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+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of That Scholarship Boy, by Emma Leslie
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of That Scholarship Boy, by Emma Leslie
+
+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: That Scholarship Boy
+
+Author: Emma Leslie
+
+Release Date: July 22, 2008 [EBook #26104]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT SCHOLARSHIP BOY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh,
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 516px;">
+<img src="images/image_01.jpg" width="516" height="718" alt="Cover" title="" />
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;">
+<img src="images/image_02.jpg" width="500" height="750" alt="HE PICKED UP HORACE AND CARRIED HIM DOWN. [Page 106." />
+<span class="caption">HE PICKED UP HORACE AND CARRIED HIM DOWN.<br />
+[<a href="#Page_106">Page 106.</a></span>
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img class="img1" src="images/image_03.jpg" width="400" height="636" alt="Title Page" />
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h1>THAT<br />
+SCHOLARSHIP BOY</h1>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>By</h3>
+
+<h2>EMMA LESLIE</h2>
+
+<h5><i>Author of 'Arthur Ranyard's Training,' 'Dearer than Life,' etc.</i></h5>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4>THIRD IMPRESSION</h4>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>LONDON</h3>
+
+<h3>THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY</h3>
+
+<h4>4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E.C.</h4>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+
+
+<table summary="Contents">
+<tr><td></td><td class="tocpg f1">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">Chapter I</span></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">Brother and Sister</span></a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">Chapter II</span></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">Sending Him to Coventry</span></a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">Chapter III</span></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">The Cock of the Walk</span></a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">Chapter IV</span></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">Dr. Morrison</span></a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">Chapter V</span></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">The Champion</span></a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">Chapter VI</span></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">For the Honour of the School</span></a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">Chapter VII</span></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">News for Mrs. Morrison</span></a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">Chapter VIII</span></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">Righteous Retribution</span></a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">Brother and Sister.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="sp1">'I</span> say, we've got a new boy at Torrington's.
+Haven't had one for ages and ages, so
+it's made quite a stir among us.'</p>
+
+<p>'You can make stir enough when you are
+coming out of school,' said his sister, lifting
+her eyes from her lessons and looking across
+the table.</p>
+
+<p>'Who is the new boy?' she asked.</p>
+
+<p>'Nobody knows&mdash;that's the fun,' said
+Leonard, with a short whistle.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't you even know his name?'</p>
+
+<p>'That's just like a girl, Duffy; you're worse
+than usual,' said her brother, setting his elbows
+on the table, and nibbling the end of the pen-holder
+in a meditative fashion. 'Of course he
+was properly introduced to the class as Mr.
+Horace Howard.'</p>
+
+<p>'Howard is a nice name,' commented
+Duffy, whose real name was Florence. 'It
+was Aunt Lucy's name before she was
+married, you know.'</p>
+
+<p>No, I don't know.  I may have heard it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>
+but the name's nothing. I don't suppose his
+father was hanged!' said her brother.</p>
+
+<p>'Perhaps he is some distant relative of the
+Duke of Norfolk? though auntie says she
+has nothing to do with those Howards.'</p>
+
+<p>A mocking laugh greeted this suggestion.
+'Go on, Duffy, let us have some more of your
+wisdom.'</p>
+
+<p>'I don't see what there is to laugh at, Len,
+and I am sure I don't want to hear about the
+new boy,' said his sister indignantly, and she
+turned to her lessons once more.</p>
+
+<p>This brought a fusillade of paper pellets
+from the student sitting opposite. She bore
+it patiently for a minute or two, and then
+angrily demanded why he did not get on with
+his lessons and let her do the same, and
+threatened to ring the bell.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't be a bigger duffer than you are, Flo.
+You can't help being a girl, I know; but I'm
+willing to help you all I can out of a girl's
+foolishness. Only a girl would talk of ringing
+the bell, and making a row, because she can't
+have all her own way. Come now, I want to
+talk to you about the new boy, and we can
+finish the lesson afterwards.'</p>
+
+<p>'But you say you don't know anything
+about him, and so there's nothing to talk
+about,' said his sister.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, that's just it. Why shouldn't the
+fellow tell us who his people are, where he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>
+comes from, and what he's going to do with
+himself by-and-by?'</p>
+
+<p>It was his sister's turn to laugh now.
+'What queer notions boys have!' she exclaimed.
+'I suppose you expect a new
+scholar to come and say, "My father is a
+doctor, or a lawyer, and we have three
+servants at our house," as soon as the master
+has introduced him to the class.'</p>
+
+<p>A ball of paper was levelled at Duffy's
+head for this remark. 'Who said he was to
+do it the first day or the second day? But
+when a fellow has been there nearly a fortnight
+you expect to hear something about who he is.'</p>
+
+<p>'But suppose he don't choose to tell you,
+what then?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, that's it. How are we going to
+make him? What would you do, Duffy?
+That's what I want to know.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I'm only a girl,' said Duffy with a
+laugh. 'I can't be expected to understand
+boys' affairs like that.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, you do&mdash;that's just what girls do
+understand. We can't have a good stand up
+fight, which is the way we generally settle
+things.'</p>
+
+<p>'Why not? If the new boy won't do as
+the rest tell him, then fight it out, if he won't
+give in!'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard heaved a sigh of despair. 'There
+never was anything half so stupid as a girl!'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>
+he exclaimed. 'Do you think if it was anything
+we could settle off-hand like that I
+should ask you about it?'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, tell me what it is, and I'll help you
+if I can. What is the new boy like?' she
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, like most other fellows, I suppose, or
+at least he was the first day, I know, for I took
+particular notice as he came into the class; but
+the last day or two he has come in a jacket
+that ought to have gone to the rag-bag three
+months ago, and&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>'But his jacket can't hurt you,' interrupted
+his sister, 'you don't have to wear it.'</p>
+
+<p>'You stupid duffer! don't he go to Torrington's,
+I tell you, and haven't we got to
+stand up for the honour of the school?'</p>
+
+<p>'Who&mdash;the boys or the head master?'
+asked Duffy innocently.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, all of us, to be sure, and we mean to
+do it too. Why, Torrington's is as good
+as Eton.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes, of course it's a good school,'
+admitted Duffy.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, and we mean to keep it so; we don't
+mean to have any cads among us.'</p>
+
+<p>'Is the new boy a cad, then?' asked his
+sister.</p>
+
+<p>'He can't be anything else, if the story Bob
+Taylor has heard is true. He brought it to
+school yesterday, and says he knows it is a fact<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>
+That the new fellow is a scholarship boy from
+one of those low board schools in Middleton,
+and that he walks back to the town every
+day.'</p>
+
+<p>'What is a scholarship boy?' asked Duffy.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, a poor beggar who can't afford to
+pay his own schooling, and so the County
+Council pay it for him.'</p>
+
+<p>'What a shame!' exclaimed the young
+lady indignantly. 'Mamma was saying only
+yesterday how much our schooling cost. Why
+don't the County Council pay for us, especially
+as father has something to do with it?'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard shook his head. He either did
+not know or did not choose to tell his sister the
+conditions upon which County Scholarships
+were granted. He merely remarked, 'You're
+a dreadful duffer about some things, Flo. But
+you could tell us what girls would do if their
+school was going to be dragged down.'</p>
+
+<p>But Florence shook her head. 'I don't
+know what we should do,' she said, 'because I
+am not one of the elder girls, and we juniors
+don't count for much; but if the girl weren't
+nice I should not speak to her or help her with
+her lessons or anything.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, the beggar don't want any help
+with <i>his</i> lessons. He has climbed to the
+top of the class, and hooked Taylor out of
+his place already. And old Mason actually
+had the cheek to tell us to-day that we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>
+should have to pay a good deal more attention
+to our home work, or else Howard would
+carry off all the prizes by-and-by. I should
+like to see him do it,' he added.</p>
+
+<p>'No, you wouldn't; and so you had better
+get on with your lessons now,' said the young
+lady practically.</p>
+
+<p>'No, no! let's settle this first. You
+haven't told me what a girl's way would be
+with a fellow like this Howard.'</p>
+
+<p>'Why, if he isn't nice, don't speak to him.
+Of course you can't help it if he does his
+lessons better than you do, or you must work
+at them a little more carefully, I suppose, if
+you mean to get ahead of him in the class
+and take some of the prizes!'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, prizes be bothered!' exclaimed
+Leonard crossly, for his sister's advice had
+not pleased him at all. 'I tell you we want
+to get rid of the fellow if we can. Taylor
+says the head master ought to have refused
+to take a scholarship boy.'</p>
+
+<p>'Perhaps father could interfere,' said
+Florence. 'He has a good deal to do with
+the Council.'</p>
+
+<p>'If you breathe a word of what I've said
+to father, I'll never speak to you again!' said
+her brother vehemently. 'The idea of such
+a thing! Tell father, indeed! What would
+the other fellows say, do you think? No, no,
+we can fight our own battle, and defend the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+honour of the school in our own way. A
+nice hash you would make of everything.
+You are a worse duffer than I thought,
+though I don't think you are a tell-tale.'</p>
+
+<p>'Of course I shall not tell father what
+we have been talking about, if that is what
+you mean,' said Duffy, a little indignantly.
+The tears were shining in her eyes, for she
+was very fond of her brother, and always
+ready to help him whenever she was allowed,
+and so she felt this scornful rebuff the more
+keenly.</p>
+
+<p>'There, you needn't cry over it. I
+suppose you can't help being only a girl.
+But mind, if you say a word to father or
+mother of what I have told you, I never will
+speak to you again!' And with this last
+threat Leonard turned with a sigh to his
+lessons.</p>
+
+<p>'I've wasted a lot of time over you this
+evening,' he said, after a short silence, during
+which Duffy had been muttering over a
+French verb. 'I'm awfully disappointed
+about it,' he went on, 'for I shall have to
+tell Taylor and the rest that you're nothing
+but a duffer.'</p>
+
+<p>'Because I can't tell you how to manage
+with a boy that I don't know; it isn't fair,
+Len, and you say boys always are fair,' said
+his sister, in a tone of protest, as she turned
+to her lessons once more.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Leonard tried to follow her example, but
+he could not fix his attention upon problems
+in Euclid with that greater problem unsolved&mdash;how
+the honour of the school was to be
+saved, and the new boy got rid of? That
+was really what Taylor and one or two leading
+spirits had decided must be done; but
+how to do it was the puzzle!</p>
+
+<p>Leonard's lessons were very imperfectly
+prepared that night, and every moment he
+could snatch the next morning was given to
+looking over his books, that he might not
+utterly fail when he was called upon to produce
+what he should have learned; and he was conning
+over one task as he walked to school,
+when he was overtaken by Taylor and the
+rest.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I say, Dabbs'&mdash;Len's nickname
+among his friends&mdash;'we saw that new fellow
+with another carrying a basket of tools&mdash;looked
+like a carpenter's basket,' said one.</p>
+
+<p>'It was his brother, too, I know&mdash;looked as
+though he was going wood-chopping somewhere,'
+said another. But Taylor slipped his
+arm in Len's and drew him aside. 'Look
+here, what are we going to do about it&mdash;what
+did your clever sister say?'</p>
+
+<p>'She couldn't think of anything last night,
+she was too busy.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that's all rot you know. You said she
+would be sure to think of something clever,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>
+and it's come to this&mdash;that we must do something
+at once, or Torrington's will go to the
+dogs, with working fellows coming here and
+lording it over gentlemen. The question is
+how are we to get rid of him?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, that's it. How are we? It is easy
+to say, get rid of him, but the question is&mdash;how?
+The only thing that we can do at
+present that I can see is to send him to
+Coventry!'</p>
+
+<p>To send a boy to Coventry required united
+action on the part of the whole school, but
+Leonard Morrison and Taylor, with one or
+two of their friends, did not despair of persuading
+their class-mates to follow their example.
+Of course the boys in the lower classes might
+speak an occasional word, and the seniors in
+the upper form might have occasion to do the
+same, but the classes in this school were large
+and practically self-contained, so that they had
+little to do with those in the upper or junior
+classes; it was therefore comparatively easy for
+the leading spirits to persuade or compel the
+rest to follow their lead, whatever it might be.</p>
+
+<p>So the day following the talk between the
+brother and sister, Horace Howard found
+himself sent to Coventry, as his foes had
+decreed. As he was a quiet, studious lad, he
+did not notice this at first, but by degrees it
+impressed itself upon him that no one had
+asked him a question all day, or even told him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>
+that he must not do this or that. He felt
+vaguely uncomfortable before he set off on his
+long walk home; and when he found that
+several of his schoolfellows, who had previously
+talked to him as they walked part of the way
+together, ran off as soon as the gate was
+passed, his heart sank within him, and he
+wondered what he could have done to bring
+this punishment upon himself.</p>
+
+<p>But, whatever he might feel, he determined
+not to let his mother know anything about it,
+and so he went into the little room where she
+sat at work, whistling cheerily as usual.</p>
+
+<p>'Stitch, stitch, stitch,' he said, as his
+mother looked up from her work for the
+accustomed kiss.</p>
+
+<p>'You're earlier to-night, dear,' said Mrs.
+Howard, as she laid aside her work and drew
+the tea-tray close to her.</p>
+
+<p>'I suppose I walked a bit faster, and
+didn't gossip quite so much,' said the lad,
+and he had to strangle a sigh as he spoke,
+lest his mother should detect it.</p>
+
+<p>'Are you hungry, my boy?' said his
+mother as he hung up his cap.</p>
+
+<p>'Not very,' answered Horace, for he
+knew by this time that it was inconvenient
+for him to have a large appetite, and so he
+was learning to regulate it by the state of
+their finances.</p>
+
+<p>'You went in your old jacket again to-day,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>
+Horace,' she remarked as she set his dinner
+before him, for he took his mid-day meal with
+him to school.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, I wore my old jacket. Why not?'
