Hamilton +had paid a hasty visit to the class-room, to collect his things, +and had locked up carefully the false packet; and Louis had not +courage to make any inquiries, though he hoped that he might have +found the right one, which, with all his care, he could not discover +himself. Louis had, in his hurry, left Rollin on the study-table, and +after school he ran into the room, and finding it in nearly the same +place where Hamilton had been guarding it for him, he carried it off, +and Hamilton, seeing the action, made no remark on the matter. + +The next evening, the Latin poems were sent in to the doctor's study +for comparison, and Hamilton's blank counterfeit was titled on the +cover, and dispatched with a degree of nervous anxiety that certainly +would not have been called forth by a subject so empty. Louis was +in an agony of remorse, when the truth burst on him. His only hope +was, that Hamilton might have found the right packet. He heard the +speculations around him as to the probability of success, and saw +the last paper put into Norman's hand to be carried away, but he +dared not say any thing. He had never dreamt of the importance of +the paper he had so carelessly dropped or mislaid, and would have +given all he possessed to have remembered what he had done with it. + +Nothing more was done that evening. Study had helped to drive away +the smaller qualms of conscience the day before; but he was now so +sick at heart, that he remained with his head on his hand doing +nothing, puzzling himself in vain to remember what he had done +with the poem. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +It was Saturday night when the manuscripts were delivered to the +doctor, and it was not till Monday that the absence of Hamilton's +poem was discovered. As much of Sunday as he was able, Louis spent +with Casson, trying to discover what could have become of the poem, +and in devising all manner of schemes for its recovery and restoration. +Little comfort he received from his tempter--Casson alternately laughed +at his fears, and blamed his cowardice--and, in order to escape this, +Louis affected to be indifferent to the consequences, concealing his +heaviness of heart under assumed mirth and unconcern. He had lately +spent many cold, careless Sabbaths, but one so utterly wretched as +this he could not remember. + +The boys had just left the dining-room on Monday, after dinner, when +a summons to the doctor's study came for Hamilton. As this was not an +uncommon occurrence, Hamilton betrayed neither curiosity nor uneasiness, +but quietly gave a few directions to his little brother, and then +leisurely left the room. He was soon in the presence of Dr. Wilkinson, +Mr. James Wilkinson, and an old gentleman who had a day or two before +been examining his class, and who usually assisted in the half-yearly +examinations. The countenances of these gentlemen were not very +promising, and he instantly saw that something unpleasant might +be expected. Before the doctor lay a number of folded papers, which +Hamilton recognized as the poems under consideration, and in his +hand was a blank sheet of paper, the envelope of which had fallen +on the floor. + +"Mr. Hamilton," said the doctor, "I have sent for you to explain +this strange affair. Pray can you tell me what was in this envelope?" +He stooped, and, picking up the paper as he spoke, handed it to Hamilton. + +"My poem, sir," replied Hamilton, quietly. + +"You are sure that is your writing?" + +"Quite," said Hamilton, confidently. + +"I have been able to discover nothing more than this," said the doctor, +with something like annoyance in his tone. "I do not know whether you +have been writing with invisible ink. This is a mistake, Hamilton," +he added, turning the blank sheet in all directions. "Where is your +poem?" + +"That in _my_ envelope, sir!" exclaimed Hamilton, reddening to the roots +of his hair. "In _my_ envelope!" he reiterated, taking up the envelope +and re-examining it in a state of tremulous excitement. "I _cannot_ have +made such a mistake--it is utterly impossible." + +"I should say so--impossible, unconsciously, to make so great a mistake," +said the old gentleman. + +"And equally so, sir, to make it _consciously_," replied Hamilton. + +"But where is the poem?" asked Dr. Wilkinson. + +"I expected it was here," said Hamilton--"and, as it is not, I cannot +answer that question, sir." He again turned over the paper, but could +find no clue to the mystery. + +"Is the paper the same as you used?" asked Mr. James. + +"It is," replied Hamilton; "and the seal is my own, as well as +the writing." + +"What is the seal?" asked Dr. Berry, the old gentleman. + +"E.H. It belongs to this pencil-case," answered Hamilton, producing +his pencil-case. "I always carry it about with me." + +"That's awkward again," said Dr. Berry, exchanging a look with Mr. James. + +"Have you never left your pencil-case about lately, nor lent it to any +one?" asked Dr. Wilkinson. + +Hamilton considered. + +"I believe I left it with all my things on the class-room table +last Friday, when I went out with you, sir." + +"Ah!" said Dr. Berry, "what did you leave there?" + +"Some writing-paper, pens, a few books, and my poem, which I had +just finished." + +"That was careless of you, Hamilton," said Dr. Wilkinson. + +"I had only just sealed it in time to run after you, sir," replied +Hamilton; "and, as every one was out, I thought there could be no +harm in leaving them there till I returned." + +"How much paper did you leave there?" asked Mr. James. + +"About half a quire." + +"_About_ half a quire; then, I suppose, you do not know whether +any of that paper was taken while you were away?" + +"No, I do not," replied Hamilton. "If any one changed it, it must +have been then; as, after I came home, it was locked up in my own +writing-desk till Saturday evening." + +"It might have been changed on the way," suggested Mr. James. + +Hamilton was silent for a few seconds, when he answered: + +"I do not think so; for I am sure this is my writing: I must +unwittingly have directed an empty packet." + +"Unless," said Dr. Wilkinson, quietly, "some one has imitated +your writing?" + +"I only know one who could," replied Hamilton, coloring; "and, I +am confident, he was not the party: besides, sir, I do not think +there was time, between Norman's departure and his return, to have +done it, and that was the only time any one would have had after +I had directed it. I did not direct it till Saturday evening." + +"But you said the boys were all out at the same time with yourself; +and, in fact, I know they were: I saw them going in as we turned +into the playground," said Dr. Wilkinson. "Did no one stay at home? +Stay--_Friday_--Digby was at home; I remember he pleaded his cold." + +Dr. Wilkinson looked down on the paper he held: there was a strong +expression of suspicion in his countenance. The other gentlemen +exchanged looks, and Mr. James remarked, that he considered Frank +the probable culprit. + +"I am glad he does not hear you say so, sir," exclaimed Hamilton. "I +am sure Digby would sooner put his own on the fire! I'd trust Frank's +honor as much as my own; and, I am sure, sir," he added, turning to +Dr. Wilkinson, "_you_ know Frank too well." + +To Hamilton's annoyance, Dr. Wilkinson did not reply immediately. + +"Frank is too fond of practical jokes," he said, at last; "I wish I +could give him a lesson he would remember. He will never be cured till +it touches him severely." + +"But Frank would not joke on this, sir," expostulated Hamilton. +"If he were not so high it might be so, but I'm sure it is not now." + +"Well, there is no time now to consider of this any more," said +Dr. Wilkinson, getting up. "I could bring forward many instances +of Digby's disregard of feelings and appearances when his fancy +for joking interferes. Dr. Berry, will you be kind enough to attend +to these for me, this afternoon? I shall be glad to call upon you +on Wednesday for my second class, if you can spare me the day." + +Dr. Berry signified his ready acquiescence; and Dr. Wilkinson turned +to Hamilton: + +"It is just school-time," he said; "but I wish you, after school, +to make a search in every desk for your poem. I do not imagine it +is destroyed. Mr. James will assist you. In the mean time, in the +event of your poem not being discovered, you had better rewrite it +as well as you can; I will give you till nine o'clock on the last +morning." + +Hamilton bowed, thanked his master, and retired, exceedingly +uncomfortable. His own loss was slight compared with the vexation +he felt at any suspicion of Frank's honor being raised. A very +different surmise would now and then try to rise in his own mind, +but was vigorously opposed as ungenerous in the extreme. An idea +of the real culprit never once occurred to him, nor to any other +person. The first class being disengaged that afternoon, Hamilton +employed himself with the new edition of his poem, but his thoughts +wandered; and, had it not been for a good memory and the force of +habitual concentration, he would have found it almost impossible +to resume a task he had considered as finished, in circumstances +so very disagreeable to him. + +As soon as the business of the day was concluded Dr. Wilkinson +commanded every one to remain in his place, and then desired Hamilton +to begin the search, carefully refraining from mentioning the object +in quest. There was considerable excitement in the school when the +doctor's command was made known, and it was strictly enforced, that +no one should touch the desks till after the search had been made. + +"Frank Digby, come here!" shouted the doctor from his post. "Did I not +desire that none of those desks should be touched at present?" + +"I was only putting my slate away, sir," said Frank, in much amazement. + +"I will not have your desk touched; stay here." + +"What's in the wind?" muttered Jones, sulkily. "The magister's in +a splendid humor. What do you want in my desk, Hamilton?" + +"A trick has been played on me," said Hamilton, hastily; "my poem has +been exchanged; but--" he added, hesitating, "I cannot bear this." + +"Nonsense, Hamilton!" said Mr. James, who was turning over the contents +of Jones's desk. "There is nothing there." + +"Stand back, and let Hamilton look, pray!" exclaimed Reginald Mortimer. +"What a shame it is!