CHAPTER SIX.
When my aunt Milly called me in the morning, that I might be up and havemy breakfast in time for school, I felt as if two years had passed overmy head during the last twenty-four hours. I had never witnessedtyranny until the day before, and my blood was heated with indignation:I felt myself capable of anything and everything.
My anger was about as great towards my mother and grandmother for havingsent me to such a place, as it was against Mr O'Gallagher. Instead ofgoing up and kissing my mother, I paid no attention to either her or mygrandmother, much to the mortification of the former and surprise of thelatter, who said, in a very cross manner, "Where's your manners, child?why don't you say good morning?"
"Because I have not been long enough at school to learn manners,granny."
"Come and kiss me before you go, my child," said my mother.
"No, mother; you have sent me to school to be beat, and I never willkiss you again."
"Naughty, good-for-nothing boy!" exclaimed my granny; "what a bad heartyou must have."
"No, that he has not," cried my aunt Milly. "Sister should haveinquired what sort of a school it was before she sent him."
"I made every inquiry," replied my granny; "he can't play tricks there."
"Won't I?" cried I, "but I will; and not only there but here. I'll beeven with you all; yes, I'll be even with you, granny, if I die for it."
"Why, you audacious wretch, I've great a mind to--"
"I dare say you have, but recollect I can bite; you'd better be quiet,granny, or, as the master says, `it will end in a blow-up.'"
"Only hear the little wretch," said my granny, lifting up her hands; "Ishall see you hanged yet, you ungrateful child."
"I'm not ungrateful," replied I, throwing my arms round Milly's neck,and kissing her with fervour; "I can love those who love me."
"Then you don't love me?" said my mother, reproachfully.
"I did yesterday, but I don't now; but it's time for me to go, aunt; ismy basket ready? I don't want father to take me to school, I can dowithout him, and when I don't choose to go any more, I won't; recollectthat, mother." So saying, I seized my basket and quitted the room.There was a long consultation, I found, after my departure: my mother,when my aunt had informed her of Mr O'Gallagher's conduct, wished toremove me instantly; my grandmother insisted upon it that there was nota word of truth in what I had said, and threatened that if I did notremain at that very school, she would leave Chatham, and take my auntwith her. As my mother could not part with aunt Milly, the consequencewas, that my grandmother gained the day.
I arrived in good time, and took my seat near my master. I preferreddoing this, as I had had a long conversation with Captain Bridgeman whotold me that although Mr O'Gallagher had put the ruler down aspunishment Number 1, the ferrule Number 2, and the birch as Number 3,and of course they were considered to be worse as the number rose, thathe considered it to be the very contrary, as he had had them all wellapplied when he was at school; he ordered me, therefore, never to holdout my hand to the ferrule, by which refusal I should, of course, beflogged; but he assured me that the birch, especially when it is givenoften, was a mere nothing. Now I considered that the surest way toavoid the ruler was to sit close to my master, who could then have nopretence for sending it at my head; the fact was I had determined tosave the more noble portions of my body, and leave Mr O'Gallagher to dowhat he pleased with the other: to do him justice, he lost no time.
"Come here, Mr Keene," said he, "where's your manners? why don't yousay good morning to your preceptor? Can you read at all?"
"No, sir."
"D'ye know your letters?"
"Some of them--I think I do, sir."
"Some of them--I suppose about two out of six-and-twenty. It'sparticular attention that's been paid to your education, I perceive;you've nothing to unlearn anyhow, that's something. Now, sir, do youthink that a classical scholar and a gentleman born, like me, is todemane myself by hearing you puzzle at the alphabet? You're quitemistaken, Mr Keene, you must gain your first elements second-hand; sowhere's Thimothy Ruddel? You, Timothy Ruddel, you'll just teach thisyoung Master Keene his whole alphabet, and take care, at the same time,that you know your own lessons, or it will end in a blow-up; and you,Master Keene, if you have not larnt your whole alphabet perfect bydinner time, why you'll have a small taste of Number 2, just as a hintto what's coming next. Go along, you little ignorant blackguard; andyou, Timothy Ruddel, look out for a taste of Number 3, if you don't larnhim and yourself all at once, and at the same time."
I was very well pleased with this arrangement; I had resolved to learn,and I was doubly stimulated to learn now, to save poor Timothy Ruddelfrom an unjust punishment.