+said Horace. 'You mended it up so nicely
+that it was a pity not to give it another turn
+and save the other. Jackets can't be picked
+up in the street, you know; and though we
+may sometimes pick wool off the hedges, it
+isn't woven and made up into boys' jackets.'</p>
+
+<p>Horace talked on in this strain, to prevent
+his mother from asking questions as to how
+he had got on at school during the day, for
+Mrs. Howard knew something of the ways of
+boys, and was terribly afraid lest some of her
+son's schoolfellows should find out something
+of their circumstances, and not treat Horace
+as they would an equal.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing but the lad's love of science and
+her desire to give him an education that would
+fit him to make use of this talent, had made
+her willing to consent that he should compete
+for a scholarship that would enable him to do
+this. It was the first time, she knew, that a
+boy from the board school had ever been
+admitted to this exclusive grammar school
+known as 'Torrington's'; and she had
+watched anxiously each day, to find out
+whether the lads were treating their poorer
+companion kindly and courteously, and thus
+far she had been perfectly satisfied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Her elder son was as anxious as she was
+that Horace should have all the advantages
+a good education could give, but he was
+opposed to his brother going to Torrington's.</p>
+
+<p>'I am only a carpenter,' he said, 'and
+never want to be anything better, but it
+won't suit those boys to hear that one of
+their schoolfellows has a brother who is a
+common working man.'</p>
+
+<p>'You are not a common working man,
+Fred,' said his mother quickly.</p>
+
+<p>'Not to you, perhaps, mother mine, but I
+want you to look at things as the world
+does. I do common work&mdash;carpenter's work,
+and am glad to get the chance of doing it,
+and to help you and Horace. Here we can
+only be common working people&mdash;you sewing
+for the shops and I working for a builder.
+That is all the people know, and all we want
+them to know, and I wish Horace could
+have been a carpenter too.'</p>
+
+<p>'Perhaps it would have been as well,'
+said his mother with a sigh.</p>
+
+<p>'I am sure it would. We agreed to come
+here and leave the whole miserable past
+behind.'</p>
+
+<p>'It is left behind,' interrupted his mother
+quickly.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, yes, we have done our best; but who
+knows what questions may be asked, now
+Horace has gone to that school? Boys are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+often curious in their inquiries, and it is not
+as though&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>'Fred, Fred, we must leave these things
+in the hand of God, and be content to take
+one step at a time. I could not, in fairness
+to Horace, let him throw away this opportunity
+of getting a good education that will fit him
+to use the gifts which I believe God has
+given him.'</p>
+
+<p>This conversation had taken place at
+dinner-time that very day, and Mrs. Howard
+was thinking of it as she watched Horace eat
+his dinner.</p>
+
+<p>The boy knew that his mother's eyes were
+upon him, and he was the more anxious to
+guard his secret, and so he rattled on until
+his mother forgot her fears, and thought Fred
+was making himself anxious without the
+slightest shadow of cause.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">Sending Him to Coventry</span>.</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="sp1">H</span>orace Howard sat longer over
+his lessons that night, and was quite
+undisturbed by any talking with his
+mother and brother, and when the time came
+for him to put the lessons aside and go to
+bed, he knew he had only half mastered them,
+for his thoughts had wandered continually from
+the subject of the lesson before him to the
+events of his day at school, trying to discover
+what he had done to offend his schoolfellows,
+that they should all at once send him to
+Coventry in this fashion. The study of
+mathematics, French, chemistry, and physics
+did not help him to the solution of this
+problem; but the school mystery greatly
+hindered the other subjects from becoming
+clear to his mind, and when he took his place
+in class the next morning he knew it would
+be a bad day for him with his class-work.</p>
+
+<p>It was worse even than he feared, and as
+he lost place after place, and went down at
+last even below the dunces of the form, it
+hurt him more to see how gleeful the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>
+boys were over his mistakes than to lose his
+place in the class.</p>
+
+<p>At last, when Horace had blundered worse
+than usual over some lesson, the master said,
+'What is the matter with you to-day, Howard?
+Are you ill? Have you got a headache?'</p>
+
+<p>'No, sir,' answered Horace, for he was
+a truthful lad, and could not avail himself of
+the excuse the master had thus offered him.</p>
+
+<p>'You could not have prepared your lessons
+last night, then; you know the rule about
+this, don't you?' said the master sternly.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, sir; I studied my lessons for more than
+two hours last night,' said Horace, reddening
+and growing more confused, for he knew all
+the class were staring at him, and, as he
+fancied, glorying in his discomfiture. In this
+he was not far wrong; but there were one or
+two who pitied him in his various dilemmas,
+and would have broken that ban of silence that
+had been decreed against him, but the leaders
+kept their eyes upon them, and they would not
+venture to brave the displeasure of their
+elders.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether it was a cruelly hard day for
+Horace, and he felt strongly inclined to say
+when he went home, that he would never go
+near the school again, but become a carpenter
+like his brother. One trade would be as good
+as another, if he could not go on and learn
+more of the mysteries of chemistry and physics<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>
+It was some consolation to him that his master
+had told him to prepare a special lesson in
+chemistry, in readiness for some practical
+experiments that were to take place the following
+day.</p>
+
+<p>In his eagerness over this Horace forgot
+the vexations and trials of the day, and had
+mastered it so quickly, that he was able to look
+over again the lessons that had floored him in
+class. These imperfect lessons would be like
+the damaged links of a chain, and might bring
+him trouble again and again, if he did not
+repair the mischief at once; and so by the time
+he went to bed he had well-nigh mastered all
+the difficulties, and worked himself into a state
+of self-content, which was about the best
+preparation for the next day's work, for he
+went to sleep without a thought beyond his
+lessons, and took his place in the class looking
+bright and cheery once more.</p>
+
+<p>To-day was to be a sort of recapitulation of
+the previous fortnight's work in chemistry, and
+the stupid blunders made the previous day
+were more than atoned for, and at last when
+the boy had worked out a brilliant result that
+greatly surprised the master he said, 'Why,
+you must have been ill yesterday.'</p>
+
+<p>'No, sir, I was well,' said Horace, seeing
+the master waited for an answer. 'I was well
+enough, but I was not quite happy.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, then, let me advise you to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>
+yourself happy in future under any circumstances.'
+And then he added in an undertone,
+'You are a scholarship lad, and we expect more
+from you than from some of the others.'</p>
+
+<p>'Thank you, sir, I'll try,' said Horace; and
+throughout that day he did not find it hard to
+try, as the master had suggested.</p>
+
+<p>The others had their eyes upon him, and
+were puzzled to account for his success. They
+had made up their minds the previous day that
+they would only have to carry on their present
+tactics for a short time, and Horace would
+leave the school in disgust, or else he would be
+asked to leave by the head master, and thus
+Torrington's would be saved from going to the
+dogs through this scholarship boy. But this
+day's experience of what Horace could do
+under the terrible ban of their displeasure
+puzzled them, and they resolved to watch more
+closely, to make sure none of those who were
+suspected of faltering in allegiance to the
+decree of their leaders did not speak to him
+on their way home.</p>
+
+<p>But Horace himself did not expect this
+now. The first bitterness of the trial had
+worn off, and as soon as he was beyond the
+school gate he set off home at a sharp trot,
+softly whistling to himself, as he pondered
+over what would be the probable effect if a
+certain acid they had been using was mixed
+with another substance entirely different from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+anything  they had used in that day's
+experiments.</p>
+
+<p>He whistled and thought, and turned the
+matter over and over in his mind, and finally
+ended by wishing that his mother could afford
+to give him pocket-money like most boys had
+to spend. This cost him a sigh, as he thought
+he might as well wish for a slice of the moon
+at once as for pocket-money, and by the time
+he got home he was whistling to himself again
+as happily as ever.</p>
+
+<p>When he got in, his mother noticed his
+eager, animated looks.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, what has happened to make you
+so merry?' she said, as he threw up his cap
+in sheer exuberance of spirits.</p>
+
+<p>'Nothing much, mother; only I have got
+an idea.'</p>
+
+<p>'Keep it, then, lad&mdash;keep it,' said his
+brother, laughing.</p>
+
+<p>'All right,' said Horace, thinking he should
+be under no temptation to part with it, since
+his schoolfellows would not speak to him.
+'It's a good idea, I know, if I can only find
+out the way to carry it out,' added Horace,
+at which his brother laughed, and his mother
+remarked that a good many people had
+ideas, but the difficulty was to carry them
+into effect, so that they were of practical
+use.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, it will want a good deal of thinking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>
+about, I know; but it has made me quite
+decide not to be a carpenter.'</p>
+
+<p>'I thought you had made up your mind
+about that long ago,' said Fred.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, but I was thinking the other day it
+would be a great deal easier to be a
+carpenter, and earn money. I wasn't sure
+that I ought not to do something to help
+mother soon.'</p>
+
+<p>'No, my boy,' interrupted Mrs. Howard;
+'it would not be your duty to give up all
+opportunity of using the talents God has
+given you, when the way has been made
+clear for you to receive the education that
+will fit you to use them by-and-by. Fred
+always liked cutting wood and making boats
+and stools, just as you are fond of making
+chemical experiments, and watching what the
+result will be.'</p>
+
+<p>'I wouldn't be anything but a carpenter;
+but I shall study mathematics more, that I
+may do better at my trade by-and-by,' said
+Fred. 'Every man to his trade, I suppose;
+but there's nothing like making things, I
+think,' he added.</p>
+
+<p>So the brothers agreed to differ; but it
+was a very happy evening to Horace, and
+he thought he had overcome all his difficulties,
+and could be very happy, in spite of the ban
+that his schoolfellows had placed upon him.
+He learned his lessons that night without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>
+difficulty, and the next morning began to
+recover his place in the class; but the hour
+of recess tried him sorely.</p>
+
+<p>A few of the boys who lived in the
+neighbourhood went home to dinner from
+one to two o'clock, but many who came from
+a distance brought luncheon with them, or
+had dinner provided for them at the school.
+There was a luncheon room provided for
+those who brought their meals with them,
+but Horace had preferred eating his slice of
+bread and butter or bread and dripping,
+walking about the playground. There were
+others who did the same thing, but they
+walked in groups and chatted and frolicked,
+or played games, and when he first came
+Horace had been invited to join these, and
+had been initiated into the mysteries of one
+game peculiar to the school, which was,
+therefore, very popular among the boys.</p>
+
+<p>Now, however, this was altered. Horace
+was left severely alone, and though a boy
+might go shouting round for another to make
+up the game, no one ever asked Horace to
+take the vacant place. He was left to walk
+up and down the side of the playground
+until the bell rang for afternoon school, and
+then the boys who might be near, as they
+were passing in, took care to hold as far
+aloof from him as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Horace wondered how long this was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>
+going to last. He had made several attempts
+to break through this silent persecution, but
+each boy to whom he had spoken had walked
+away as though he was stone deaf; and so
+at last Horace gave up the attempt, and
+tried to be happy in spite of this.</p>
+
+<p>'I say, Morrison, how much longer is
+that beggar going to hold out?' said Taylor,
+one day speaking to Leonard, as though he
+ought to know all about it.</p>
+
+<p>Taylor had lost his place in the class,
+and so had Leonard, and neither felt very
+amiable.</p>
+
+<p>'Ask him, if you want to know. I'm
+nearly sick of it, I can tell you. It's lasted
+a month now, and I think we may as well
+give it up.'</p>
+
+<p>'I daresay you do. My brother who has
+just come home from Oxford, says it is your
+people who have brought him into the
+school.'</p>
+
+<p>'My people!' shouted Leonard, crimson
+with wrath at the insinuation. 'Who do you
+mean by "my people?" and why should you
+think so?'</p>
+
+<p>'Now don't get mad, Len,' said Taylor
+in a quieter tone. 'But you know your father
+is on the County Council, and they say it
+was he who recommended that Howard
+should be sent to Torrington's.'</p>
+
+<p>'I don't believe it!' blazed Leonard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>
+Morrison; and then with fine inconsistency
+he added, 'If he did, it was because the
+fellow got a scholarship, and he had to go
+somewhere.'</p>
+
+<p>'Anywhere but at Torrington's would
+have done for him,' grumbled Taylor; 'and
+I think the master or the Council ought to
+turn him out, now they know the rest of the
+fellows don't like it.'</p>
+
+<p>'But do they know we have sent him to
+Coventry?' asked Leonard.</p>
+
+<p>'Are they bats&mdash;do they go about with
+their eyes shut&mdash;haven't you noticed that
+Howard has been up in the chemistry "lab."
+yesterday and to-day all the lunch time? I
+saw Skeats speaking to him yesterday just
+after we came into the playground, and the
+two walked away together. It was the same
+again to-day, only Howard was looking out
+for him, and went to meet him as soon as
+he appeared. Now what are we going to
+do, if the masters try to beat us at this
+game?'</p>
+
+<p>'I say it isn't fair,' answered Morrison.</p>
+
+<p>'Fair! I call it the meanest thing I ever
+heard of, and shows that Torrington's is going
+to the dogs, masters and all. I wish you'd
+speak to your pater about it, Morrison. I
+think you might, now Skeats has taken to interfering
+with us like this.'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard shrugged his shoulders. 'I think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+it would be better for somebody else to
+come and see my father, if they think he had
+anything to do with sending that boy here.
+You don't know the pater. He'd just turn
+me inside out, and then laugh at me; but
+he couldn't serve any other fellow that
+way.'</p>
+
+<p>But Taylor shook his head. It was true
+that he did not know Dr. Morrison, but he had
+heard that this gentleman had said it would
+be for the advantage of Torrington's to receive
+a few scholarship boys, for they were sure to
+be sharp, studious lads, and it would waken
+the other boys up and put them on their
+mettle. So he declined to go and see Mr.