--you don't suspect _us_, Hamilton?" + +"_To be sure not!_" said Hamilton, warmly; "but I am desired to do this." + +"So much the better," said Salisbury; "you'll find mine locked, but here +are my keys: we'll go up to the doctor. I say, Hamilton, don't upset my +bottle of lemon kali, or my blue ink; you mightn't see them, perhaps, +among the other things." + +Hamilton took the keys with some embarrassment, and the first class +moved in a body to the upper end of the room, where they remained +till every desk had been subjected to a fruitless ransacking. + +Louis' state of mind may be easily imagined. He had guessed the reason +of the doctor's command the instant it was given; and had also heard +the few words that passed between Hamilton and his friends. Oh! what +would he have given that he had considered before he committed such +folly! He could not bear to face Hamilton, and yet he must be near him +when his own desk was examined, for he dared not move from his place. +He had looked carefully there himself, but still he was afraid it might, +by chance, be there. He hardly dared look round, for fear he should +betray his secret; and yet his distress sadly longed for vent. "I did +not mean to do any harm," was his reiterated thought; "I am sure, I +thought it was a letter--I did not mean it." And then he wished to +confess his fault; but, with his usual vacillation of purpose, he +deferred it, till he should see how things went. It did seem strange +that, with all the lessons he had had, he should have put off his +confession; yet he dared not, and tried to quiet his conscience with, +"I shall tell Hamilton alone;" and, "It's no use telling, when I can't +find the poem." But his trouble was tenfold increased when Hamilton +and Mr. James came near him, and finding his desk locked, inquired +who's it was, and where the keys were. + +Hamilton remarked in a low tone, not aware that Louis was so near, +"I suppose for form's sake we must look, but I am sure, poor fellow, +he has nothing to do with it." + +Louis just then handed his key; and, as Hamilton's hand came in contact +with his, he was struck by its cold clamminess, and just looking at him, +noticed the troubled expression, and the almost tearful eyes that were +fixed on him. He attributed Louis' anxiety to his natural timidity, as +well as to his having probably overheard the remark on himself; and his +heart smote him, for he still loved him, and had felt once or twice +lately, that he had not done his duty towards him. + +The poem was not found. Louis ran out into the playground, despite the +cold and twilight, to cry; and hurried in again in a few minutes, for +fear of discovery. The members of the first class gathered round Hamilton +to learn the story and to condole with him, and even Trevannion made some +remark on the shamefulness of such a trick. + +"I am sure, whoever gets the prize will not feel comfortable unless your +poem is found and compared," said Frank; "write away, Hamilton; no one +shall disturb you. I don't wonder Fudge was in such a passion." + +Louis was very glad when bed-time came, and he could hide his tears and +misery under the bed-clothes. Reginald had been too busy to notice that +any thing was the matter with him; but Hamilton, occupied as he was, had +seen it, though Louis had kept out of his way as much as possible. He +dared not tell Reginald his trouble; and he felt afraid to pray--he did +not remember that, though our Heavenly Father knows all our thoughts and +wants, He requires that all our care and sin should be poured out before +Him. The Christian does not love sin; and when, through unwatchfulness +or neglect of prayer, he has been betrayed into the commission of it, +let him remember, that He alone can remove it and restore peace to his +wounded conscience, who has said, "Return, ye backsliding children, and +I will heal your backslidings." + + * * * * * + +Louis got on very ill the next Wednesday, and Reginald, extremely vexed, +spoke very angrily to him. Louis answered as unkindly, and walked proudly +away from him to the other end of the school-room, where, in spite of +his abhorrence of such company, he was soon surrounded by his worst +companions. Hamilton was standing near Reginald at the time; he watched +Louis in his proud descent, and saw that, though he turned away with +an erect head and high words, his step soon grew more listless, and an +expression of indefinable weariness usurped the place of the independence +he had assumed. + +"Louis is unwell, I am sure, Reginald," he said. + +"He is well enough," said Reginald, abruptly; "but he is sadly altered: +I never saw a boy so changed. He is quite ill-tempered now, and so +horridly idle. Why, Hamilton, you'd never believe that in to-day's +examination in _Prometheus Vinctus_, he got down below Harris!--he's +positively at the bottom. He hardly answered any thing, and seemed +quite stupefied." + +"The more reason to think he's not well," said Hamilton; "for, to my +certain knowledge, he would have stood an examination on Prometheus +better than that, a week after we came back. Why, Harris and Peters, +and half the rest, are not to be compared with him." + +"I know it," said Reginald; "and that makes it the more vexatious. +It's bad enough to think that Clifton should get ahead of him, +but one may comfort one's self in the idea of his genius; but when +it comes to those donkeyfied ignorami, it is past endurance. He +has not tried a bit: I have seen him lately with his book before +him, dreaming about some wonderful story of some enchanted ass, or +some giantess Mamouka, I suppose; or imagining some new ode to some +incomprehensible, un-come-at-able Dulcinea. He is always shutting +himself up in his air-castles, and expecting that dry Latin and Greek, +and other such miserable facts, will penetrate his atmosphere." + +"Don't be angry with him; something is the matter. You only drive +him to herd with those boys," said Hamilton. "Look there!--there +they are!--oh, Reginald! it is not right to leave him with them." + +"Speak to him yourself, Hamilton," said Reginald, a little sobered. +"He will mind you. You have had a great deal to bear with him, but +I know you make allowances." + +Hamilton did not reply, but he had determined on making the effort to +detach Louis from his evil counsellors, when the latter suddenly left +the room with Casson, and did not return till Hamilton had gone into +the class-room. + +Casson was the only one to whom Louis could relieve his mind on the +subject that weighed him down so heavily--and he had, at the time +Hamilton was watching him so intently, been whispering some of his +fears, only to be laughed at. Suddenly he paused--"Casson, just come +with me; I think I recollect--yes, surely--" + +He did not wait to conclude his sentence, but, pulling Casson into the +hall, sought his great-coat, dived to the bottom of the pocket, and, +to his great joy, drew forth Hamilton's poem. + +"It's here! it's here! it's here!" he cried. "How could I have put it +here without knowing? Oh, my dear Casson, I am _so_ glad!" + +"Well, what now?" said Casson, rudely. "What good is it? What do you +mean to do with it?" + +"Give it back, of course--I think Hamilton will forgive me, and if not, +I _must_ give it back to him, and then, perhaps, I shall be happy +again; for I have not been happy for a long, long while: I have been +very wrong," he added, in a low, sorrowful tone. + +"If ever I saw such a sap in my life," said Casson; "this comes of +all your fine boasting; a nice fellow you are--why you're afraid +of your own shadow! Do you know what you'll get if you give it back?" + +"Whatever happens," said Louis, "I feel I have done wrong--wrong in +listening to you, too, Casson. Oh, if ever it please God to make me +happy again, I hope I shall be more careful! I have been afraid to +do right--I am afraid to think of all that has happened lately." + +"I always thought you were a canting hypocrite," said Casson, +sneeringly. "I never see that you religious people do any better +than any one else. Go and get a thrashing, as you deserve, for +your cowardice, only don't tell any lies about me. Remember it +was all your own doing." + +Casson opened the hall-door as he spoke, and ran into the playground, +where most of the boys had assembled, the weather having cleared a +little for the first time for the last two days. + +Louis sat down on a chair to think what he should do, and the +long-restrained tears coursed slowly down his face. His first +and best thought was to go at once to Hamilton, acknowledge his +fault, and restore the poem. Then came the idea of renewed disgrace, +and his head sunk lower on his breast, and the parcel fell from his +powerless hands. So intense was his grief, that he was as unconscious +that Dr. Wilkinson passed through the hall while he sat there, as that +he had heard the conversation between himself and Casson; for, unknown +to them both, he had been in a recess of the hall, nearly covered by +the cloaks and coats, looking there for something in a little corner +closet. Louis at last took up the paper, and went to Hamilton's room; +but a servant was there, and he did not like to leave it. Next he +thought of the doctor's study, but he dared not venture to approach +it. At length, after wandering about from the bed-room to the +lass-room door several times, he ventured to peep into the latter +room, and, throwing the parcel in, ran to the playground as fast +as his feet could carry him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law + of Christ."