In the three hours I was quite perfect, and Timothy Ruddel, who wascalled up before me, was also able to say his lesson without a blundervery much to the disappointment of Mr O'Gallagher, who observed, "Soyou've slipped through my fingers, have you, this time, Master Timothy?Never mind, I'll have you yet; and, moreover, there's Master Keene to gothrough the fiery furnace." Just before dinner time I was called up;with my memory of many of the letters, and the assistance I had receivedfrom Timothy Ruddel, I felt very confident.
"What letter's that, sir?" said Mr O'Gallagher.
"A B C D E."
"You little blackguard, I'll dodge you; you think to escape, you?"
"V, X, P, O."
Much to Mr O'Gallagher's surprise I said them all without one mistake.Instead of commendation I received abuse. "By all the powers,"exclaimed my pedagogue, "but everything seems to go wrong to-day; myhand has been completely idle; this will never do; didn't you tell me,Mr Keene, that you didn't know your letters?"
"I said I knew some of them, sir."
"If my memory is correct, Mr Keene, you told me that you knew two outof twenty-six."
"No, sir, you said that."
"That's just as much as to tell me, your preceptor, a classical scholar,and a Milesian gentleman to boot, that I lie, for which I intend to havesatisfaction, Mr Keene, I assure you. You're guilty in two counts, asthey say at the Old Bailey, where you'll be called up to some of thesedays, as sure as you stand there; one count is in telling me a lie, insaying you did not know your alphabet, when it's quite clear that youdid; and, secondly, in giving me the lie, by stating that I said whatyou said. You thought to escape me, but you're mistaken, Mr Keene; sonow, if you please, we will just have a taste of Number 2. Hould outyour hand, Mr Keene: d'ye hear me sir? hould out your hand."
But this I positively refused to do. "You won't, won't you? Well,then, we must increase the punishment for our contempt of court, and atonce commence with Number 3, which we intended to reserve tillto-morrow. Come along, Phil Mooney, there's fresh mate for you tocarry, and come out Number 3, here's fresh ground for you to travelover."
Phil Mooney and the birch soon made their appearance: I was hoisted bythe one and scourged by the other.
The first taste of the birch is anything but agreeable; I could onlycompare it to the dropping of molten lead. I tried all I could toprevent crying out, but it was impossible, and at last I roared like amad bull; and I was as mad as a bull, and as dangerous. Could I havepicked up any weapon at the moment that I was dropped from the shouldersof Phil Mooney, it would have gone hard with Mr O'Gallagher. My ragewas greater than my agony. I stood when I had been landed, my chestheaving, my teeth set fast, and my apparel still in disorder. Theschool was dismissed, and I was left alone with the savage pedagogue,who immediately took up my basket, and began to rummage the contents.
"Make yourself decent, Mr Keene, and don't be shocking my modesty, andtaking away my appetite. Did you mention the mustard, as I desired you?Upon my faith, but you're a nice boy and do justice to therepresentations of your grandmother, and when you see her you may tellher that I did not forget the promise she exacted from me. You forgotall about the mustard, you little blackguard. If Phil Mooney was here Iwould give you another taste to freshen your memory
for to-morrow;however, to-morrow will do as well, if the mistake's not corrected.Here, take your victuals, and good appetite to you, you little monsterof iniquity."
Mr O'Gallagher tossed me some bread but this time reserved the cheesefor his own eating. I had adjusted my dress, and I therefore left theschool-room. I could not sit down without pain, so I leant against apost: the bread remained in my hand untouched; had it been the greatestdelicacy in the world I could not have tasted a morsel; I was giddy fromexcess of feeling, my thoughts were rapidly chasing each other when Iheard a voice close to me; I looked round, it was Walter Puddock, whohad been flogged the day before.
"Never mind, Keene," said he, kindly; "it hurts at first, but the moreyou get it the less you care for it; I don't mind it a bit now; I cries,because he goes on flogging till you do, and it's no use having morethan you can help."
"I didn't deserve it," replied I.
"That's not necessary; you'll get it, as we all do, whether you deserveit or not."
"Well, I'll try to deserve it in future," replied I, clenching my fist;"I'll be even with him."
"Why, what can you do?"
"Wait a little, and you'll see," said I, walking away, for an idea hadcome into my head which I wished to follow up.
Soon afterwards the bell rang, and we returned to the schoolroom. I wasput under the tuition of another boy, and took care to learn my lesson.Whether it was that he was tired with the exercise, for he flogged andferruled a dozen during that afternoon, or that he thought that mymorning dose had been sufficient, I received no more punishment on thatday.