+Morrison, but declared that Leonard ought
+to undertake the mission on behalf of the
+school.</p>
+
+<p>'Look here, Curtis!' he called to another
+lad, who, like himself, was one of the elders of
+the class, and consequently domineered a good
+deal over the rest. 'Morrison won't do his
+duty in upholding the honour of the school.
+You come and talk to him.'</p>
+
+<p>'What's the row?' asked Curtis loftily,
+sauntering up with his hands in his pockets,
+and looking down upon Leonard Morrison
+as a big overgrown lad likes to look at
+one of his smaller schoolfellows, as if to
+intimidate him with his superior height and
+bulk.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Now, then, little Morrison, speak up.
+What is it?' he said in a sleepy tone, but
+trying to look fierce.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, it's just this, Curtis, that beggar we
+have sent to Coventry don't seem inclined to
+take himself out of the school, and so somebody
+must be made to move him.'</p>
+
+<p>'Of course,' said Curtis, who did not mind
+who the somebody might be, so long as he was
+not called upon to exert himself beyond a little
+bullying, 'you hear, little Morrison, just you do
+as you're told!' he commanded.</p>
+
+<p>'This is what I want him to do,' explained
+Taylor. 'I have heard that it is all through
+his father that we have got the beggar here,
+and so it's Mr. Morrison and that precious
+Council that must move him.'</p>
+
+<p>'Of course,' assented Curtis. 'You hear,
+Morrison?'</p>
+
+<p>'I tell you it must be some of the other
+fellows that must go and explain to the pater
+that the school don't like scholarship boys.
+You don't know my pater,' he went on, a
+little plaintively. 'He would very likely
+report us to the head master for sending the
+fellow to Coventry, and then where should
+we be?'</p>
+
+<p>'Where we are now, but that fellow
+wouldn't.'</p>
+
+<p>'I tell you, Curtis, you don't know the
+pater. He would ask what he had done that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>
+the school had sent him to Coventry, and you
+know well enough that we haven't acted on
+the square with him.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that's it, is it? You are going to
+take his part now, and peach on us!' raved
+Taylor.</p>
+
+<p>Curtis yawned. 'You'd better give in,
+and do as Taylor orders you.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, then, I should peach, and no
+mistake, if I told my father we had sent the
+fellow to Coventry for the last month.
+"What for?" he would say in his quiet
+way, while he looked into your very soul, so
+that you knew you must make a clean
+breast of everything. No, thank you. I
+don't mind going with you and Taylor and
+two or three other fellows as a sort of deputation
+from&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>'Deputation be bothered!' interrupted
+Taylor viciously. 'Why should we go cap
+in hand to ask your father to take the fellow
+away? It ought to be enough for you to tell
+him that the school don't like it, and that we
+are determined to uphold the honour of
+Torrington's.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, that's it. We don't mean to let
+the school go to the dogs to please anybody,'
+said Curtis lazily.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes; and what are we to do next, for
+the beggar don't seem to care now whether
+we send him to Coventry or not, and Skeats<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>
+is giving the game away by letting him
+go to the chemistry "lab." every dinner
+hour.'</p>
+
+<p>'Let's send Skeats to Coventry,' said
+Curtis.</p>
+
+<p>Leonard laughed at the suggestion, but
+Taylor grew more angry.</p>
+
+<p>'It's no good fooling over this now,' he
+said. 'I have been talking to some of the
+fellows in the sixth, and they have made up
+their minds not to have the beggar among
+them.'</p>
+
+<p>'All right, let them get rid of him,
+then,' said Curtis. 'I don't see why we
+should do their dirty work. When's he going
+up?'</p>
+
+<p>'He swats as though he expected to go
+next term,' complained Leonard Morrison,
+who had lost his place in the class that
+morning through Horace.</p>
+
+<p>'Swats! It's shameful the pace that
+fellow goes with his lessons; and the masters
+think we ought to do the same,' foamed
+Taylor.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, they've tried to force it upon all of
+us,' observed Curtis; 'but I won't let it
+disturb me, I can tell you.'</p>
+
+<p>'You don't mind being the dunce of
+the school,' said Leonard, with a short
+laugh.</p>
+
+<p>'I don't care what the fellows call me, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+long as they let me alone,' said the young
+giant, still with his hands in his pockets.
+He was getting tired of the discussion, and
+Taylor saw that it was of little use trying
+to threaten Leonard, and so he walked
+sulkily away, to try and think out some other
+means of getting rid of the obnoxious
+scholarship boy.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Cock of the Walk</span>.</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="sp1">'I</span> say, Duffy, there's an awful row among
+the fellows at school; Taylor and Curtis
+are like raging bulls over this new fellow,
+and they say it's all the pater's fault.'</p>
+
+<p>The brother and sister were sitting at their
+lessons in the little room known as the study,
+as they sat when this story opened. Several
+weeks, however, had elapsed since that time,
+and Florence, having her own cares and interests
+to think of, had well-nigh forgotten how she had
+been appealed to in the matter of the new boy.</p>
+
+<p>'What are you talking about, Len?' she
+asked, after a pause, during which she had
+been muttering over a French verb, with her
+hand covering the page, by way of testing
+whether she knew her lesson.</p>
+
+<p>'That's like a girl!' answered her brother
+tartly. 'I have told you more than once
+or twice about that new boy at Torrington's,
+and now you ask me what I am talking
+about.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, well, I didn't know he was so in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>teresting
+as all that. You told me a week
+or two ago that you had sent him to Coventry
+and settled him, and so of course I thought it
+was all over,' said the young lady, propping
+her chin in her hands and looking across at her
+brother.</p>
+
+<p>'But if a fellow won't be settled, what are
+you to do? I want you to tell me that, Duffy.'</p>
+
+<p>The young lady shook her head. 'Tell us
+all about it, Len, I'm not very busy to-night.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, we sent that fellow to Coventry, as
+I told you&mdash;not that he's a bad sort of chap;
+only he came from one of those beastly board
+schools in the town, and we didn't know who
+he was or what he was, and he kept his mouth
+shut about his people, and so the fellows took
+up the notion that Torrington's would soon go
+to the dogs if we let that sort of cattle stay
+there, and so we said he must go. Well, we
+thought the Coventry game had done the trick
+for us just at first, for you never saw such an
+awful ass as he made of himself one morning
+at all the classes. "Howard, are you ill?"
+said Skeats at last, in his sharp way. And we
+thought the beggar would get off for the rest
+of the lessons. But, if you'll believe it, he was
+game enough to say, "No, sir, I'm quite well,"
+which was as good as telling Skeats he was a
+fool for asking such a question.'</p>
+
+<p>Florence nodded. 'I like plucky boys,'
+she said approvingly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Well, it was a plucky thing to do, I daresay,
+but it didn't help him much with Skeats
+that day, for he never spared him a bit, as he
+did not take the excuse that had been offered
+him, and he blundered and floundered worse
+than ever, so that Curtis, the biggest dunce in
+the class, answered for him, and took his place
+in the class.'</p>
+
+<p>'What a shame!' said Florence, pityingly.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I felt sorry for the poor little beggar
+at last, for we knew he had swatted well over
+the lesson, and yet he seemed to have lost
+his wits. "That's done the trick," Taylor
+whispered to me, when Skeats frowned at him
+once for being such an ass. "We shan't see
+that scholarship swatter here any more."'</p>
+
+<p>'Swatter,' repeated Florence. 'But I
+thought you said he didn't know his lessons.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah! that once. But it wasn't for the
+want of swatting, for it was just that that
+put the fellows' backs up. He comes into
+the school looking as meek as a rabbit. "I've
+been to the board school," he says to Taylor,
+when he put him through the usual mill. Not
+a word did he say about French and Latin,
+and so Taylor thought he would have him
+for a fag, as he was a junior; but we soon
+found out that we should have to swat over
+our lessons, and no mistake, if we were to
+keep out of rows with the masters. He set
+the pace, don't you see, till Taylor got as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>
+mad as a hatter when he lost his place at
+the top of the class, and then he said this
+new boy would have to go.'</p>
+
+<p>'Because he learned his lessons better
+than the rest!' exclaimed his sister.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, not that exactly&mdash;of course not,'
+replied her brother; 'but you see he was
+only a board school boy, and his mother
+couldn't be a lady, and his brother is only a
+common carpenter, they say; and so for a
+fellow like that to come to Torrington's would
+just ruin the school. That's why we want
+to get rid of him, don't you see?'</p>
+
+<p>'No, I don't,' said Florence, indignantly;
+'and Taylor and the rest are a set of mean
+cads!' The expression was not very elegant
+or ladylike; but she had learned it from her
+brother, and knew he would feel the reproach
+conveyed by this word more surely than by
+anything else she could say.</p>
+
+<p>It stung him into a fierce passion of wrath.
+'What do girls know about boys' schools
+and boys' ways?' he demanded.</p>
+
+<p>'I know what you have told me about
+Taylor and the rest, and I say they are not
+gentlemen, but a set of mean cads.' She was
+careful not to include Leonard in this scathing
+denunciation, for she added, 'I should not
+like to think my brother would act like that.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, well, Duffy, you see you are a girl,
+and can't be expected to know everything;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>
+but I did tell Taylor to-day that I thought
+we might leave the beggar alone, and let him
+out of Coventry now.'</p>
+
+<p>'If I was the new boy, I would send you
+there, and see how you liked it. What are
+you going to do?' she asked.</p>
+
+<p>'That's just it&mdash;just what I wanted to
+talk to you about. The fellows say it is all
+the pater's doings that Howard has been sent
+to Torrington's, and&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>Florence clapped her hands. 'Dear old
+daddy!' she said. 'He knew what Torrington's
+wanted. Now go on,' she added.</p>
+
+<p>'It's no good when you interrupt like
+that. I wanted to tell you what the fellows
+are saying; and now if I do, you'll just go
+and peach about the whole thing.'</p>
+
+<p>'Now, Len, did I ever peach about anything
+you told me? Haven't we always been
+fair and square to each other?' expostulated
+his sister, who felt herself insulted by such
+a charge.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, you always have been pretty fair for
+a girl,' admitted her brother, 'and I hope you'll
+remember that mum must be the word still.
+And mind, if you hear about this, you don't
+know anything, but just tell the pater to ask
+me about it. I don't want you to go and give
+your opinion about the school and the fellows,
+though Curtis and one or two more may be a
+poor lot. The thing is, they feel themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>
+insulted by having this scholarship boy sent to
+Torrington's, and they want me to speak to
+the pater about it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, do&mdash;do, and let me be there when you
+tell him,' said Florence, her eyes dancing with
+glee at the prospect.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't be a duffer. Do you think I don't
+know my own daddy well enough to know
+that it would be no good going to him with
+the fellows' complaints? I told Taylor he
+had better come and see the pater himself
+about it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Of course,' nodded Florence, 'that would
+be the proper way, and I should like to see
+them do it.' And again the girl laughed.</p>
+
+<p>This seemed to annoy her brother. 'It's
+all very well for you to laugh,' he said. 'You
+don't know what it is to be mixed up with
+such an affair, and I want to know what I am
+to do.'</p>
+
+<p>'What do they want you to do?'</p>
+
+<p>'Haven't I told you? They say I must
+get the pater to remove Howard from the
+school at once. And one of the fellows told
+me as I came home that he overheard Taylor
+and Curtis say that, if it wasn't pretty soon
+done, they'd send me to Coventry, and find out
+some other way to get rid of Howard.'</p>
+
+<p>'I wouldn't care if I was you.'</p>
+
+<p>'Wouldn't you? If you was a boy, you'd
+know what it was to be sent to Coventry,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>
+perhaps, and let me tell you, you wouldn't
+want a second dose. It's none so pleasant, I
+can tell you, to have this fellow turn his
+back, and begin to whistle if you attempt to
+speak to him. Why, they make it so strict at
+Torrington's that if the master sends a message
+to a fellow in Coventry, they fetch a junior to
+deliver it. Oh, I know enough to make me
+hate the thought of it, and so would you.'</p>
+
+<p>'Girls are not so nasty as that,' said
+Florence, 'but I tell you what you could do if
+they send you to Coventry&mdash;chum up with
+the new boy. I should think he was a nice
+fellow.'</p>
+
+<p>But Leonard turned up his nose at the
+suggestion. 'He isn't much at games,' he
+said. 'I don't think he ever saw a fives court
+until he came to Torrington's; and I do like a
+good game at fives.'</p>
+
+<p>'I'd play by myself then,' said his sister.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah! and see every other fellow pick up
+his ball and walk out of the court as soon as
+you appeared. You'd feel like playing then,
+wouldn't you?' he added.</p>
+
+<p>His sister sighed. She was very fond of
+Leonard, although he was not very brave, she
+feared. Still, big lads like Taylor and Curtis
+could make things very uncomfortable for the
+younger and weaker lads, like Leonard.</p>
+
+<p>'Now just see if you can't help me out of
+this hole, Flo,' said the boy, after another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+pause. 'I told the fellows I'd do something
+to-night, and I must, you know.'</p>
+
+<p>'Do something!' repeated his sister,
+'what do you want to do?'</p>
+
+<p>'I don't want to do anything. The poor
+beggar might stay at Torrington's for ever if
+he liked; but you see the others have set their
+faces against it, and they say I must either
+make the pater remove him, or else think of
+another plan to get rid of him. Don't you see,
+Duffy, I must do one or the other?'</p>
+
+<p>'No, I don't see; and you shan't call me
+Duffy either, if you mean to help these
+wretched cads at Torrington's, and I'll never
+own you for a brother again!' His sister spoke
+calmly, but with the utmost scorn and contempt
+in her tones, and then laid her head on the
+table and burst into tears. 'I'm ashamed of
+you, I am!' she sobbed through her tears.</p>
+
+<p>Leonard stared at her in silent amazement
+for a minute or two, and then said slowly, 'You
+don't know this scholarship boy, do you?'</p>
+
+<p>She shook her head. 'Of course I don't,'
+she said, as soon as she could speak.</p>
+
+<p>'Then what are you crying for? I'd be
+ashamed to cry for a fellow I'd never seen;
+and you a girl too!'</p>
+
+<p>Florence started to her feet as her brother
+uttered this taunt; and dashing away her tears,
+with blazing eyes she exclaimed, 'It is not for
+this strange boy I am crying, but for <i>you</i>&mdash;that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>
+you are as much a cad as Taylor and the
+rest!' Then, gathering up her books, she
+marched out of the room with the air of an
+offended duchess.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, you're only a girl!' exclaimed
+Leonard as she departed; and he broke into
+a whistle, but it soon ended in a sigh, when the
+door closed and he was left to himself.</p>
+
+<p>'I wonder what girls are made of,' he said,
+as he slowly opened his lesson books. 'To
+think of Duffy flying at me like that! She
+called me a cad too, nasty little thing! I
+won't speak to her for a week, when we come
+in here to lessons. I'll give her a taste of
+Coventry, and see how she likes it.' And
+Leonard set himself to master a Latin verb.