--Gal. vi. 2. + + +As soon as Hamilton had decided that it was of no use following Louis, +he called his brother to him and marched with him into the class-room, +to explain, according to promise, some classical allusions that occurred +in his Latin grammar. Reginald took his arm, and several of the first +class, who saw them move, accompanied him, for the glass-door opening +at the moment, admitted more cold air than was agreeable to those who +did not feel inclined to visit the playground. They almost expected to +find the doctor in the study, as they knew he had been there a short +time before, but the sole occupant of the chamber was Frank Digby, who, +to the astonishment of all, was standing in a very disconsolate attitude +near the fireplace, leaning his head on the mantelpiece, and neither +moved nor spoke when they entered. + +"Holloa, Momus!" exclaimed Reginald, "what's the row? as Salisbury +would say; only, more properly we might ask, in your case, what do +the tranquillity and genteel pensiveness of your demeanor denote?" + +"We're going to have a change in the weather," said Jones. + +"What's the matter, Frank?" asked Hamilton. + +"Nothing," replied Frank, raising his head quickly, and endeavoring, +rather unsuccessfully, to smile, amid something that looked very +much like tears; at least, if we must not be allowed to hint at such +appearances, there was certainly much agitation in his countenance--so +unusual a phenomenon, that a dead silence followed the ghastly effort. + +"Nonsense," said Hamilton, kindly; "you won't persuade me that nothing +is the matter, Frank." + +"Nothing particular," said Frank, fidgeting with a penny that lay on +the mantelpiece; "only the doctor has been giving me a lecture for the +good of my morals, that's all." + +"A lecture?" repeated Norman. + +"What's been the matter, Frank?" said Reginald. + +"A small moral discourse upon the sin and danger of practical jokes," +said Frank, swallowing down such an evident degree of emotion as +convinced his auditors that the discourse had been no ordinary one. +"His hints were rather peculiar, Hamilton--too decided for so +quick-sighted a youth as myself. I don't wonder he has such a +horror of a joke; I should think the dear man never was guilty +of such a crime in his life himself; or he has a strong imagination; +or, perhaps, a bad opinion of your humble servant--all the same--the +cause doesn't much signify; the effect's what one looks at." + +"Something dreadfully mysterious," said Reginald. + +Hamilton was silent. He watched anxiously Frank's varying countenance, +the twitching of which, as well as the thick, quick tone in which he +spoke, betrayed great excitement. + +"The fact is, I suppose, the doctor has reasons for his suspicions," +continued Frank, still more quickly, while his face grew redder, and +his eyelids twinkled painfully, and the penny was fairly spun into +the fender. + +"I haven't been quite so sage as I might have been, and, perhaps, jokes +may not be quite gentlemanly--but,--but, Hamilton,--he thinks,--he +thinks--and almost said it--that _I changed your poem_." + +"What a shame!" they cried. + +Frank stooped to pick up the penny, and was some minutes finding it. +When he rose, he said: + +"One will grow old in time, but it's hard to pay so dearly for good +spirits. However, you couldn't expect such a flow cheap, I suppose," +he added, with a little laugh. + +"You must have mistaken him," said Trevannion; "he couldn't have +meant it." + +"I am not in the habit of taking offence at nothing," replied Frank. +"Nay, I can be as purposely obtuse as any one when I choose, but one +couldn't be blind." + +"What did he say?" said Reginald. + +"I don't exactly remember--a heap about 'pain inflicted,' of +'misconstructions being placed on motives,' of 'transgressions +against honor and kindliness;' and then, when I was at a loss to +comprehend him, he said, 'he could not understand the gratification +of seeing another disappointed and annoyed--when he discovered that +his school-fellow, whom he confidently trusted, had substituted a +blank sheet for a carefully, laboriously-written work;' and then +I asked him if he supposed I had tricked Hamilton? and he said he +couldn't think of another who was so likely to do it as myself--that +'the constant indulgence in these senseless follies was likely to +blunt the sense of honor,' 'that I must excuse him'--excuse him, +forsooth--'if he spoke his mind on the subject:' and then he raked +up an old affair, that happened ages ago, about an exercise--Salisbury, +you remember--you were the victim; but that was a paltry, every-day +affair, only he didn't seem to understand the difference. I'll back +the doctor up for as good a memory as any man in the three kingdoms. +I had forgotten that piece of moral turpitude, and might have been +excused for imagining that the caning I got then had wiped out the +offence. Hamilton," he added, with a faltering voice, laying his +hand on Hamilton's shoulder--"you don't believe I did it?" + +"To be sure not, Frank," said Hamilton, heartily shaking Frank's hand. +"I know you too well--I am as confident of you as I should be of myself +in the same case. Don't think any more of it. I am sure the doctor +doesn't believe it himself: he only wants to show what might be +thought if you get a character for playing tricks. I am excessively +vexed at this." + +"I don't feel at all certain he believes me yet," said Frank; "but +this I declare, that unless your poem is found, I will withdraw all +claim--I won't touch the prize for any consideration." + +"Don't do that, Frank," said Hamilton; "I'll give you some trouble yet +with my new one." + +"If that gets it, so much the better," said Frank, "and I dare say it +will; but you all hear--my mind is made up--I won't have a prize for +this poem unless it is gained over Hamilton's first." + +"How came the doctor to begin this rigmarole?" asked Salisbury. + +Frank blushed, and replied, with a conscious laugh: "I did an abominably +foolish thing last night, in dipping all the bed-room candles that were +standing in the pantry, into a tempting basin of water; and Mrs. Guppy +was malicious because the candles sputtered and wouldn't light, and, +as usual, determined that I had done it; and Fudge taxed me with it +this morning." + +"I wish," said Hamilton, emphatically, "I could discover the author of +this shameful piece of business. It was vexatious enough in the first +place, but this is painful to us all. Frank, every one knows you." + +"Doctor best of all," put in Frank. + +"I will give myself up to discovering who has done it," said Hamilton. + +"You had better give yourself up to finishing your poem," said Reginald; +"for it's my humble opinion if you haven't found it now, your eyes won't +discover the clue, if you were Argus himself." + +The others then began a rather noisy debate on the impropriety of +their master's behavior; and little Alfred, finding his brother was +not speaking, ventured to remind him of his promise. Contrary to his +usual habit, Hamilton turned quite crossly to him: + +"What an idle fellow you are! Why don't you get _Lempriere_ and find +them out for yourself?--you ought not to be beginning now." + +"I tried, Edward, but I couldn't understand it, and it went out of my +head. I want to know about Cecropia again--I forget what country it was, +Edward," said the child, timidly, noticing an ominous reddening of his +brother's face. + +"A great deal of use it is giving you any information, is it not, sir? +I have a great mind to make you write out every word I say. And pray +what else have you forgotten?" + +"Not _forgotten_ any thing," said Alfred, meekly; "but I wanted to +know, please Edward, who was Hannibal's father, and whether it was +true about Hannibal's making the rocks red hot, and pouring vinegar +on them? I don't think it could, for I don't know where he could +get so much." + +"A great deal he carried in his own countenance," said Frank, "and +the rest was made from the wine supplied for the Carthaginian officers. +There's nothing like white-wine vinegar, Alfred; and the Carthaginians +were renowned for parting with luxuries on an emergency." + +"Now I know that's your nonsense," said Alfred, looking very puzzled. +"And, please Edward, who was Philomela and--" + +"That's enough--one at a time!" exclaimed Hamilton; "get _Lempriere_, +and my Roman History, and you shall look them out with me. It's to be +hoped you are not dreaming of a prize." + +"Poor infant!" said Salisbury; "it's hard work, I know, to remember +the difference between those heathen chaps." + +Alfred had just brought the required books, and was opening them by +his brother's desire, and Hamilton was standing near him at the table, +when suddenly a packet was thrown into the room, and fell at his feet. +Changing color, he picked it up with the rapidity of lightning, and, +with an exclamation, rushed out of the room, before any one but Alfred +had seen the transaction. Louis had just gained the threshold of the +door leading to the playground, when Hamilton hailed him, and his long +strides gaining on Louis' terror-impeded steps, he presently reached +him, and, grasping him tightly by both arms, bore him back to the +class-room, sternly desiring two or three boys, who attempted to +follow, to stay behind. Louis did not make any resistance, and +Hamilton, after locking the door and putting the key into his pocket, +brought him irresistibly to the front of the fire, and, placing him +with his back against the table, opposite the assembled group, desired +him, under pain of instant punishment, to remain where he was. + +"What is the matter with him, Hamilton?" asked Reginald. + +"You shall see presently," said Hamilton; "I mean to have some +inquiries answered: and please, Mortimer, however unpleasant it +may be to you, let us have fair play." + +"I only stipulate it for Louis too," said Reginald. + +"He shall have it," said Hamilton, calmly; "but if he attempts to +move till I have done, I will carry him at once to Dr. Wilkinson." + +Hamilton glanced at the windows, where five or six heads were +darkening the lower panes, in their eagerness to discover the +cause of Louis' forcible abduction; and, walking coolly up to +them, bolted them, and drew down both blinds. He then returned +to his place, and, drawing his coat-tails under his arms, arranged +himself with his back to the fire, exactly opposite to Louis, who +stood passively where he had been placed, very pale, but otherwise +showing little emotion. + +"Now, sir," began Hamilton, "explain how you got this." + +As he spoke, he produced, to the astonishment of his school-fellows, +the parcel--rubbed at the edges, but still the identical parcel, as +he proved, by breaking the seal, and showing the writing inside. + +"What! Louis Mortimer!" exclaimed Jones. + +"_Et tu Brute!