+But before he had conned it three minutes his
+thoughts had wandered to his sister, and from
+her to Taylor and the lads at school, who
+expected him to solve the problem that they
+had made into a bogey&mdash;how to get rid of the
+scholarship boy, since all their efforts thus far
+had failed.</p>
+
+<p>Before he got to school the next morning
+he met half a dozen of his schoolfellows.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, what's the news, Morrison?' asked
+two or three in a breath. 'You know,
+of course, Taylor expects you to bring a
+message from your father about that fellow
+to-day.'</p>
+
+<p>'Blessed are they that expect nothing, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>
+they shall never be disappointed,' said Leonard
+in a tantalising tone.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, you can cheek us, of course, little
+Morrison, but it won't do for Taylor, let me tell
+you. He don't mean to stand any nonsense.
+That fellow's got to go. We don't mean to have
+any board school boys here. Torrington's
+was founded for gentlemen, and we don't mean
+to have cads here. We've made up our minds
+about it, and the sooner your father and that
+precious Council understand this the better.'</p>
+
+<p>'Did Taylor tell you to say all that?'
+said Morrison sneeringly, 'How long have
+you been his fag?' he asked of the lad who
+had spoken.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, well, fag or no fag, you'll know it
+when Taylor comes.' And, as if in verification
+of his words, Taylor called to them the next
+minute to wait for him.</p>
+
+<p>'We're late now,' shouted Leonard back,
+and then he started off at a sharp pace towards
+the school, for he had not quite made up his
+mind yet what he should tell Taylor, by way
+of excuse for not speaking to his father, and
+so he did not want to meet him just now.</p>
+
+<p>He could not help noticing, as he ran,
+that none of the rest attempted to join him,
+but waited at the corner of the road they
+had been crossing for Taylor to come up.</p>
+
+<p>'So Morrison has skulked off,' he said, as
+soon as he joined them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'I believe he wanted to get out of your
+way,' said one.</p>
+
+<p>'I shouldn't wonder,' said the bigger lad;
+'but he need not think he's going to do it.
+I tell you that I've been ferreting out things a
+bit, and I know now that it was Dr. Morrison
+that persuaded the County Council to send
+that fellow to Torrington's, and so he must
+and shall take him away, and that pretty
+soon too, and I mean to tell Morrison that.'</p>
+
+<p>'How are you going to do it?' asked one.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, through Morrison junior, of course.
+There isn't much spunk about him, and he'll
+soon cry Peccavi! when we put the screw on.'</p>
+
+<p>'What will you do&mdash;how will you do it?'
+asked one.</p>
+
+<p>'Send him to Coventry as we did the
+other,' was the prompt reply.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that be bothered; we can't be worried
+with two there at once. You must think of
+something else.'</p>
+
+<p>'Bless you, the threat of it will be enough
+for little Morrison. He'll give in when he
+hears the mystic word Coventry!'</p>
+
+<p>'You'll give him another chance it he
+hasn't brought the message?'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I shall hear what he's got to say
+first. Now look alive, there's the last bell,
+and we shall all get an imposition instead of
+a pleasant talk with little Morrison, if we
+don't get inside that gate.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As he spoke the heavy clang of the school
+gate was heard, and the boys looked at each
+other as Taylor ejaculated, 'Dash it all! they
+haven't rung that last bell two minutes, and
+that's the regulation time.' They propped
+their backs against the wall and rested after
+their run, for the gate would not be opened
+again until prayers were over in school, and
+then their names would be taken as they
+went in, and an extra lesson would be exacted
+from them in the dinner hour.</p>
+
+<p>'Don't let little Morrison get off without
+seeing me in the afternoon,' said Taylor. 'I
+sha'n't be able to nail him in the dinner hour,
+but it will give me a bit more time to think
+of some other plan.'</p>
+
+<p>'It's a beastly shame they ever sent that
+scholarship boy to Torrington's!' said another
+lad, as though he did not like the task of
+hunting him out.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, well, he's here, and we must get him
+out,' said Taylor, as though he rather liked
+the hunt. Just then the gate opened, and the
+lads filed in. Nearly a dozen were late from
+the whole school; and each as he passed was
+asked if he had brought a note to excuse this
+breach of the rule, and then they passed on to
+their different class-rooms instead of going to
+the hall for prayers.</p>
+
+<p>The being late and consequent imposition
+of an extra lesson did not improve Taylor's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>
+temper, and when he met Leonard at the
+close of afternoon school he was in a towering
+rage.</p>
+
+<p>'Now, then, Morrison, out with it! What
+message has your father sent to the school for
+his abominable behaviour&mdash;what has he to say
+for himself?'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard looked a little scared at the
+abruptness and tone of this question, and he
+answered very quietly, 'My father was busy
+last night, and I could not speak to him
+about it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Busy, was he? Well, it won't be good
+for you if he's busy to-night, let me tell you,
+for the school don't mean to wait any longer,
+and if that fellow isn't soon removed, you shall
+both go. Do you hear, little Morrison, we
+mean to clear the school of all vermin at
+once?'</p>
+
+<p>'Why didn't you tell him to take himself
+off?' said one, when Taylor had walked away.
+'This is getting a bit too much. You stand
+up for yourself and your father, if he comes any
+more of that bullying. What right has he to
+say who shall come to Torrington's? If he
+had spoken of my father like that, he should
+have had a black eye, if he killed me for it
+afterwards!' added his friend.</p>
+
+<p>Leonard sighed, 'You don't know Taylor
+as well as I do,' he said. 'He isn't a bad sort
+of fellow, if you let him have his own way.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'But it's such a beastly way that I wouldn't
+put up with it,' said the other. 'He may
+be "the cock of the walk," but he need
+not think we are all going to cackle to
+him like a set of hens. I mean to
+take that fellow out of Coventry after this.
+Come on, let us both walk home with him a
+bit, and see how the cock likes that. There's
+Howard just ahead; let's catch him.'</p>
+
+<p>But instead of quickening his pace Leonard
+looked timorously back; and there was Taylor
+with a group of lads round him vigorously
+declaiming against the County Council for
+sending one of their scholarship boys to Torrington's.
+So Leonard felt afraid to join this
+unpopular scholar, and set himself in defiance
+of the present wave of anger that was passing
+over his friends, and he turned down a by-road
+and walked home by himself.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">Dr. Morrison</span>.</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="sp1">L</span>eonard Morrison found himself
+sent to Coventry, not by his schoolfellows,
+but by his sister. It was just
+the punishment he had decided she deserved
+for daring to have an opinion of her own that
+differed from his, and so to find himself 'hoist
+with his own petard' made him very angry.</p>
+
+<p>'Where is Flo going to do her lessons
+to-night?' he asked his mother, when he went
+to the study and found it in darkness. His
+sister usually lighted the lamp ready for him,
+but his mother had come with him to do it
+to-night.</p>
+
+<p>'She has gone to her own room&mdash;she
+wants to be quiet, she says. You should not
+talk so much, Lenny dear,' added the lady.</p>
+
+<p>'Nasty little thing! She has been telling
+tales, I suppose?'</p>
+
+<p>'She did not say what you had been
+talking about, if that is what you mean,' said
+Mrs. Morrison, 'but your father heard a great
+deal of chatter, he says.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'So Flo has taken herself off,' said Leonard,
+as he took his seat and opened his school
+satchel. 'A nice time I shall have, if Taylor
+keeps his word and sends me to Coventry at
+school! I shall lose the use of my tongue in
+about a week, if nobody will speak to me.
+It's a lively look-out, any way, and what
+have I done to deserve it, I should like to
+know?'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard considered himself a very ill-used
+individual just then, and he was specially
+angry with his sister because she had so neatly
+turned the tables upon him in leaving him to
+do his lessons alone.</p>
+
+<p>He missed her sadly as the time went on,
+and there was no one to grumble at or ask
+advice from. What to do about speaking to
+his father he did not know, and at last he
+decided to say something to his mother about
+the matter; not that he meant to tell her all,
+but he would just ask her if she thought
+Taylor was right in his statement.</p>
+
+<p>So when Mrs. Morrison came into the room
+with his slice of cake for his supper, he said,
+'Do you know whether father had anything
+to do with sending that scholarship boy to
+Torrington's?'</p>
+
+<p>'Why&mdash;isn't he a good boy?' said the lady.</p>
+
+<p>'That isn't it, mother. He may be good&mdash;I
+dare say he is&mdash;but did father send him
+there?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'The County Council sent him; your father
+would not have the power.'</p>
+
+<p>'I suppose not,' said Leonard in a satisfied
+tone.</p>
+
+<p>'But why did you ask, my boy?' said
+the lady.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, it doesn't matter,' said Leonard,
+lightly. 'As long as daddy didn't send him
+it's all right.'</p>
+
+<p>'But what has happened? What sort of
+a boy is he?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, he's all right, I dare say. Boys can't
+peach, you know, mother.'</p>
+
+<p>And Leonard's light words sent his mother
+out with an aching heart.</p>
+
+<p>'More trouble, I fear,' she said softly to
+herself, as she closed the door and went back
+to the dining-room. 'Poor Dick! poor, dear
+Dick! What misery he has brought to us
+all! And yet he was never wicked&mdash;only
+weak.'</p>
+
+<p>The lady buried her face in her handkerchief
+for a few minutes, but roused herself
+when she heard the street door open and
+close, and went and rung the bell for supper
+to be served.</p>
+
+<p>'You are late to-night, dear,' she said,
+when her husband entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, I have had a busy day, and am as
+hungry as a hunter. Chicks gone to bed, I
+suppose, he added, as he looked round the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>
+room before going to wash his hands and
+change his coat for a comfortable hour by his
+own fireside.</p>
+
+<p>A tasty hot supper was on the table when
+he came back, but he noticed as he ate that
+his wife scarcely touched hers; but he did
+not ask what was troubling her until the
+meal was over and the table cleared. Then
+he said, leaning back in his chair&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>'Now, little woman, I have done my duty
+to your nice supper, which I know is all you
+have been waiting for. Now tell me what
+is amiss. Has Flo cut her finger, or Len
+got into mischief?' he asked.</p>
+
+<p>'No, dear, the children are all right,' said
+Mrs. Morrison, with a sigh; 'but I have
+been wondering whether you were wise to
+get that little board school boy sent to Torrington's.
+You did have a good deal to do
+with it, I know,' added the lady.</p>
+
+<p>'To be sure I did. The lad had fairly
+earned the Thompson Scholarship, and, from
+all we heard of the lad and his relatives, we
+thought he would be an acquisition to the
+school rather than otherwise. His mother
+was a patient of mine about a year ago, and
+from all I saw then I concluded that they
+were people who had come down in the
+world, for it was easy to see that they were
+superior to their surroundings, and I thought
+then that if ever it was in my power to help<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>
+them I would do so. The father is abroad,
+travelling, I understand; but he seems to
+have left his family badly provided for.
+What have you heard about the boy?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, nothing,' promptly replied Mrs. Morrison.
+'Only from a word Lenny dropped I
+fancy he is not popular at the school, and
+you know what queer notions people take
+sometimes; and if it was said that Dr. Morrison
+sent a board school boy to the school
+they are all so proud of, we might have all
+our old troubles over again.'</p>
+
+<p>The doctor laughed. 'You think half
+my patients must be offended as well as the
+boys at Torrington's! I have heard a whisper
+that some of them don't like the new scholar;
+but he will live it down, I daresay, and I am
+not going to notice it.'</p>
+
+<p>'But, my dear, if you should lose your
+patients? If this boy should disgrace himself,
+people will be sure to say that you had no
+business to send him to such a school, and
+the worst of the trouble is sure to come
+upon us.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, I see you have been saddling the
+horse ready to go and meet it! How many
+times am I to tell you, little woman, to wait
+until the trouble comes to you, and then to
+look it squarely in the face and fight it, if
+fighting is likely to do any good, and if it
+is not, then bear it with all the patience and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>
+courage that God will give you, if you only
+do your share in the matter? Now what has
+Master Len been saying about this lad?'</p>
+
+<p>'He asked if it was true that you were
+the means of sending that scholarship boy to
+Torrington's. The boys had said you did it.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor laughed. 'Murder will out,
+you see, Maria.'</p>
+
+<p>'I told him the County Council sent him,
+and of course they did.'</p>
+
+<p>'Quite true; but I had the casting vote
+in the matter, and I voted that the lad should
+go to Torrington's, both for the sake of the
+school and the boy, and also that I might
+hear incidentally from Len what sort of a lad
+he was. What does he say?'</p>
+
+<p>'Nothing definite. He wanted to know
+whether it was true that you had sent him,
+and when I asked why, he said boys were not
+allowed to tell tales, or words to that effect.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor smiled. 'Then it's nothing
+very bad,' he said, 'and if this lad can only
+hold his own among some of those big louting
+lads, he will do our school a world of good.'</p>
+
+<p>'How is he to do that?' asked the lady.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, this boy has formed the habit of
+steady application to the task before him,
+whatever it may be. If he had not, he could
+not have passed the examination necessary to
+gain this scholarship. Now Torrington's sadly
+needs a few lads like this, for it is beginning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>
+to suffer from the dry rot that a great name
+often brings to a school after some years.