_" ejaculated Frank, in a tone of mingled surprise +and reproach. + +"Louis!" said Reginald, coloring deeply; "oh, Louis! How did you +find it, Hamilton?" + +"Did you not see it come in through the half-open door just now?" +said Hamilton. + +"I fancied I saw something fly along," said Meredith. + +"I thought I heard something fall," said another. + +"Too cowardly to come openly," said Trevannion. + +The room seemed to turn round with Louis. + +"How did you come by this?" said Hamilton. + +There was no answer. + +"I will have an answer, Louis," he said: "and if you don't give it +to me, you shall to Dr. Wilkinson!" + +Louis murmured something that no one heard. + +"What?" said Hamilton, sharply; "speak so as we can all hear. If you +have brought it back for some one else," he added, in a softened tone, +"say so at once; only let me know who took it." + +"I took it," replied Louis, with a great effort. + +"You ungrateful viper!" exclaimed Jones. + +Hamilton appeared a little moved, but checking the emotion, continued: + +"You! for--your--own--especial--gratification? And pray, when might +you have accomplished that adroit and praiseworthy feat?" + +"Last Friday," said Louis, in so low a tone, that nothing but the +silence that reigned could have made it audible. + +"And what was your motive?" asked Hamilton, leaning back against +the mantelpiece, and putting one foot on the fender behind him. + +"Only a little fun!" + +"Pretty respectable _fun_!" said Hamilton, contemptuously. + +"Gratitude might have restrained you, one would think," said Jones, +"if nothing else would. A pretty return for all Hamilton's kindness, +to set to work to lose him his prize!" + +"I didn't, Jones," said Louis, warmly; "I thought it was a letter; I +didn't mean any harm. And as to gratitude--when Hamilton was kind to +me, I was grateful--and I do feel grateful for his kindness now; but +he has been unkind enough lately to make me forget that." + +"And reason enough he had," said Meredith. "Unkind, indeed! why no one +else stood your friend when we found out what a tell-tale you were." + +"I am sure nobody knew he was my friend then," said Louis, assuming an +air of independence that ill became him. "Only last Friday, he let me +believe that Trevannion had the doctor's Rollin; he offered me his, but +I wasn't likely to take that, and--" Louis hesitated, for Hamilton's eye +was upon him so calmly and inquiringly; and Louis felt he was not likely +to have had such an idea in his head. + +"And what?" said Hamilton, quietly. + +"Nothing," replied Louis; "I don't believe you knew, only it was rather +strange, Hamilton." + +"What was strange?" said Hamilton, in the same unmoved tone. + +"Only when I came back into this room, I saw it on the table with your +things, and I thought you had it, perhaps," said Louis, reluctantly. +"If it hadn't been for that, I shouldn't have come here, and shouldn't +have thought of playing the trick." + +"You little--" exclaimed Trevannion. Not being able to find a genteel +epithet strong enough, he continued, "When Hamilton had just taken the +trouble of exchanging his own history with me, for your service! I see +it all now, Hamilton--you ungrateful boy!" + +"How should I know? he never said so," replied Louis, touched to the +heart at this proof of his friend's kindness; and grieved very deeply +that he should have thought or said so unkind a thing of him in his +anger. "How am I to know what people think, if they don't speak, or +if I don't see them?" + +"And so you did it out of revenge?" said Hamilton. + +Louis was silent for a minute, for he could not speak; but at last +he replied, in a quivering voice-- + +"No; I told you I did it out of fun. I thought it was a letter, +and--and I have been very sorry I ever did any thing so foolish. +I should have brought it back sooner, but I could not remember +what I did with it." + +"Why did you not tell me, at least, that you had taken it, Louis," +said Hamilton, "when I was inquiring for it? It would have been +more open." + +"I should have done it, I believe, if I had known how you would have +heard me--but it's not so easy when every one is against you. I brought +it only a few minutes after I found it." + +"Who put such a thing into your head, Louis?" asked Reginald. + +Louis checked the answer he had nearly given, and remained silent. + +"Were you alone?" said Hamilton. "Were you the only one concerned +in this business?" + +"I was not alone," replied Louis, rather proudly; "but I do not mean +to say who was with me. He was not to blame for what I did." + +"How so?" asked Hamilton. "Didn't he put it into your head, and help +you to do it?" + +"You have no right to ask such questions," said Louis, uneasily. +"He came in to help me find Rollin, and--that's all I shall tell you." + +"What, Casson help you to find Rollin!" said Hamilton, quickly. +"He wouldn't know the book from a Lexicon." + +"He did, however," said Louis; then, becoming suddenly conscious, +from the intelligent glances exchanged among his judges, of the +admission he had made, he turned very red, and exclaimed, + +"It's very unfair!" + +"I knew he was your companion," said Hamilton, rather scornfully. "You +have belonged to his set too much lately to suppose otherwise--and this +is the consequence." + +"If it is, Hamilton," said Louis, scarcely able to speak for the warmth +of his feelings, "you might have prevented it if you would. You wouldn't +forgive my speaking carelessly once--and no one that I cared for would +notice me. He was almost the only one who would speak to me. If you had +said one word, I shouldn't have been so bad. I thought you didn't care +about me, and I didn't mean to stay where I wasn't wanted." + +The expression of Hamilton's face was not easy, and he drowned the end +of Louis' speech by knocking all the fire-irons down with a movement of +his poised foot. + +"It was a likely way to be wanted, I imagine," said Jones, "to go on +as you have been doing. Besides, who is to know what's likely to be +safe with such a tell-tale--a traitor--in the camp as you are?" + +"If there hadn't been another as great," said Louis, "you would never +have known of me; but you bear with him because you can't turn him out." + +"Pray, sir!" exclaimed Norman, "whom do you mean?" + +Louis felt sorry he had allowed himself to say so much; but he stood +unshrinkingly before his interrogator, and replied: + +"I mean you, Norman: you know if you hadn't told tales of me this +wouldn't have happened." + +What vengeance Louis might have drawn on himself by this ill-judged +speech we cannot tell, had not Hamilton stepped forward and interposed. + +There was a grim ghost of a smile on his face as he put his arm in +front of Louis. + +"Fair play, Norman," he said; "I won't have him touched here. +You can go now." + +As Louis left the room, Hamilton resumed his former attitude, +and seemed lost in a revery of an unpleasant description, while +a discussion on Louis' conduct was noisily carried on around him: +some declaring that Louis had done the deed from malicious motives, +others believing that it was merely a foolish joke of which he had +not calculated the consequences, and a third party attributing it +entirely to Casson's influence. + +"Vexed as I am to find Louis has been so foolish," said Reginald, +"I am glad, Frank, that you will now be cleared. Hamilton, I am sure +you believe that Louis only intended a joke?" + +Hamilton nodded gravely. + +"I suppose you'll clear up the matter instanter, Hamilton?" +said Jones. + +"_Clear up the matter?_ How! is it not clear enough already?" +said Hamilton, almost fiercely. + +"Clear to us, but not to the doctor," said Meredith. + +"It's as clear as it's likely to be, then," said Hamilton. "I intend +to send up this poem the last evening, and say nothing about it." + +"A likely story!" exclaimed Jones. + +"If you don't, I shall, Hamilton," said Salisbury. + +"Whoever breathes a word of the matter," cried Hamilton, "ceases from +that moment to be a friend of mine. Whose business is it, I should like +to know--if I choose to throw that unhappy thing on the fire, who is the +loser but myself? What satisfaction can it be to any one to get that boy +into such a mess?" + +As Hamilton spoke he disdainfully flung the poem on the table, and +drew the fender, contents and all, on the floor with his fidgety foot. + +"The matter comes to this," said Reginald: "it appears that either +Louis must be exposed, or Frank suffer for his delinquencies. It is +not, certainly, fair to Frank, and mustn't be, Hamilton, though Louis +is my brother." + +Hamilton cast a bewildered look on Frank. + +"True, I had really forgotten Frank. It must be so, then," he said, +in a lower tone. + +"No, Hamilton, no!" said Frank; "I won't have you tell of poor Louis. +I don't care a bit about Fudge's suspicions now, _you_ all _know_ I +am clear. Don't say a word about it, I beg." + +"Frank, you're a fine fellow!" exclaimed Hamilton, grasping his hand; +"but I don't think it is quite fair." + +"Nonsense!" said Frank, gayly; "I owe him something for relieving +me from my situation; and, besides," he added, more gravely, "Louis +deserves a little forbearance from us: none of us would have done +what he did, last half." + +"You are right," said Hamilton, warmly; "none of us would, but all of +us have forgotten that lately; even Ferrers, who ought, at least, to +have befriended him, has turned the cold shoulder to him. I feel quite +indignant with Ferrers." + +"Ferrers had a little reason to doubt him," said Trevannion. + +"What, for letting his name slip out by accident?" said Hamilton, +scornfully; "you heard how he let out Casson's just now--you wouldn't +blame him for that, I imagine?" + +"No," said Frank; "and I can tell you that Mrs. Paget (no offence to +her nephew) is one of those dear retailers of all descriptions of news, +that would worm a secret out of a toad in a stone, and Louis hasn't +ready wit