+The sons of wealthy men are sent there, who
+have no need to toil with either hands or
+brains, and they take care not to do it
+themselves, and to hinder others from doing
+it if they can. For Len, and lads like him,
+this example is bad; and so to introduce a
+studious lad, who will think less of games than
+of lessons, has become a necessity, if Torrington's
+is to be saved from going to the dogs;
+and I should be very sorry to see the school
+go down. I went there when I was a lad,
+and have always been proud of Torrington's,
+and that is why I am anxious to save it from
+collapse.'</p>
+
+<p>'I believe Lenny is just as proud of it as
+you are,' said his wife.</p>
+
+<p>'I should hope so. I don't think much of
+a lad who is not proud and fond of his school,
+and ready to fight for its honour against all
+antagonists.'</p>
+
+<p>'I think all Torrington's lads feel the same
+about their school,' said Mrs. Morrison. 'But
+suppose some of them should think a poor
+boy, who is dependent upon a scholarship
+for his schooling, beneath the rest of the
+scholars? I cannot forget the old trouble,'
+she added.</p>
+
+<p>'Then they must learn to know better!
+Learn to consider that there is something more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+in the world than money worth consideration.
+This is what I am afraid is spoiling some of
+the Torrington boys just now, and it is high
+time it was checked. We talked this aspect
+of the matter over at the Council meeting&mdash;for
+there are several old boys among us who are
+proud of our school&mdash;and we agreed that a
+little new blood among these purse-proud young
+gentlemen would do them a world of good,
+and I hope this boy may be what is needed
+among them. As for the old trouble,' went on
+Dr. Morrison, 'that is left behind, I hope; but
+you must remember that it arose from a very
+different cause. Your brother Dick behaved
+very badly to more than one of my patients,
+and so disgraced us.'</p>
+
+<p>'Poor, dear Dick!' said the lady with a
+sigh; 'I am sure he never intended to do us
+any harm.'</p>
+
+<p>'I never thought he did. No one who
+knew Dick would think that of him; but the
+misery came to us all the same, and Dick was
+responsible for it.'</p>
+
+<p>This allusion to her brother brought the
+tears to Mrs. Morrison's eyes. He had been
+such a bright, winning lad. When he was the
+age of Leonard he had only one fault that she
+would admit, even now, and that was that he
+was too easily led. He could not say 'No,'
+though not to say it and abide by it under the
+circumstances was wrong. This ended at last<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>
+in what was little less than a crime, for which
+they had to pay the penalty in a long struggle
+against adverse circumstances, and eventually
+to leave Liverpool, and return to Mr. Morrison's
+native town and begin the world afresh.</p>
+
+<p>This ending to what might have been a
+bright and honourable career for her brother,
+and a no less prosperous one for her husband,
+was a very bitter trial to the lady; and though
+Dr. Morrison's practice was now steadily
+increasing, anything that rendered him less
+popular might bring back the old trouble she
+feared.</p>
+
+<p>In thinking thus she, of course, exaggerated
+the circumstances in every way, for,
+in point of fact, not even Mrs. Howard knew
+that it was through the doctor's influence
+that Horace was sent to the same school
+with his own son; and as the name of
+Morrison was not mentioned by Horace, she
+did not know that he was there for some
+time. Her son was industrious and fond
+of scientific study, and had fairly won the
+scholarship, she was assured by the schoolmaster.
+He was very proud to add that
+Horace was the first scholarship boy who had
+been sent by the County Council to Torrington's.
+But that her doctor had had anything
+to do with the selection of a school for Horace
+she knew nothing.</p>
+
+<p>She heard afterwards that it was the best<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+school in the county; but she thought more
+of whether Horace would be able to do the
+lessons required of him, without overworking
+himself, and also whether she would be able
+to keep him suitably clothed, so that he did
+not look particular among the other lads.</p>
+
+<p>The school was nearly two miles from
+their home, so that he would wear out his
+boots very fast, she reflected, when considering
+ways and means. There was a small
+allowance made for this, after the school
+fees were paid out of the scholarship money,
+and it was the consideration of this that made
+Horace resume wearing the old jacket, when
+his mother wished him to keep on with his
+best one, which he had worn for the first
+week or two.</p>
+
+<p>In fact, he had worn the best jacket until
+he was so mysteriously sent to Coventry,
+and though he carefully kept this fact to
+himself, it was the underlying meaning of
+what he told her when he said it would make
+no difference to him at school whether he
+wore a new or an old jacket.</p>
+
+<p>Of the bitterness underlying the words
+that were said, that she should not spend too
+much on his clothes, she knew nothing.
+Indeed, after the first week or two Horace
+was very reticent about what passed at school,
+rarely mentioned a schoolfellow by name, and
+seemed absorbed in his lessons all the even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>ing.
+He talked sometimes to Fred about his
+mysterious idea, which she knew was connected
+with chemistry; but beyond this she knew
+very little of her boy's life at this time.
+Sometimes he looked worried as he sat poring
+over his books, as though they were a little
+beyond his power, she thought; and then she
+would say, 'Now, Horace, if you are getting
+tired, give it up. You know going to this
+school is quite an experiment for you, and
+if you fail to keep up with the rest it will
+be no disgrace to own it. You have been
+looking pale the last day or two.'</p>
+
+<p>'I feel quite well, mother; and as to
+keeping up with the rest, well, you should
+see the young giant who is always at the
+bottom of the class.' And Horace laughed
+as he mentally recalled the perpetually yawning
+figure of Curtis, with his back propped against
+the wall. 'I believe he would go to sleep
+outright if it wasn't for the master saying,
+"Now, Curtis, keep your ears and eyes open!"'</p>
+
+<p>'Poor fellow! perhaps he does not feel
+able to do the work,' said Mrs. Howard
+pityingly.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, he doesn't let lessons trouble him
+much. He and "the cock of the walk," that's
+another big chap who doesn't care much about
+books, they take it pretty easy, except when
+they get an "impot," and that takes all their
+dinner time.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'And what do you do at dinner time?'
+asked his brother at this point.</p>
+
+<p>'Eat my dinner, to be sure,' answered
+Horace.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, you don't look much the better for
+it. Mother, I'm going to be paid an extra
+shilling a week, and I vote it goes in dinners
+for the boy with an idea,' said Fred.</p>
+
+<p>'No! No! I can do very well, and I
+enjoy my dinner hours now, for I often go
+up to the "lab.," and have a nice time to
+myself. Mr. Skeats told me I might go, if
+I did not take any of the other boys with
+me. You see, some of them might get up
+to larks, and&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>'Why don't you get up to larks?'
+interrupted his brother.</p>
+
+<p>Horace laughed, 'Oh, you know that
+isn't much in my way, and there's room for
+everybody in a big school like Torrington's.'</p>
+
+<p>'I wish the youngster did not look so
+serious,' said Fred, after his brother had gone
+to bed that night.</p>
+
+<p>'He always was quiet,' remarked his
+mother.</p>
+
+<p>'Quiet, yes; but now he looks up from
+his book sometimes, as though he had a world
+of care upon his mind.'</p>
+
+<p>'Perhaps he is thinking over his "idea."
+You know he could talk of nothing else for
+a day or two,' said Mrs. Howard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Well, he doesn't talk much now, at any
+rate, and I am wondering whether he is quite
+happy at that school.'</p>
+
+<p>'But surely he would tell us if he was not.
+I have asked him again and again. I think
+he would tell us if there was anything wrong.'</p>
+
+<p>'Now, mother, don't vex yourself, or I
+shall be sorry I have spoken. Just let that
+extra shilling a week I am to have go for
+the youngster's mid-day meal. Get him something
+better than bread and butter to take
+with him&mdash;sandwiches or a little meat-pie.
+They say people who work with their brains
+want as much to eat as those who work with
+their hands, and I am sure two slices of bread
+and butter wouldn't satisfy me at twelve
+o'clock.'</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Champion</span>.</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="sp1">'M</span>other, I think I shall be obliged
+to wear that other jacket to go to
+school,' said Horace one evening as
+he ate his dinner.</p>
+
+<p>He had come home from school looking
+almost radiant, and his mother had heard
+incidentally that one of the other boys had
+walked most of the way with him.</p>
+
+<p>'But I thought you said no one lived
+this way?' said Mrs. Howard.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I think Warren came out of his
+way a bit that we might finish our talk! He
+likes history awfully, and so do I a bit, and
+we got talking about those old battles, and
+almost forgot the time. Now, mother, don't
+you think I had better take my best jacket
+for school? The sleeves of this are getting
+so short.'</p>
+
+<p>His mother laughed.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, I told you the same thing a month
+ago,' she said, 'but you insisted that it did
+not matter!'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Well, you know, I don't want to cost
+you more than I am obliged for clothes, and
+I thought I might wear the old jacket a bit
+longer, as I should wear out so many boots;
+but now&mdash;&mdash;'  And there Horace stopped,
+lest he should say something that might
+betray how his schoolfellows had treated him
+lately.</p>
+
+<p>'You must be careful to wear the linen
+apron and sleeves while you do your chemistry
+work,' remarked his mother, 'for you are
+beginning to make the old one a variegated
+colour.'</p>
+
+<p>'All right, I'll be careful; but I thought
+Warren looked at my hands poking too far
+through the sleeves of that old one, and
+Warren is a nice fellow; I should not like to
+hurt his feelings,' said Horace.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah! you find that some lads are more
+particular about their clothes than you are.
+Yes, wear the best jacket by all means, and
+I have no doubt I shall be able to buy you
+a new one when you want it.'</p>
+
+<p>So the matter was settled, and the next
+morning he met his new friend as they had
+arranged, and the two boys had a pleasant
+chat on all sorts of subjects as they walked
+along the road. Just before the school was
+reached, and when they came within sight of
+other groups of boys, Horace stopped short,
+and said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>'Now you had better go on; it don't
+matter if I am late, I have plenty of time in
+the dinner hour to do the imposition.'</p>
+
+<p>'What do you mean&mdash;what do you take
+me for?' said Warren, thrusting his arm
+through his companion's.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, you know the school have sent me
+to Coventry lately; and if you know what
+for, it's more than I do, so that it isn't
+likely to alter its opinion in a hurry,' said
+Horace.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, the school be bothered!' said Warren.
+'Of course a fellow has to do the same as
+the rest when he is at school, but "the cock
+of the walk" is going a bit too far this time,
+and I mean to let the whole lot see that I
+won't follow the lead, when I don't think it's
+fair and square. If they had any good reason
+for sending you to Coventry, I'd see you
+hanged before I'd try to take your part; but
+I like fair play, and it is not a fair game they
+are playing against you now.'</p>
+
+<p>'But suppose they send you to Coventry
+as well?' said Horace.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, they will, you bet. Taylor and
+Curtis and that crowd are sure to do it, and
+I dare say they will rage like a bull in a
+china shop. Come on here. They see we
+are going in arm-in-arm.'</p>
+
+<p>A storm of hisses greeted their appearance
+at the school gate, and Horace changed colour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+and his arm shook; but Warren gripped
+him the tighter, so that he could not get
+away.</p>
+
+<p>'Is it worth while sticking to me if the
+rest don't like it?' whispered Horace.</p>
+
+<p>'Is anything worth fighting for as those
+old Englishmen fought in the Civil War&mdash;Hampden
+and that lot?' Warren's face was
+flaming, and he held his head high, as he
+led Horace through the hooting crowd of
+boys, while he asked this question loud
+enough for any of them to hear.</p>
+
+<p>Horace did not answer. He almost wished
+Warren would leave him alone. But this was
+not that gentleman's way. 'I tell you what
+it is, Howard,' he said, when they had reached
+the comparative shelter of the playground,
+where the hooting had to cease, for fear the
+master should insist upon knowing what it
+was about. 'I have been thinking a lot of
+what we were talking about last night, and
+it's my opinion that there would not be so
+many tyrants in the world if they did not
+find easy victims. You knuckled under to
+"the cock of the walk" at the first touch,
+when you ought to have said, "Now, what
+do you mean by sending me to Coventry?
+What rule of the school have I broken?"'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, but you know we are not rich people.
+I am only a scholarship boy, and come from
+a board school.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'As if I didn't know that. As if my pater
+has not told me a dozen times lately that he
+wishes he had sent me to a board school
+when I was young. Bless you, we are not
+rich. My father is only a doctor, like Morrison's,
+and there are swarms and swarms of
+children in the nursery, so you may know
+we haven't got money to roll in, like Curtis.
+No, old fellow, we are two poor boys, and
+so we'll just stand shoulder to shoulder, and
+fight the lot, if they want to fight us. Now
+mind, you've got to fight for me, and I'll
+fight for you; and we'll let 'em see what
+two can do, if nobody else joins us. Little
+Morrison will, though I think Taylor has led
+him a dog's life lately; and so I should think
+he would be glad enough to cut that shop,
+and join Howard and Co.'</p>
+
+<p>Horace laughed as he had not done since
+he had been at Torrington's. He was ready
+enough to fight for his new friend, and when
+one or two tried to hustle them apart as they
+were going to school, he did not hesitate to
+push one of them off, when he was crowding
+down upon Warren.</p>
+
+<p>The boy turned and scowled at Horace.
+'Who are you?' he demanded angrily.</p>
+
+<p>'The scholarship boy, and this is my
+friend,' he said, still holding on to Warren,
+and dealing some sharp thrusts at those who
+were trying to push between them. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>
+could be no great demonstration here in
+the lobby of the school, or the masters
+would want to know what the quarrel was
+about.</p>
+
+<p>At dinner time there was little opportunity
+for the new friends to meet, for the science
+master, if he did not know, shrewdly guessed
+the attitude taken by the rest of the class
+towards the scholarship boy, and so had
+contrived to find something for him to do in
+the chemistry laboratory during the recess;
+and Horace was only too glad of the change
+to do a little extra practical work towards
+the elucidation of his idea, which grew all the
+more interesting, as he saw it would need
+great care and industry to arrive at the
+result.</p>
+
+<p>But when afternoon school was over
+Warren waited about until Horace appeared,
+and then he said, 'Just go on a little way,
+while I speak to Morrison. I want him to
+come with us, for I know that "cock of the
+walk" is bullying him, and if he'll just join
+us we shall be three to the other lot. Little
+Morrison isn't a bad sort of fellow, when
+you can get him to make up his mind,
+and the Curtis lot are getting a deal too
+cocky.'</p>
+
+<p>So Horace walked on to the corner of the
+road, and Warren waited for Leonard; but
+the moment Taylor saw him speak to the lad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>
+he pounced down upon him. 'Now look
+here, Morrison,' he said, 'if you go talking
+to Warren now he's joined that fellow in
+Coventry, you'll be sent there yourself by
+the rest of the school. I'll give you a week
+to think over what we were talking about
+at dinner time;' and Taylor, as he spoke,
+slipped his arm into Leonard's and walked
+him off, leaving Warren to try and persuade
+another boy to join him in his walk home
+with Horace.</p>
+
+<p>But the Taylor and Curtis party were too
+strong just now for another to rebel against
+their rule, and so the two lads walked home
+by themselves, amid the derisive cheers of
+Taylor and a few others.</p>
+
+<p>This state of things continued for a few
+days&mdash;the two friends learning to know and
+like each other better each time they met, and
+cared less for the company of others. Then
+a quarrel broke out in the ranks of the popular
+party, and Warren heard that Taylor was so
+hectoring the others as to what they should
+do, that at last, out of sheer perversity, two
+or three came to walk home with them, and
+held a discussion concerning Taylor and his
+ways that ought to have made that young
+gentleman's ears tingle.</p>
+
+<p>'We're all in Coventry now, of course,'
+said one boy, 'and I vote that we make ourselves
+jolly over it. I say, Howard, I want<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>
+you to tell me how you get your lessons
+done, for you're always ready with an answer,
+and I've been so floored lately that I've had
+a private message if I don't do better I shall
+have to go down among the juniors, and that
+would make my people wild.'</p>
+
+<p>Horace laughed at the idea of there being
+any royal road to the acquisition of lessons
+but the one of careful, steady, thoughtful
+study.</p>
+
+<p>'Then you do swat awfully, as the fellows
+say, and that's what they are so mad about.
+Taylor says Torrington's will be nothing better
+than a swatting shop, and no place for gentlemen,
+if it isn't stopped.'</p>
+
+<p>Horace opened his eyes. 'I thought we
+went to school that we might learn all we
+could!' he said.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Torrington's has got so fashionable
+that fellows have come to think of it as an
+easy-going place, where they need not work if
+they don't like it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Just what my pater says!' exclaimed
+Warren. 'And he told me that if I didn't
+turn over a new leaf he should send me
+somewhere else. Now I propose we make
+ourselves into a swatting club. I believe
+Mr. Mason would be glad if we did.'</p>
+
+<p>'I'm sure Skeats would,' said another.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, there are six of us here. Suppose
+we agree that we'll stick to our work of an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>
+evening till we've got our lessons perfect for
+the next day.'</p>
+
+<p>'Won't Taylor be mad when he finds it
+out!' said another. But, as Taylor had offended
+them, the suggestion added piquancy to the
+notion. And so before they separated each
+pledged himself to join the new swatting
+club. It was not an elegant name for a party
+of students to call themselves, but the object
+of the combination was good, and was warmly
+commended by the parents, who were taken
+into the confidence of their sons.</p>
+
+<p>If the little party of students thought they
+were going to have an easy time of it at school,
+they were mistaken; for Taylor and the more
+popular party soon found out by the answers
+given in the classes what the new combination
+meant, and he was more angry than
+ever.</p>
+
+<p>'A parcel of beggars who set themselves
+up to be gentlemen have no business at
+Torrington's; and the sooner they take themselves
+off the better!' he exclaimed angrily,
+when discussing this new departure with a few
+of his chosen friends.</p>
+
+<p>Warren overheard what he said, and was
+not averse to a duel of words with 'the cock
+of the walk.'</p>
+
+<p>'Who do you call gentlemen?' he demanded&mdash;'those
+who live in glass houses, and
+the son of a man who used to keep&mdash;&mdash;'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Taylor did not wait to hear more. Before
+the objectionable word could be spoken
+Warren received a blow that felled him to the
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>It came so unexpectedly and was struck
+so unfairly that there was an instant cry
+of, 'Coward! coward! Fight it fair and
+square!'</p>
+
+<p>'All right, let him come on,' said Taylor.
+But Warren was in no fit condition to stand
+up to his antagonist just now, for he had struck
+his head as he had fallen, and lay for a minute
+or two quite unconscious. Some of the boys
+grew alarmed, and all were glad to see the boy
+open his eyes and the colour slowly return
+to his face. They were outside the school
+premises when the incident occurred, and they
+all took care to walk away as quickly as they
+could, lest the master's attention should be
+called to the quarrel, and they be compelled
+to give an account of it, which would not have
+been at all to their taste, as they preferred to
+manage their own affairs in their own way, with
+as little interference from the masters as
+possible in what they regarded as their own
+private business.</p>
+
+<p>Taylor was one of the first to walk off when
+he saw Warren was getting better, and the
+rest, who had hoped to enjoy the spectacle
+of a fight, were disappointed. There were
+plenty to urge Warren to 'take it out' of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>
+Taylor another day, and plenty more to side
+with the bigger lad, and urge him to 'have it
+out' with Warren for his 'cheek' in daring
+to dispute the authority of the majority of
+the class, and speak to the scholarship boy
+when he had been sent to Coventry.</p>
+
+<p>Leonard Morrison was one of the foremost
+in urging Taylor to fight it out.</p>
+
+<p>'The school expects it of you,' urged
+Leonard. 'He said your father was&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>'Shut up, will you!' snarled Taylor,
+turning his angry gaze upon Leonard. 'If
+he has taken that fellow out of Coventry, it
+was a plucky thing to do in the face of the
+whole class, and I like pluck,' he added,
+'though I may get the kicks.'</p>
+
+<p>It was plain that 'the cock of the walk'
+was seriously hurt or alarmed by what Warren
+had said, for he ceased to crow as loudly as
+usual, and walked home without noticing what
+his satellites said, his eyes bent on the ground,
+and evidently lost in thought over something
+that disturbed him more than the prospect of
+a fight with Warren.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, as this was the latest phase of
+the scholarship boy question, it occupied more
+of the thought and attention than the earlier
+question; and so Horace walked into school
+the next morning chatting with one or
+two others, and no protesting hisses were
+raised.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was noticed that Warren was not with
+him, and he looked round anxiously from
+time to time in search of his friend. But the
+day passed, and he did not appear, and the
+boys' spirits were damped a little in consequence,
+for they remembered now that they
+had heard that a blow on the head might
+prove dangerous to Warren.</p>
+
+<p>But, to the relief of everybody, the two
+friends were seen coming along the road
+together the next morning, and when Taylor
+appeared round a bend in the road Warren
+walked up and joined him.</p>
+
+<p>'Look here, Taylor, I had no business
+to say what I did the other day, for I can't
+fight you, it seems. My father has forbidden
+it, because&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>'Then you won't repeat what you said
+the other day?' interrupted Taylor eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>'What do you take me for? I should be
+a cad if I did. Besides, I can see now that
+I have no business to blame you for what&mdash;&mdash;No,
+I'm not going to say anything,' he
+whispered, in answer to Taylor's frown.
+'Let every tub stand on its own bottom,
+I say.'</p>
+
+<p>'All right, old fellow, we'll let the matter
+drop, then, and, mind, mum is the word
+between us.'</p>
+
+<p>'Right you are,' said Warren, and then
+he ran off to join Horace, for he had drawn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>
+Taylor aside to say this, as neither of them
+wished their talk to be overheard.</p>
+
+<p>Whatever it might be that Warren had
+heard concerning the antecedents of Taylor's
+family, he could not be more sensitive upon the
+point than Warren was over his inability to
+fight without danger to his life. For a schoolboy
+to be told that he cannot stand up in a fair,
+square fight without bringing the danger to his
+antagonist of being charged with manslaughter,
+had brought such a shock to the boy that it
+was this, rather than the effects of the fall, that
+made his father forbid him going to school the
+previous day. The lad had wondered how he
+was to get out of finishing the fight already
+begun; and it demanded a greater amount of
+courage on his part to walk up to Taylor and
+ask him to let the matter end where it was,
+than to stand up before him for a turn at
+fisticuffs, even with the almost dead certainty
+of getting the worst of it.</p>
+
+<p>He had told his secret to Horace as he
+came along, glad of a confidant who would
+understand his difficulty; and Horace had
+counselled that he should make up his quarrel
+with Taylor, even though it involved throwing
+him over, if Taylor should make the
+demand.</p>
+
+<p>Warren shook his head. 'I shan't do
+that,' he said. 'I think we shall find another
+way, and you can tell the fellows we have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>
+agreed to cry quits. But don't tell them I
+can't stand up and fight, for fear the other
+fellow should get sent to prison afterwards.
+That's the dreadful part about it, and that's
+what my father says would be pretty sure to
+follow. What an awful muff I must be!'
+sighed the boy, 'worse than any girl!'</p>
+
+<p>'But look here, you've just done something
+that took a lot more courage of another sort,'
+said Horace, who was ready to make a hero of
+his new friend for managing the affair with
+Taylor without throwing him over. 'You did
+a plucky thing too, speaking to me in the face
+of all the class.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that was just part of the fight that is
+in me. I believe I was born a fighter, and
+now for the sake of other people I must be
+mum, and go through the world like a girl.'</p>
+
+<p>'I don't know anything about girls; I never
+had a sister, so I can't tell what they are like,
+but I know you will have plenty of the other
+sort of courage when it is wanted, so you
+need not mind much, if you can't fight with
+your fists.'</p>
+
+<p>They had reached the crowd of boys near
+the gate now, and two or three pressed eagerly
+forward, to know when and where the fight was
+to come off.</p>
+
+<p>'We've settled it now,' answered Warren.</p>
+
+<p>'Bosh! Don't believe it, boys. They are
+just going off to have it out by themselves.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'You're not going to let Warren off, are
+you, Taylor?' shouted another lad, as Taylor
+appeared.</p>
+
+<p>'Shut up and mind your own business, and
+leave Warren and me to settle our own affairs
+in our own way!' And having said this, he
+pushed his way through the crowd and
+marched straight into school.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">For the Honour of the School</span>.</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="sp1">'H</span>ow is your friend Warren to-day,
+Len?' asked Mr. Morrison, on the
+day when the boys thought the
+adjourned fight ought to have come off.</p>
+
+<p>'Warren's no friend of mine now, he's an
+awful sneak!' said Leonard, angrily. He was
+greatly mystified over the fight not taking
+place, for he intended to support Taylor, and
+at least do part of the cheering on his side;
+and the collapse of the whole affair annoyed
+him, and he chose to consider it was Warren's
+fault. 'He just funked it you know, dad,' he
+said, when he explained the matter to his
+father.</p>
+
+<p>'I don't know so much about that,' said
+Mr. Morrison; 'I met his father yesterday,
+and he told me he had forbidden his son to
+engage in a fight, either now or at any future
+time, and I asked him if he thought his son
+would obey him.'</p>
+
+<p>'"Yes, I do!" he said, and seemed quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>
+confident that his boy would respect his
+wishes, and I wondered whether he was right.
+So Warren junior refused to fight, did he?'
+said Mr. Morrison. 'It was a plucky thing to
+do, and I like a boy who can say "No," and
+stick to it.'</p>
+
+<p>'The fellows are saying it was beastly
+mean of him, and he funked it because Taylor
+is a bigger fellow.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah! boys often jump to wrong conclusions.
+It isn't the only plucky thing Warren
+has done. Have you joined the swatting
+club yet, my boy?'</p>
+
+<p>'What did you say, father?' asked
+Leonard, with widely opened eyes.</p>
+
+<p>'The formation of a swatting club is the
+last new move, I hear, at Torrington's. To
+swat is to study, I understand&mdash;is that right?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh yes, the word is right enough; but
+who told you about it?'</p>
+
+<p>'Is it a secret, then? Didn't you know
+about it&mdash;haven't you been asked to join it?'</p>
+
+<p>'No! they wouldn't ask me; it isn't likely;
+for all the school know that I am trying to
+keep up the honour of Torrington's&mdash;keep
+it from going to the dogs, in fact,' said the
+boy, loftily, but with an angry tone in his
+voice.</p>
+
+<p>'I am glad to hear it, Len. I was a
+Torrington boy in my time, and I love the old
+school still.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Then, father, what did you send that
+beastly scholarship boy there for?' burst out
+Leonard, scarcely knowing what he said in his
+anger.</p>
+
+<p>'Leonard! Leonard!' chided his mother.</p>
+
+<p>'I beg your pardon, mother, but it
+is what the fellows are always saying, and I
+forgot.'</p>
+
+<p>'But why should the boys be vexed that
+the County Council chose to send one of the
+most promising of their scholars to that
+school? Has he done anything to offend
+you?'</p>
+
+<p>'We don't give him the chance, and we
+want you, father, to take him away at once.