enough to manage her." + +"He has no presence of mind, and a little vanity," said Hamilton. + +"He is as vain as a peacock--a lump of vanity!" exclaimed Norman; +"without an atom of moral courage to stand any persuasion short of +being desired to put his head into the fire--a perfect coward!" + +"And where did you get your moral courage, Mr. Norman?" said Hamilton, +with deliberate gravity; "we may send you to the heathen for reproof: + + 'If thou hast strength, 'twas heaven that strength bestowed, + For know, vain man, thy valor is from God.'" + +Norman was on the point of speaking, but Hamilton continued in the +same calm, irresistible manner: + +"If Louis is vain, we are proud; and I should like to know which is +the worst,--having an exalted opinion of ourselves, or craving the +exalted opinion of others? We have not behaved well to Louis, poor +fellow! we first spoiled him by over-indulgence and flattery, and +when this recoils upon us, we visit all the evil heavily on him." + +"I only want to remark," said Meredith, "that we had a right to expect +more consistency in a professed saint." + +"Perhaps so," said Hamilton; "yet, though I am sure Louis is a sincere +Christian, he is not free from faults, and had still a hard work to do +in overcoming them; and, because he has for a time forgotten that he +had this work to do, shall we cast him off as a reprobate? Remember it +was his former blameless conduct that made us expect more from him than +another: the Power that guided him then can restore him again. But we +have sadly forgotten that great duty, of bearing one another's burdens, +which he taught us so sweetly a few months ago. Let us forgive him," +continued Hamilton, with tears in his eyes, "as we would be forgiven; +considering how we should act in temptation ourselves." + +There was a dead silence, for Hamilton's address had something solemn +in it. He added, after a short pause-- + +"I feel that we seniors have an immense responsibility: the power of +doing much good or harm lies with us. I have been far too selfish and +indifferent: Trevannion, will you forgive the thoughtless words that +so justly offended you, but which, I assure you, had only the meaning +of an angry emotion?" + +"Willingly!" said Trevannion, starting up to meet the proffered hand +of his friend; "I am sorry I should have been so much offended." + +Reginald was making some acknowledgments to Hamilton and Frank, when a +messenger came to summon Hamilton to a short turn with the doctor, and +after gladly accepting Reginald's offer of performing his task towards +Alfred, he took up his poem, and went away full of deep thoughts and +regrets, that the late scene had called forth. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + "O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast + fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn + to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and + receive us graciously; so will we render the calves of + our lips."--Hosea xiv. 1, 2. + + +When Louis left the class-room, his feelings of grief and shame were +almost too bitter for restraint; but he had learned lately to conceal +something of what he felt from those who were not likely to sympathize +with him; and finding some boys in the school-room, and being subjected +there to several disagreeable remarks and questions, he went into the +playground, in the hope of finding either relief in change of scene, +or a little more seclusion than he could hope for in-doors; and after +escaping from some tormentors, who met him at the door, in their anxiety +to know what Hamilton wanted with him, he went towards the side of the +playground that looked upon the lane, hardly caring where he was going, +or what became of him. + +The door was open, and disregarding, or more properly, forgetting, the +injunctions respecting it, he went up to it, and stood looking out into +the lane, till at last, one of his school-fellows discovering the open +door, came up, and asked him to keep watch for him, while he went on a +forbidden errand. + +Meantime, Dr. Wilkinson and Hamilton had, after a walk across the +grounds in front of the house, turned into the lane, making as large +a round as possible, on their way to the house. Hamilton was in a very +silent humor, and as his tutor was equally grave, very few words passed +between them during the first half of their walk; and if Hamilton had +thought at all about what he had undertaken so mechanically, he might +have wondered how the doctor could have wanted a companion, when he +was in so taciturn a humor. + +Suddenly the doctor remarked,--"Have you heard nothing of your poem, +Hamilton?" + +This was so unexpected a question, and Hamilton was so unwilling to +make a direct answer, that he remained silent for a minute or two, +his hesitation and color convincing his master that Louis had acted +up to his determination. + +"Well, have you forgotten all about it?" said the doctor, good-humoredly. + +"I have found it, sir--here it is," he replied, producing the paper. + +"How did you get it?" asked the doctor, who betrayed far less surprise +and satisfaction than the occasion seemed to demand. + +"It was thrown into the class-room this morning, sir," said Hamilton, +reservedly. + +"And you are ignorant of the party?" said the doctor, with raised +eyebrows. + +"No, sir, I know who has done it," replied Hamilton, after a slight +pause; "but I must beg you to excuse my naming him. I think there +is no danger of a repetition of the offence. Of course you will +understand, sir, that I do not mean Digby, who is as innocent as +I ever believed him." + +There was a little silence, while the doctor ran his eye down +a page of Hamilton's manuscript. + +"As you wish to keep the matter secret, I shall ask no further +questions; only, Digby may not think it quite fair." + +"He wishes it to be so, sir," replied Hamilton, eagerly. "It is quite +his wish now he knows I have _proof_ that he is not the culprit." + +Dr. Wilkinson's face lighted up with an expression of great satisfaction, +as he said, + +"It does Digby credit." + +Hamilton was on the point of hazarding a remark on the impossibility +of Frank's contemplating such a thing, when they turned a corner of the +lane that brought them in sight of the playground wall and the farm-yard +opposite. The doctor's attention was suddenly arrested by the figure of +a boy, perched on the top of the high wall surrounding the latter, who +was reaching downwards towards the top of a large hawthorn-tree that +grew inside. + +"Hey-day! Hamilton, who's that?" he exclaimed. "Do you recognize +the figure? If my eyes deceive me not, it is Louis Mortimer. I have +strongly suspected lately that I have been robbed more than once. +It _is_ Louis Mortimer." + +The doctor's tone assumed its ready sternness, and he quickened his +pace. Hamilton could not doubt the evidence of his senses, but he felt +miserably disappointed. + +"I do not think Louis Mortimer would do so, sir," he said, faintly. + +"There he is, however, out of bounds," said the doctor. + +"Something else may have taken him there," said Hamilton. + +"I hope it may prove so, but he is surely receiving something from +below--he sees us--he will be down--he will assuredly break his neck!" +exclaimed the doctor, hurriedly. "There--quick, Hamilton--run." + +Hamilton needed no bidding, for, as soon as he saw Louis fall, +he ran off in the direction of the stable-yard. The doctor followed +so quickly that Hamilton had only just raised Louis from the ground +when he came up. To their great satisfaction he was not much hurt, +having fallen on a heap of straw that lay just under the wall. He +was much frightened, and at first so stunned as to be almost incapable +of understanding what was said to him. On the ground near him lay his +green baize bag, and rolling about in all directions, some apples, +one or two still remaining in the bag. + +"Where is your companion, sir?" was the first question Dr. Wilkinson +asked, after ascertaining that no injury had been done to Louis. + +"There was no one with me, sir," replied Louis, almost inarticulately. + +"What were you doing here, sir?" + +"I came to fetch my bag, sir." + +"It is a mercy you were not killed," said Dr. Wilkinson, gravely. +"Put the apples in that bag, Hamilton." + +Dr. Wilkinson waited till Hamilton had performed this task, and +then desired Louis to take the bag and follow him. + +Louis did as he was desired, but he was evidently not yet in a +condition to walk, and trembled so violently that Hamilton caught +hold of him to prevent him from falling. + +"He can't walk yet, sir," he said, compassionately. "I will bring +him in when he has recovered a little." + +"It is too cold to sit out here," said the doctor. "Where are you hurt?" + +"I don't exactly know; I am not much _hurt_--but, oh! I feel so +strange, Hamilton. Let me walk--I can take your arm." + +Dr. Wilkinson looked anxiously at him, and assisted him, with Hamilton's +aid, across the road, through the garden, into the kitchen, where, with +a little hartshorn and water, he was soon in a condition to go up stairs. +Dr. Wilkinson desired him to go to bed for the rest of the day, and +sent Reginald to help him. The bag he took into his own possession +till further occasion. + +Louis was too much dismayed by his ill success, and too much exhausted +by the shock of his fall, to make any remarks till he reached his room. +Hamilton did not leave him until he had seen him comfortably in bed; +and then, after wrapping him up most tenderly, he leaned over him, and +asked what was really the matter. + +Louis endeavored to answer calmly, but in his present weak condition +Hamilton's kind manner overcame him, and he burst into tears. + +"Oh, dear!" he exclaimed, amid his violent sobs; "oh, Reginald, +Reginald--Hamilton, I am so unfortunate! Every thing I do is always +found out; but others can do all sorts of things, and no one knows it." + +"Is there any thing then to be found out, Louis?" said Hamilton, +gravely; "if so, it is far better for you that it should be." + +Louis suddenly threw his arms round Hamilton, as he sat near him. + +"Hamilton, I did not go there to