+Don't you see the honour of the school
+is at stake, and the fellows like Curtis and
+Taylor&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>The doctor held up his hand to stop the
+boy's angry flow of words. 'We won't discuss
+those gentlemen, if you please,' he said.</p>
+
+<p>'But they are always discussing it,' exclaimed
+Leonard.</p>
+
+<p>'Very foolish of them,' interrupted Mr.
+Morrison. 'But now tell me what you mean
+by the honour of the school, and why this
+lad has endangered it.'</p>
+
+<p>'He comes from a board school, which,
+of course, is intended for poor, common
+people,' answered the boy.</p>
+
+<p>'But "poor, common people" must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>
+taught, you know; and now, if they possess
+the brains, they have the right to learn to
+use them as well as those who are better off.
+From Dr. Mason's report to the Council,
+this lad has given every satisfaction while he
+has been at the school, and I had hoped that
+you would have made his acquaintance by
+this time, and that I might have learned a
+little more about him from your point of
+view.'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard shook his head. 'You must go
+to Warren for that; he has chosen to take
+him up in defiance of the whole school, and&mdash;and&mdash;&mdash;' he
+stopped, dimly conscious that
+in his anger he had already said too much.
+Mr. Morrison was called away from the table
+at this point, and Leonard felt relieved that
+no further questions could be asked.</p>
+
+<p>Later he went to the little room where
+lessons were learned, and found his sister
+sitting in her usual place. 'Mother wished
+me to come, Len,' she said, in explanation
+of her presence.</p>
+
+<p>'All right, Duffy&mdash;not that you are such
+a duffer,' he added, 'and I shall try to find
+another name for you.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Duffy will do. Don't waste your
+time thinking about another name for me.
+What's in a name after all? It's what
+you are, not what name you are called
+by.  I say, what is this swatting club<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>
+father has heard about? You never told me
+about it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Never heard of it myself before. Won't
+Taylor be mad when I tell him, for if there
+is one thing he hates it is swat! He says
+it's low and vulgar, and not fit for a school
+like Torrington's.'</p>
+
+<p>'But you know father doesn't think that,
+and I am sure you ought to know that father
+is wiser than Taylor, if he is the biggest boy
+in the school.'</p>
+
+<p>'As if that made any difference! You're
+just as much of a duffer as ever, to think such
+a thing,' he added.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, what is it about Taylor that
+makes you call him the "cock of the
+walk?" I met him at a party last week,
+and I did not think much of him, I can
+tell you.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah! that's because you are a girl, and
+don't know anything. Taylor is a jolly
+fellow.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I'm glad he's not my brother, for
+he is not very kind to his sister, and he was
+quite rude to his mother. He is no gentleman,
+and so he has no right to find fault
+with father because he sent a board school
+boy to sit with him at Torrington's.'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard only laughed at his sister's denunciation
+of his hero; but he was curious to
+learn what had been said about this swatting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>
+club&mdash;whether she had heard it spoken of
+before to-day. 'I should like to know how
+long they have been at it, and who are in
+it,' he said.</p>
+
+<p>'Father said Warren and the scholarship
+boy; he was telling mother about it when you
+came in.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that scholarship boy is at the bottom
+of the whole mischief, of course,' said Leonard;
+'but I should like to know how many more
+are in it; it's no good going to Taylor with
+half a tale. Won't he be mad, when he hears
+of this last move! Warren is forbidden to
+fight, too! I wonder why that is? Something
+wrong with his head, I shouldn't
+wonder,' added Leonard, after a minute's
+thought.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, what makes you think that?'
+asked Florence.</p>
+
+<p>'Because when Taylor knocked him down
+the other day he lay still as though he were
+dead for a minute or two, and never turned
+up at school all the next day. What larks
+if he can't fight! I'll put Taylor on to that,
+and see what he can make of it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Len, how can you like to do such mean
+things? I wish father had not told you about
+it; but, of course, he never thought you
+were going to peach to the rest of the school
+about it, and especially to that vulgar thing
+Taylor.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Now, Duffy, that "vulgar thing" is your
+brother's chosen friend, so of course you
+don't like him, for I've noticed lately that
+if I like anything or anybody, you take a
+dislike to them directly.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, because the things and the people
+you like are never nice. Mother was saying
+the other day she hoped you would not grow
+up like somebody she knew. I did not hear
+his name, but she sighed as she said it, and
+father did not smile or say anything when he
+heard her say it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Look here, Duffy, you need not talk
+about those sort of things; I shall grow up
+all right, never fear. What I want to know
+is who are in the swatting lot besides Warren
+and the scholarship boy? Find that out for
+me, will you?'</p>
+
+<p>'No, indeed, I will not, unless you promise
+to join them, and I don't believe you mean to
+do that, although you know father would
+like it.'</p>
+
+<p>'I wonder whether he joined a swatting
+club when he went to Torrington's?' rejoined
+Leonard.</p>
+
+<p>'I will ask him when he comes home,'
+replied his sister. 'Now I must begin my
+lessons; I have done them better lately, my
+governess says, and if I only work steadily on,
+I shall get a prize at Christmas.</p>
+
+<p>Her brother whistled. 'Half-a-crown book<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>
+for six months' work. That game don't pay
+except for duffers,' he said in a tone of
+contempt.</p>
+
+<p>'I would rather be a duffer than some
+people who think themselves so clever. Now
+don't hinder me, but get on with your own
+lessons, and let me learn mine,' said his
+sister.</p>
+
+<p>'Swat! swat! swat! with fingers and brain
+and pen,' sung her brother, while Florence
+propped her head on her hands and stared
+at her book. Then the door opened, and
+Mrs. Morrison appeared.</p>
+
+<p>'Lenny, I want to have a little talk with
+you. Playing again, my boy; I knew some
+one else who chose to play a great deal of
+his time away at school, but he has bitterly
+repented it since. Perhaps you had better
+take your books up to your own room, dear,'
+she said, turning to Florence; 'I thought you
+might help each other if you did them together
+again, but when I heard Lenny singing I
+knew it was no good.'</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Morrison said that while Florence
+was gathering up her books, and when she had
+gone upstairs, she took her seat facing Leonard
+and had a long talk with him. She told him
+what his father had heard concerning one
+portion of the school; that it was becoming
+almost lawless in its determination not to learn
+more than the masters could force upon them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>
+'He told you too that he heard to-day of a few
+boys who had separated themselves from this
+party, and were determined to profit by the
+instruction given, and learn the home lessons
+to the best of their ability.'</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Morrison saw Leonard's lip curl
+as she spoke in admiration of these lads.
+'They're just a set of cads!' he muttered
+under his breath.</p>
+
+<p>'No, they are not; and it is your father's
+wish, and mine too, that you should join this
+section of the school, and learn your home
+lessons as well as you possibly can. We do
+all we can to help you, and Florence is quite
+willing to come back and do her lessons here, if
+you do not hinder her. Now will you promise
+me, Lenny, to turn over a new leaf, and set
+your mind steadily to the tasks that may be
+set for you, instead of wasting your time in
+play as you have done lately?'</p>
+
+<p>'I don't mind doing my lessons,' grunted
+Leonard ungraciously, 'but I don't see why
+father should want me to join that scholarship
+lot at school.'</p>
+
+<p>'He wishes it because they are a steady set
+of lads, and you are easily led into mischief
+by your companions.'</p>
+
+<p>'What mischief have I done?' angrily
+demanded the boy.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I don't know that there has been
+any particular mischief,' admitted his mother;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>
+'but your father is not very satisfied with the
+way things have been going on at school lately.
+You know the last report was far from satisfactory,
+and your father said you were just
+wasting your time, instead of learning all you
+could. Now promise me, dear, that you will
+make a new beginning.'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard stared at his book and drummed
+on the table in silence, and Mrs. Morrison,
+feeling that she had said enough for once, rose
+and left the room. She hoped that Leonard
+would think over what she had said and act
+upon it, although he had not given the promise
+that she asked.</p>
+
+<p>She went back to the drawing-room and
+sat down to think, and her thoughts wandered
+to that brother whom her son so strangely
+resembled; and she prayed that God would
+save her boy from wrecking his life and
+bringing misery to his friends, as this beloved
+brother had done.</p>
+
+<p>Now Leonard chose to be half offended
+over what his mother had said to him.
+'Mother wants me to be like a duffing girl,'
+he whispered to himself as she left the room.
+'I wonder who it is she was telling me about.
+Somebody who has got himself into a nice
+scrape, and been obliged to leave England. It
+was a nice thing to be told I was like this
+scapegrace,' he muttered. But, in spite of his
+anger, he did manage to learn something of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>
+lessons that night before he went to bed; and
+he might have got on fairly well in class, if he
+had not met Taylor early in his walk to school.
+Taylor was brimming over with the importance
+of a piece of news he had heard.</p>
+
+<p>'What do you think, Morrison? There
+are a lot of sneaks in the school who have set
+up a swatting club without saying a word to
+us about it!'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, I know; my pater has heard of it,
+and wants me to join it.'</p>
+
+<p>'You'll never do it, Morrison!' exclaimed
+the elder lad.</p>
+
+<p>'Not if I know it. What do you take me
+for? Isn't it enough to be worried by the
+masters? No, thank you; I'm going to stick
+to my friends.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, and you must fight with them too,
+unless you want to see Torrington's ruined as
+a school for gentlemen. That's what my pater
+says, and I guess he knows as much as most.
+He has made his pile; means I shall be a
+gentleman, and that is all he cares for.
+Lessons be blowed! They're all very well
+for scholarship boys and such cads. Your
+father ought to be ashamed of himself
+ever to have sent that board school boy
+among gentlemen, and the beggar will have
+to go!'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard did not reply, for he did not like
+to hear any action of his father blamed, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>
+so he walked along in silence, while Taylor
+poured out further angry denunciations until
+the school was reached.</p>
+
+<p>During the course of the class lessons that
+morning it became very evident that there
+was a dividing line between those who had
+carefully studied their subjects and the rest
+of the class. Warren, Howard, and seven
+or eight other lads held the top part of the
+class in all subjects, and Taylor, Morrison,
+and the rest of that part kept steadily at the
+bottom.</p>
+
+<p>'I've had enough of this,' said Taylor when
+they came into the playground after dinner.
+'That scholarship boy is at the bottom
+of the whole thing, and we must get rid
+of him.'</p>
+
+<p>'You've said that before,' grumbled
+Curtis.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, I know I have, and I hoped Morrison
+would persuade his pater to do the job
+for us, as he brought him in; but it don't seem
+as though he was going to move in the matter,
+and so <i>I</i> shall, and little Morrison must help
+me.'</p>
+
+<p>'But what are you going to do?' asked
+Leonard.</p>
+
+<p>'That's my business. All you've got to do
+is what I tell you, and to ask no questions.'</p>
+
+<p>Curtis lifted his sleepy eyes and looked at
+Taylor with a little more interest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'What is it to be?' he asked.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I mean to stink him out; it will
+all be done up in the stinkery.'</p>
+
+<p>'The stinkery'&mdash;or stink-room, to give it
+its proper title&mdash;was a small slip-room divided
+from the laboratory by a close wooden partition
+with several ventilating shafts, under which
+noisome-smelling chemicals could be used
+without causing any annoyance to the students
+working in the general laboratory.</p>
+
+<p>'That scholarship boy shall have enough
+of his precious slops. I'll let Skeats know
+whether he shall favour a fellow because the
+rest of us have sent him to Coventry!'</p>
+
+<p>'Why, what has Skeats done?' asked one
+of the lads; for the science master was a
+favourite among most of the boys.</p>
+
+<p>'Can't you see what he's doing every day?
+That sneak from the board school pretends
+to have "an idea," whatever that may be,
+and goes talking to old Skeats about it, and
+so he lets him go up to the "lab." every dinner-time
+to work at it. Don't you see the little
+game? We can't make him feel he is in
+Coventry, if he is taken out of our way. But
+I am going to upset this family party, and
+I mean little Morrison shall help me. It's
+only fair, as his father brought the fellow
+here, that he should be used to get rid of
+him.'</p>
+
+<p>'What do you want me to do?' asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>
+Leonard, turning pale, and heartily wishing
+himself out of the way.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, you shall get the stuff we want.
+Your father is a doctor, and so it will be easy
+enough.'</p>
+
+<p>'But the pater does not keep a store of
+chemicals,' said Leonard.</p>
+
+<p>'Who said he did? I said he was a
+doctor, and I suppose you can't deny that,
+can you?'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard looked offended, and was turning
+away, but Taylor soon fetched him back.
+'Look here, little Morrison, it's no good
+funking. You can do this job better than
+anybody else, and you've got to do it. I
+don't want you to steal your father's stuff, but
+you must get two of his bottles, and go to
+get what I shall tell you, and if the people
+at the drug store ask you whether it is for
+your father, why, of course you must say,
+"Yes." Now mind, mum must be the word,
+for I'm not going to tell all the crowd what
+I'm going to do. Curtis is going to find
+half the money, and I'll find the other half.
+Here's half a sovereign. I don't know what
+the things will cost, any more than the man
+in the moon, but I shall want the things I
+have put down in this paper; and tell them
+to fasten them down tight, so that they don't
+leak out; for you'll have to keep 'em in your
+bag till I can use 'em to-morrow.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Must I get them to-night?' asked
+Leonard, wishing he could tell Taylor he
+would not do it.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, you <i>must</i>!' answered the 'cock of the
+walk' in a masterful tone. 'Now, mind you
+don't lose the money, and be sure you bring
+the right chemicals.'</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">News for Mrs. Morrison.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="sp1">'O</span>h dear, how late you are for luncheon!