steal, I am sure," he said, throwing +his head back, and examining his friend's face with the most intense +anxiety. "I am sure, Hamilton, bad as I am, you could not believe it +of me. I have been very sinful, but oh, I am very sorry; and, Hamilton, +I _could_ not do so very wicked a thing. Do remember, please, how things +were against me before when I was not guilty. Though it seems all against +me now, I assure you, the only thing I have done wrong is going out of +bounds--oh, do let me keep my arms round you, Hamilton--don't believe +me guilty. I haven't--oh, I haven't had a friend for so long! I have +been very proud and self-willed--if I had been humble perhaps things +would not have gone so wrong. I never even said I was sorry I repeated +what you said to Mrs. Paget; but I was sorry, Hamilton--very, very sorry, +only I did not like to say so. Will you forgive me, and be my friend +again? I have been so ungrateful, I am afraid you will never love me +any more." + +Hamilton was completely overcome by the vehemence of Louis' appeal. +He pressed the poor boy closer to him, and even kissed his forehead, +as if he were a little child. + +"Love you, Louis! love you, dear boy!" he replied; "you have had reason +to doubt it, but I have always loved you. I forgive you from my heart, +but you have something to forgive in me. I have not been as kind to you +as I might have been." + +"I am very sorry I spoke so unkindly of you this morning, Hamilton," +sobbed Louis, laying his wet cheek on Hamilton's shoulder. "I was cross, +and didn't think of what I was saying." + +"Don't think any more about it," said Hamilton, affectionately; "lie +down, and tell me quietly how you came to be on that wall just now." + +"I was standing at the wooden door," said Louis, "when Sally Simmons +told me that she had seen my bag on the great hawthorn-tree, by the +wall on the other side. And when I asked her how it got there, she +said, she supposed I knew, but it was too high for her to reach; and +if I didn't get it, the doctor would find me out. At first, I thought +I wouldn't go," said Louis, hesitating; "and then I was afraid I should +be getting into a scrape--I am sometimes so unfortunate--and so I went +across the lane, and got over the gate, and went into the yard to see +if it were there. And there it was, Hamilton, with some apples in it, +too, hanging partly, and partly lying, near the top of the tree; it was +so high that I was obliged to get upon the cow-house roof, and as the +cow-house was on the wrong side, I was obliged to get on the wall to +read it. And I was pulling it off when you first saw me, and then--I +was afraid, and as I was rather over-reaching myself, I tried to get +down in a hurry, and fell down. I think the tree broke my fall; but I +don't know how it was, for I hardly understood any thing, even when +you came up." + +"You had better have let it alone," said Reginald. + +"What were you doing at the gate?" said Hamilton; "keeping watch?" + +"One of them asked me," replied Louis. + +Hamilton shook his head. + +"Have you any idea how your bag came there?" + +"Please don't ask me any questions about that, Hamilton. Will you not +believe I am innocent?" + +"I fully believe your story, Louis, but I know you have been in bad +company lately, and I wish to help you to clear yourself. Tell me all +you know. If you have ever had even the least hand in any thing like +this, make a friend of me, and tell me at once. Have you not some +idea who put your bag there?" + +"I may guess, you know," said Louis, evasively; "but, Hamilton, I +do assure you, I never had any thing to do with any robbery here at +all--never once." + +"If you do not know who has done it, then," said Hamilton, "I am sure +your _guess_ is a very accurate one--whom do you _guess_?" + +"I cannot tell you, Hamilton; you mustn't ask me." + +"This is only nonsense," said Reginald, impatiently. "Are you going to +make a martyr of yourself for a set of bad fellows who are a disgrace +to the school?" + +"They may tell themselves, perhaps," said Louis, "but I will not." + +"Louis!" said Hamilton, seriously, "this is folly; don't let a +mistaken notion of honor induce you to screen these bad boys from +their just punishment. By doing so, you are doing an injury to others +as well as yourself. You must remember, that these evil-disposed boys +are still mixing with others, to whom their example and principles +may do much harm, independently of the evil done to themselves by +being allowed to sin with impunity. Louis, you were saying just now, +that you were very unfortunate--they are the most unfortunate whose +crimes are undiscovered, and therefore unchecked. If you are, as you +say, innocent of any participation in this affair, why should you wish +to conceal what you know, or, at least, telling me whom you lent your +bag to?" + +"I did not lend it at all lately," said Louis, raising his face from +the pillow, where he had hidden it. "The thing is, Hamilton," continued +he, very sorrowfully, "I am called a tell-tale, and I know I deserve +it; but the worst is, they call me a hypocrite, and say that religious +people are no better than others. I could bear it if it were only +myself, but it is more, and I have given reasons for them to say all +kinds of things," he added, and burst anew into tears. "But do not +make me tell any more tales. I have promised, Hamilton--I dare not--I +_will_ not break my promise!" + +Hamilton made no immediate reply, and the loud ringing of the +dinner-bell obliged him to leave Louis to himself. + +"If it is a promise, Louis," he said, as he left the room with +Reginald, "I won't urge you to break it; but remember well how +the promise was made--remember the consequences." + +"Reginald," he added, when they had closed the door, "I have a clue; +depend upon it, he won't be much the worse, poor fellow. But the +doctor knows him well, I am sure." + +Reginald stole away after dinner to sit with Louis, and to endeavor +to persuade him to disclose all his suspicions, but all he could +obtain was a kind of half-promise to clear it up, after he had seen +how the matter would end; and the subject caused him so much distress, +that Reginald at length left it alone. + +"Sit down by my side, dear Reginald," said Louis, "and tell me again +that you forgive me. I cannot think how I could be so unkind to you +as I have been lately, when you were so anxious about me. I have been +ungrateful to every body." + +"Don't make yourself miserable," said Reginald, as gayly as he could. +"I know I am hasty and cross, and don't go the right way to help you; +but you had spoiled me by being so very gentle before, and I didn't +understand your having any spirit." + +"It was a very wrong spirit," replied Louis; "the fact is, Reginald, +I have not been serving God lately, though at first I did not know it +myself. I thought I did a great many things when I came back to school, +because it would glorify God; when, I really believe now, the reason +was--to be praised for it. Every one seemed to think so much of me, +and that every thing I did was right. I have wished so many times +lately, that all the trouble of last half-year might come again if +I should be so happy. But, Reginald, when the boys would not speak +to me, then I knew by my angry feelings that I only cared for myself; +and I saw that I had not been serving God, and I became afraid to pray. +Sometimes so strangely, when I knew I was in the wrong, and that I ought +to pray for help to be better, yet I wanted to look grand, and to show +I didn't care, and I never used the time I had, and that's very little +here, Reginald. I have been thinking of myself almost ever since I came +back--I have been thinking of glorifying myself!" He paused, and then +added, in a lower tone, "I fancied I was not selfish, but now I _know_ +I am!" + +When Reginald went away, Louis had long and quiet time to trace the +reason of his sad falling away, and to make his peace with Him whose +great name he had so dishonored. Earnestly, humbly, and sorrowfully +did he confess his faults. How bowed to the earth he felt, in the +consciousness of his utter impotence! He remembered how confident +he had been in his good name; and now he became aware, in this silent +self-examination, how mixed his motives had been, how full of vanity +and vain-glory he had been, how careless in waiting for "more grace," +how little he had thought of pressing forward, how wanting he had been +in that single heart that thought only of doing the work committed +to him regardless of the approbation of men--that only desired to +know what was right in order fearlessly to follow it; and unutterable +were the tearful desires of his heart that he might be strengthened +for the time to come to walk more worthy of the vocation wherewith +he was called. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + "I will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely; + for mine anger is turned away from him. Ephraim shall say, + What have I to do any more with idols?"--Hosea xiv. 4, 8. + + "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak + peace to His people, and to His saints, but let them not + turn again to folly."--Psalm lxxxv. 8. + + +Louis awoke from a calm, sound sleep very early the next morning, +with a dim, indistinct recollection of having, when half awake during +the night, seen Dr. Wilkinson standing by him, and of a consciousness +of a hand being laid on his forehead and his hands; but, as he did not +feel certain, much less suppose it likely, he settled that he must have +dreamed it. It was quite dark when he awoke, and it was some few minutes +before the events of the preceding day ranged themselves in any order +in his mind; and then his thoughts flew to that rest whence they had +been so long absent. + +In about half an hour, several of his school-fellows began to rouse +themselves, and, a candle or two being lighted, dressing was hastily +accomplished; and, rolling themselves up in counterpanes and blankets, +shawl fashion, they proceeded to pore over the books they had brought +up the night before. + +"I don't mean to get up," growled Frank; "it's a great deal more +comfortable in bed. Clifton, bring me my candle here, and put it +on that chair--I shall make a studium of my couch." + +"Dr. Wilkinson asked if we read with candles near the beds," said +Clifton. "He said he wouldn't have us read in bed unless it were +daylight, Digby." + +"Well, we'll suppose he didn't," said Frank, "so come along." + +"No, I won't," said Clifton, sitting down, near a chest of drawers, +on which was a candle, the joint property of himself, Reginald, and +Louis. + +"You won't, won't you?" said Frank, coolly; "Reginald, my candle's +near you, I'll trouble you for it." + +"You must take the consequences, then," said Reginald, "for I heard +the doctor say so." + +"_I_ didn't," said Frank, snuffing his candle, and opening a book; +"Meredith, I'd advise you to follow my example." + +"I followed it yesterday, and fell asleep in uncomfortable snoozes +till the bell rang," yawned Meredith. "Reading one word and dreaming +six may be entertaining, but it is certainly not instructive." + +There was very little noise, and Louis lay for some time in deep +thought. At length he moved as if with the intention of getting up, +when Reginald started up and planted his beaming face over him so as +to prevent his rising: + +"Awake at last, Louis?" + +"Yes, I have been awake a long time." + +"You've been very quiet." + +"How happy you look!" said Louis; "I could almost fancy you had +something to tell." + +"What will you give me for my news?" + +"I am afraid I can offer nothing but thanks," replied Louis, smiling. + +"What should you say if I were to tell you Casson was gone?" + +"Casson _gone_!" exclaimed Louis, starting up in spite of his +brother's incubian overseership. "Where? When? How? Was he ill? +What was the matter?" + +"He went home yesterday evening by the London coach. He was in +perfect bodily health. The matter was, that the magister wouldn't +keep him." + +"What! _expelled_, Reginald?" said Louis, aghast. + +"Expelled, Louis," Reginald replied, gravely; "don't look so +frightened; he deserved it." + +"Oh, Reginald! it is so terrible! But how--why was it so sudden?" + +"Ah, Beauty!" said Frank, "a few wonders have happened while +your ladyship has been sleeping there. What will you say to +Harris going, too?" + +"Harris! no, surely not, Frank? Tell me, do tell me what's been +the matter." + +"We promised to let Hamilton tell the story," said Reginald. +"He has been, in a great measure, the cause of finding all out; +so make haste and go to him, for I want you back again." + +Louis did not need any further bidding--he hurried his toilette, +and flew to the room that Hamilton enjoyed to himself. Hamilton +was up. An open Bible lay near him, which he closed as Louis entered. + +"How are you, foolish boy, this morning?" he said, kindly--very kindly, +Louis thought, as he squeezed his hand. + +"I am very well, thank you. Reginald's been telling me strange news +this morning." + +"News?" said Hamilton. "He promised me--" + +"Oh! I only know that Casson's gone, and Harris going, but he would +not tell me any more." + +"Well, then, I will." + +"Hamilton," said Louis, gently laying his hand on Hamilton's, +"may I ask one thing?" + +"What is it?" + +"Will you read a little of this with me first?" he said, timidly, +touching the Bible. "I have neglected it so lately. It would be so +pleasant before we begin any thing else. You do not know how difficult +it is in our room to be a minute quiet." + +Hamilton had opened the Bible before Louis had finished, and bade +him select a chapter, which he asked him to read aloud. + +Louis read the 7th Psalm, and the 14th of Hosea; and when he had +finished, he and his friend remained very silent. + +Hamilton felt for Louis, though he did not know how soothingly +the sweet words fell on the soul of the erring boy; how unspeakably +precious had been the promise, that the backslider should be healed, +and the dew of the Spirit refresh him, and make him grow in grace. +Louis felt a wish to prolong those gracious words, "Ephraim shall say, +What have I any more to do with idols? I have heard and observed him; +I am like a green fir-tree, from me is thy fruit found!" + +"Dear Hamilton," he said, at length, "I have a very great favor to +beg of you--would you let me come in a little every morning to read +with you? It would do me so much good." + +"By all means," said Hamilton, perhaps a little shily; but it was +promise enough to call forth Louis' heartfelt thanks. + +Hamilton then made Louis don a cloak of his, and stretching his own +legs, so as to rest them comfortably on the window where Louis was +sitting, he entered into a minute detail of the events of yesterday +afternoon, equally surprising and interesting to Louis. + +It appeared that Hamilton, acting on his own strong suspicions, went +immediately after dinner to Dr. Wilkinson, whom, strange to say, he +found equally inclined to listen to them; for he confessed to Louis +that he did not exactly know what had made Dr. Wilkinson so suddenly +take such a decided view of Casson's character as he appeared to have +done. They went to the stable and examined it very carefully. They +found the door unfastened; but on further consideration, discovered +that the staple, which was rusty, had been broken off, so that, though +the key had been turned, it could be opened as easily as if it had had +no lock. They went up through the trap-door, but found nothing to +assist them, till, just as they were descending, Hamilton picked up +part of a Greek exercise. It was very small, not more than two inches +square; a more careless observer might not have noticed it, but Hamilton +seized it as a treasure, and, with the doctor's advice, set to work to +discover whose handwriting it was. + +The few words he deciphered carried him to the second class for the +owner: "And oh, Louis! Dr. Wilkinson looked so grave when I told him +it was Kenrick. But I knew it was not your writing. With very little +trouble, and without discovering any thing, I soon found Harris to have +been the writer. Having settled this point about an hour after school +had begun, I took the first opportunity of informing the doctor, who +immediately entered the school-room, suspended all business, summoned +every one, and in an able speech, as the papers would say, prefaced +the proceedings by declaring how painful it had been to him to discover +that any of his pupils were not trustworthy, _et cetera_; and his +determination to arrive at some conclusion on the point, to know +whether his orders were or were not to be obeyed. He then mentioned +having found you, and his firm belief, that even supposing you had +gone there for the purpose of abstracting the apples, _which he could +not believe_, you must have been tempted and persuaded to it by +older hands; he called upon the offenders to come forward and clear +the matter. Well, no one answered; and then the doctor just alluded +to you, and what you had suffered last half, and said that he had +determined that every one should be aware of the grounds of accusation, +and he desired, if any one knew of any thing that would throw a light +on the matter, he would come forward. + +"Then, to every one's surprise, comes up Charles Clifton, and tells +him coolly, that he was sure you had not stolen the apples, and that +it was very likely to be Harris, Casson, and Churchill, and that Sally +Simmons had, in his presence, given them apples, and they joked about +the place where they came from. Sally was called, and at last confessed +that she had let Casson know where the apples were kept; and they +frightened her, or something, for she tried to bring you in as an +accomplice, only Clifton was so manful, and braved her with so much +spirit, that she soon quitted that ground, and departed under sentence +of dismissal." + +"Oh, poor Sally! I am very sorry." + +"She is a bad girl," said Hamilton; "I never liked Clifton so well +as I did yesterday: there is a great deal of truthful independence +about him." + +"Oh, Charlie's a very nice fellow!" said Louis, warmly. "Well, Hamilton." + +"Well, Casson and Harris bullied, talked of characters defamed, and +stoutly protested innocence. The doctor looked so indignant; I think +I never saw him so thoroughly convinced of the evil-mindedness of any +one, as he appeared to be of Casson's. He heard all they had to say, +and spoke to them seriously of the crime they were adding. Harris +looked abashed, but Casson declared there was not enough to convict +him in the evidence of a 'liar like Sally, and a self-sufficient +fellow like Clifton;' when, to my astonishment, Trevannion came +forward, and gave his pocket-book open into the doctor's hands." +Hamilton then proceeded to tell Louis what Trevannion had seen on +the memorable Friday, and the great effect produced upon the school +by the reading of the memorandum. Churchill confessed every thing, +and cried, and begged pardon. + +It seemed that they had gone no further than the gate leading to the +field, on the Friday morning, as they saw some one in the distance; but +that the plan had been renewed on Monday at twilight, when they were +disturbed by a man with a lantern, coming into the yard as they left +the stable, and, instead of going out the usual way, they scrambled +over the wall, dropping the bag in their hurry, and had no opportunity +the ensuing day to look for it. + +"Harris," continued Hamilton, "turned as white as a sheet, and +murmured something that no one could understand. The doctor spoke +really beautifully. I hope something of what he said may remain +with them, at least, be remembered at some future time." + +"What did he say?" asked Louis. + +"He spoke about the heinousness of the offences they had committed, +and of his sorrow; and, Louis, he spoke as if he were sorry," said +Hamilton, looking down, and speaking gravely. "I felt as if I were +wrong in being so rejoiced at their detection. He spoke of the +necessity he was under, not simply of making an example of such +offenders, which was a duty he owed to the others under his charge, +but of that of marking also to themselves the great abhorrence he +entertained of their conduct. He then spoke of the consequences of +unchecked sin, and, in a few words, mentioned a very sad history +of a former pupil of his who turned out very ill--he is dead, Louis; +the manner in which he spoke of that prayer of the Psalmist's, 'Make +me not a rebuke unto the foolish,' was very solemn; I assure you there +were very few dry eyes." + +Louis' were filled with tears. + +"Well, Hamilton," he said, slowly. + +"He then desired Casson to go directly and make preparations for leaving +his house in less than an hour, and told Harris that he should not allow +him to return after the holidays. There was not a sound when Casson left +the room, Louis, except the sobbing of one or two of the little boys. I +think I never felt any thing so solemn. It is a serious, a very serious +thing." + +"Very, very," said Louis. "Did Casson seem sorry, Hamilton?" + +"He was very pale and silent--I think frightened, not sorry. Harris +stood like a statue while the doctor was speaking; but, when he told +him he was not to return, I heard him sigh so deeply, it was quite +painful." + +"And Churchill?" said Louis, with difficulty. + +"Churchill is to stay a week behind the others, and to write exercises +every day till he goes home." + +"Oh, Hamilton, Hamilton!" cried Louis, bursting fairly into tears, +"I am not crying wholly for sorrow; for I am, and ought to be, thankful +that I have not been made a 'rebuke unto the foolish.'" + +Hamilton pressed his hand. + +"I hope," he continued, "that this may be a blessing to me; but I am +very much afraid of myself, Hamilton, for I am constantly making good +resolutions and breaking them--but, Hamilton, do you think they would +suppose I had told of them?" + +"Dr. Wilkinson told them you would not break your promise and clear +yourself by betraying them," replied Hamilton; "and he also said a +great deal on the folly of rash promises, and the evil of covering +sin. I wish you had heard it; but we must not talk any more, for here +is Alfred, and we shall have the prayer-bell presently; so, if you +have any thing to do before you go down, you had better make haste." + +Louis dried his tears, and obeyed the hint, after submitting, with no +very great reluctance, to a mighty hug from Alfred, who would have given +vent to his delight in a great flow of words had not his brother been +present and waiting for him. There was little time for talking when +Louis returned to his dormitory; but he and his brother made the most +of it, and, arm in arm, they issued forth when the summons was heard. +All the way down stairs Louis received the congratulations of his +school-fellows. Everybody, even Trevannion, seemed to have forgiven +him, and Norman held out his hand at the hall-door with a "Shake hands, +old fellow!" + +Louis felt rather afraid of entering the school-room, but +Dr. Wilkinson made no comment, and, as far as he could judge +from the doubtful light of a few candles struggling with the +coming daylight, scarcely looked at him. The names were called +over. At Harris's name there was a pause---some one answered, +"Not here, sir;" and, as Dr. Wilkinson, without any comment, +proceeded, Louis caught a few whispered words near him: + +"He's been moaning nearly all night, poor fellow! he's in a terrible +way now;" and then the reply, "Ah, the doctor never unsays any thing!" + +When prayers were over, Dr. Wilkinson called Louis into the +study, and kept him till breakfast-time with him. What passed, +never transpired; but that it was something serious was conjectured +from Louis' exceedingly humble manner and red eyes, when he left the +room--though every one was sure, from the subsequent manner of both +master and pupil, that all was entirely forgiven, and Louis reinstated +fully in Dr. Wilkinson's good graces. + +But I must hasten to finish my story. The prize day arrived. It was +a dismal, wet, dreary day; but the boys cared nothing for that, except +that the audience was smaller than usual. Charles Clifton carried away +all the first prizes of his class, except that for French, which was, +contrary to his expectation, adjudged to Louis. Hamilton having privately +signified to the doctor his wish to withdraw all claim to the medal, it +was likewise bestowed on Clifton. Reginald was not successful in any +branch this half-year, having so recently entered the highest class. +As for Frank and Hamilton, the poems were considered so equal--Hamilton's +being the more correct, and Frank's displaying the greater talent and +brilliancy--that they each received a prize exactly alike. The doctor +passed a high encomium on Frank's industry, and that original young +gentleman had the satisfaction of bearing away two prizes in addition +to that already mentioned, leaving another for Hamilton, one for Ferrers, +and one for Norman. + +Just as the boys had dispersed, and Reginald and Louis were arranging +a snug place in their carpet-bag for Louis' prize, a letter was put +into the hand of the former. + +"From home, Reginald?" cried Louis; "I suppose it is to say who is +coming for us." + +But, no;--it was to tell them of the illness of a lady who had been +staying at Dashwood Priory, which had assumed so much the character +of typhus fever, that Mr. Mortimer considered it unsafe for his boys +to return; and the letter, which was from their mother, informed +them, with many expressions of affectionate regret, that their father +had written to ask Dr. Wilkinson to keep them a few days, till it +could be decided how they were to be disposed of. Poor Louis was +grievously disappointed, and Reginald, not less so, inveighed aloud +on the folly and impertinence of ladies going to friends' houses to +fall ill there and prevent their sons from enjoying their holidays, +so long, that Louis at length could not help laughing. + +"But what shall we do, Reginald? it will be so dull here." + +"I shall die of the vapors, I think," said Reginald. + +"Come home with me," said Salisbury, "both of you--I am sure my father +and mother will be very glad to see you." + +"I should like nothing better," replied Reginald; "provided your father +and mother prove of the same accommodating opinion when you sound them." + +"Charlie asked me last week to go with him, Reginald," said Louis; +"if you go with Salisbury, I shall go with him; but if you remain +here, I shall stay with you." + +The brothers received invitations on all sides when their desolate +condition was known, but none could be accepted without the consent +of their parents, or in the mean time of Dr. Wilkinson, as their +guardian. It was finally, settled, that as both Salisbury and Clifton +lived in the neighborhood, their invitations might be accepted till +further notice from Dashwood. + +The lady proved very ill, though, as it was not any infectious +disease, the brothers probably might have been sent for, had not +a heavy fall of snow rendered the roads near Dashwood impassable. + +Louis spent nearly the whole of his holidays very happily with Charles; +becoming, during his stay with them, a great favorite with Mr. Clifton +and his little girls, as well as their nurse. Salisbury had the benefit +of Reginald's company for a fortnight, the rest of his time being +bestowed upon Meredith. + +When the holidays were over, Hamilton returned for his last +half-year. The reflections induced by the preceding term were +not transient. He struggled manfully with the constitutional +indifference of his character; and though there were many failings, +for the habits were too deeply rooted to be suddenly overcome, yet +the effort was not without its use, both to himself and others. +To Louis, he was a constant and useful friend, never flagging in +his efforts to make him more manly and independent in his conduct, +as regarded the opinion of others; and also quietly strengthening, +by his example and encouragement, every good feeling and impression +he noticed. There were no tears shed, but Louis felt very low when he +bade good-bye to Hamilton, at the close of the next half-year. + +"Oh, Hamilton! I owe you a great deal. What shall I do next half +without you? Who will help me?" + +"Thy God, whom thou servest," said Hamilton, reverentially. +"The thanks are not to me for the help of the last few months, +Louis. Good-bye, my dear fellow--our friendship does not end +here; we are friends forever." + +They shook hands warmly and parted. + +Louis continued at school for two or three years longer, and +passed through the ordeal of school-life with credit to himself +and his relations. I would not be thought to mean that he never +did wrong, or was always equally steady in his Christian course; +for the Christian's whole life is a continued fight against the +evil of his nature. He still retained his strong desire to enter +the ministry of the Church, and his studies and pursuits were +principally directed to that end. It was one of his fairest +day-dreams, to be his father's curate when old enough to be +ordained, and though that might not be, he still felt, wherever +he might be placed, his language would be that of the Psalmist, +when he said-- + +"My soul hath a desire and a longing to enter into the courts of +the living God." "For I had rather be a door keeper in the house +of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." + + +THE END + + + + + NEW ILLUSTRATED JUVENILES. + + AUNT FANNY'S STORY BOOK. + Illustrated. 16mo. 50 cnts. + + THE CHILD'S PRESENT. + Illustrated. 16mo. + + HOWITT'S PICTURE AND VERSE BOOK. + Illustrated with 100 plates. 75 cnts.; gilt $1.00 + + HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. + Illustrated. 4to., 25 cnts.; cloth 50 cnts. + + STORY OF JOAN OF ARC. By R. M. Evans. + With 23 illustrations. 16mo. 75 cnts. + + ROBINSON CRUSOE. Pictorial Edition. + 300 plates. 8vo. $1.50 + + THE CARAVAN; A COLLECTION OF TALES AND STORIES FROM THE GERMAN. + Translated by G. P. Quackenboss. Illustrated by Orr. 16mo. + + INNOCENCE OF CHILDHOOD. By Mrs. Colman. + Illustrated. 50 cnts. + + HOME RECREATIONS, comprising Travels and Adventures, &c. + Colored Illustrations. 16mo. 87 cnts. + + FIRESIDE FAIRIES. A New Story Book. My Miss Susan Pindar. + Finely Illustrated. 16mo. + + STORY OF LITTLE JOHN. 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