+it always happens so, if I want you to
+come home early!'</p>
+
+<p>'Can't help it, my dear,' said Dr. Morrison,
+as he began to take off his coat.</p>
+
+<p>But his wife was too impatient to let him
+do it this time. 'Come in here while they put
+luncheon on the table,' she said, and she drew
+him into the little room. 'I have had a letter.
+Guess who it is from.'</p>
+
+<p>But Dr. Morrison shook his head. 'I am
+too hungry to guess anything,' he said. 'Is it
+from the man in the moon?'</p>
+
+<p>'Almost as wonderful,' said the lady. 'It
+is from Dick, dear old Dick! I feel ready to
+jump for joy.'</p>
+
+<p>The doctor stood still and looked at his
+wife in blank amazement. 'From Dick? your
+brother Dick?' he said at last.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh dear, don't speak like that, as though
+the poor fellow had ever done anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>
+wicked! I have heard you say many times
+that he was only weak, not wicked.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes, I know he is only weak; only
+too ready to say "Yes," and be led into
+mischief, when he ought to say "No," and
+stand to it. Think what his easy-going ways
+have cost us.'</p>
+
+<p>'No, no, I can't think of that now,'
+interrupted the lady. 'I can only remember
+that he is my only brother, and I want you to
+take me to him at once. I have not seen him
+for five years,' she added, 'and he begs that
+you will go to him at once, because he has a
+friend with him who needs your attention at
+once. He says he met with him out in the
+wilds of Australia, and he has been the best
+friend he ever had&mdash;that this Mr. Howard has
+saved him body and soul. But he has fallen
+ill, through disappointment at not receiving a
+letter from his wife as soon as he landed.
+That he has not heard from her for years,
+because he had to leave England in a hurry, a
+great many years ago.'</p>
+
+<p>'Why, that might be written of Dick
+himself,' said the doctor, with a smile.
+'"Birds of a feather," you know the old
+proverb!'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, but Dick must have altered, I am
+sure, for he says that he and Mr. Howard have
+both worked very hard, and made a moderate
+fortune, or they would not have come home to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>
+England again. That is not like the old
+Dick, is it?'</p>
+
+<p>'No, my dear, for he generally let other
+people do the hard work, while he dreamed of
+what he would like to do. But now let me
+see this letter.'</p>
+
+<p>'Luncheon is served, ma'am,' said the
+housemaid, tapping at the door at this moment.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor and his wife were to have the
+meal alone to-day, and so the servant's service
+was dispensed with, that they might discuss
+this wonderful letter, for wonderful it was, even
+the doctor had to confess, when he had
+read it.</p>
+
+<p>There was far more about his friend, whose
+wife and family he was anxious to find, than
+there was about the writer himself; but the
+most interesting piece of information was in
+the postscript.</p>
+
+<p>'My friend has just heard that his wife
+went to live in the neighbourhood of your
+town. Can you make inquiries? She has
+two sons, Frederick and Horace. The latter
+would be about thirteen, I think.'</p>
+
+<p>The doctor dropped the letter and
+gazed at his wife. 'I wonder whether it is
+the father of that scholarship boy!' he almost
+gasped.</p>
+
+<p>'What scholarship boy?' asked Mrs. Morrison
+impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, the one that was sent from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>
+board school to Torrington's. His father was
+entered as a traveller, I believe, and he was
+said to be abroad. My dear, put your things
+on, and we will drive round and see this Mrs.
+Howard. She lives at that old-fashioned
+cottage just outside the town.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, but I want to go and see Dick!'
+said the lady.</p>
+
+<p>'And we will go, if possible; but I shall
+have to see Warren first, and we must do as
+Dick wishes, and inquire for his friend's wife
+before we go.'</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Morrison was not a man to let the
+grass grow under his feet, and so the carriage
+was ordered at once, and in half an hour they
+were on their way to the cottage.</p>
+
+<p>A very few words convinced the doctor
+that he had found the lady he was seeking;
+and when she had read all that was said about
+her husband she readily agreed to go with the
+doctor and Mrs. Morrison to London. While
+the doctor went to his friend Warren, she
+wrote a letter explaining something of what
+had happened, and that she was going with
+Dr. Morrison to London. This she sent by a
+messenger to Fred at his work, asking him to
+tell Horace something of what had occurred,
+and also to meet his brother when he came
+home to tea.</p>
+
+<p>Fred was not a little puzzled when he
+received this letter, but he asked to be allowed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>
+to leave a little earlier, and so managed to
+reach home just as Horace appeared at the
+bend of the lane.</p>
+
+<p>'I tried to get here before you, but you
+were too quick for me,' he said, when his
+brother rushed in at the garden gate.</p>
+
+<p>'Where's mother?' asked Horace, when
+he saw Fred take the street-door key from his
+pocket.</p>
+
+<p>'Come indoors, and I'll tell you all I know.
+Let me light the fire first,' he added. Fred had
+learned to be very handy about the house, and
+he soon had the fire blazing under the kettle;
+and while it boiled he told Horace that a letter
+had been sent to him early in the afternoon
+from his mother, saying that she had just
+received news of his father, who was ill in
+London. 'Dr. Morrison came and told
+her all about it, and he has gone to London
+with her.'</p>
+
+<p>'Dr. Morrison!' repeated Horace. 'Why,
+Morrison is in my class at school; and the
+doctor is his father, I know.'</p>
+
+<p>'What sort of a fellow is young Morrison?'
+asked Fred. He was handing cups and
+saucers to Horace, who was setting them ready
+for tea.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Morrison is all right,' said Horace,
+who was clattering the cups and saucers; for
+he did not want to discuss his school troubles
+with his brother. 'I don't see much of him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>
+because he likes to go with the bigger boys.
+I say, Fred, do you remember our father?'
+said Horace; 'he's been gone away such a long
+time. We used to have a nice house and
+servants when he stayed at home with us,
+didn't we?'</p>
+
+<p>'Then you remember him, Horry?' said
+Fred.</p>
+
+<p>But Horace shook his head. 'No, I don't
+remember a bit about him, only that we had
+a nice house a long time ago.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I only remember a little,' said Fred.
+'But I know he was a tall gentleman, and I
+think he was a doctor. He went away to
+travel, I have heard mother say, and she
+thought he must be dead until Dr. Morrison
+came this afternoon. I have brought home
+some sausages,' announced Fred, who wanted
+to change the conversation.</p>
+
+<p>He knew so little and remembered so
+little about his father and those former days;
+but as he had grown older he had grown
+angry that his father should leave his mother
+as he had, without cause&mdash;so far as Fred
+knew&mdash;and without explanation, he had heard,
+and simply gone abroad to travel, leaving
+them to battle with poverty as they could.</p>
+
+<p>As time went on he had spoken less and
+less of his father, but he had become certain
+that there must have been some cause for his
+father's disappearance, though his mother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>
+might not know it; but in his own mind
+there was a lurking fear that some disgrace
+might lie hidden below the long silence. And
+so, as soon as tea was over, he said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>'I am going out to get some things for
+breakfast.'</p>
+
+<p>So Horace was left to the comfort of his
+books and the study of his lessons.</p>
+
+<p>When Leonard reached home that same
+afternoon, Florence met him with the information
+that father and mother had both gone
+out, and Mary the housemaid did not know
+what time they would be home.</p>
+
+<p>'Where have they gone?' asked Leonard,
+for it was a rare occurrence for both to be
+away at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>Florence shook her head. 'Mary says
+that James was sent with a letter to Mr.
+Warren, and so I should think father
+had asked him to look after some of his
+patients.'</p>
+
+<p>'Very likely,' answered her brother; and
+then he took his satchel to the little room
+where lessons were studied and sat down to
+think.</p>
+
+<p>He did not know whether he was glad or
+sorry to hear that his father had gone out.
+As he came along he had made up his mind
+that it would be impossible to get bottles
+from his father's dispensing-room, for he was
+never allowed to go there, and it was just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>
+possible that his father had locked the door
+before going out, in which case he could tell
+Taylor that it was impossible to get the
+chemicals for him, and there would be an
+end of it.</p>
+
+<p>But, although he said this, he knew there
+would not be an end of it, and if he refused
+at last to get what was wanted, he would be
+sent to Coventry, at least by those whose
+society he desired.</p>
+
+<p>So after washing his hands before going
+to tea he went to the dispensing-room, to find
+out whether the door could be opened, and
+found that it yielded at once. He went in
+and closed the door, lest one of the servants
+should come that way and see him, when
+they would be sure to remind him that he
+was not allowed to go there.</p>
+
+<p>After closing the door he looked round to
+see what he could find, and there by the sink
+was a row of glass-stoppered bottles, evidently
+filled with water for washing them. He
+selected two that he thought would hold about
+half a pint each, and pouring out the water he
+took them to the study and hid them in a
+corner out of sight, in case Florence should
+decide to do her lessons with him this
+evening.</p>
+
+<p>But it seemed as though everything was to
+favour him in what he knew was wrong-doing.
+His sister told him at tea-time that she must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>
+do her lessons in her own room, for she had
+an extra piece of history to study, as she was
+working for the history prize to be given at
+Christmas.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, all right,' said Leonard, with his
+mouth full of bread and jam. 'It's all a girl
+can do, I suppose, get a prize now and
+then.'</p>
+
+<p>'You can't do that if you are a boy!'
+retorted Florence; and then there was a little
+more sparring and wrangling, until the housemaid
+appeared to clear the table. Florence
+went upstairs to her lesson then, and Leonard
+sauntered off to the little study and lighted the
+gas, for it was getting dusk.</p>
+
+<p>When the gas was lighted he went to look
+at his bottles, and then saw in the corner, near
+where he had hidden them, an old leather bag
+of his father's. He remembered now that he
+had been told he might have it for his books
+when the satchel was worn out; and he
+decided to take it at once. 'This is good
+fortune indeed! Taylor says he'll take care
+nobody finds out, if I only get the stuff there.
+Taylor is a smart fellow, and so is his father,
+or he could not have made a big fortune in a
+year or two, as Taylor says he did. My dad
+won't make one in a life-time, I'm afraid, and I
+shall just have to go plodding on at hard work,
+unless I can learn a thing or two from Taylor
+by-and-by.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>While he had been speaking to himself he
+had been wrapping each bottle up separately
+in a piece of old newspaper and putting them
+into the bag. Then he took the written paper
+given him by Taylor and the half-sovereign,
+and decided to go at once and get his bottles
+filled. He must tell the chemist to seal the
+stoppers down securely, or there would be such
+a smell from the bag that it would betray them
+before it could be got into 'the stinkery' at
+school. He put a book in the bag as well as
+the bottles, so that if his sister should discover
+that he had been out, he could say he had been
+to borrow a book from one of his schoolfellows.</p>
+
+<p>He went out by the back gate, for he did
+not want anyone to know he was going if he
+could help it, and Florence might hear him
+shut the front door. He knew where to go,
+and as he brought his father's private bottles
+and half-a-sovereign to pay for what he had,
+the chemist served him without demur. He
+wondered a little what the doctor could want
+the chemicals for, but reflected that as Leonard
+was old enough to sign his poison-book in the
+regular way, and as Mr. Morrison was a well-known
+practitioner in the town, there could be
+no harm done in letting him have what he
+wanted.</p>
+
+<p>So Leonard walked home in triumph with
+the bottles securely wrapped up in the bag.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>
+On his way back he met Taylor walking
+arm-in-arm with Curtis, and both smoking
+cigarettes.</p>
+
+<p>'Hullo, little Morrison!' he said in a
+patronising tone, as Leonard stopped them,
+for they would have passed without noticing
+him.</p>
+
+<p>'This is a piece of luck!' exclaimed
+the boy. 'You can take the bag now,
+Taylor. The bottles and stuff are in it safe
+enough.'</p>
+
+<p>'What bottles? What stuff?' he said,
+stepping back a pace, as if the proffered bag
+would bite him.</p>
+
+<p>'You know what it is,' said Leonard in
+a tone of surprise.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh no, I don't! I know nothing until
+you bring me the stuff I told you about. Ta-ta!
+little Morrison. Don't forget the bag in
+the morning;' and the 'cock of the walk' and
+his friend went on their way laughing, leaving
+the boy transfixed with anger and amazement.
+His first thought was that he would go and
+throw the bottles in the canal just as they
+were, give Taylor the change out of the half-sovereign,
+and tell him where he would find
+the bottles if he wanted them. He went
+so far as to walk down the canal road, but
+his courage evaporated before he had gone
+any distance, and although he was still very
+angry over the treatment he had received<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>
+from his chosen friend, he turned his steps
+homeward, still carrying the bottles, but half
+decided that he would not take them to
+Taylor in the morning.</p>
+
+<p>As he was going in at the back gate one
+of the servants met him.</p>
+
+<p>'Dear me, Mr. Leonard! how you made
+me jump! There's a telegram come for you,
+and Miss Florence has been hunting all over
+the house to find you, for the boy said he
+was to wait for an answer.'</p>
+
+<p>The importance of having a telegram sent
+to him soothed Leonard's ruffled feelings, and
+he hurried in to find his sister and learn
+what the message could be. 'Mother and
+I cannot come home to-night&mdash;coming to-morrow.'
+This was what the mysterious
+yellow envelope contained by way of a
+message, and Leonard read it with Florence
+looking over his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>'There's no answer to go back,' said
+Leonard, when he saw Mary looking at him.
+'Go and tell the boy Father has just sent to
+say that he is not coming home to-night;' and
+then he went and carried the bag to the little
+room, leaving Florence to read the telegram
+over for her own satisfaction&mdash;as if that would
+give her any more information.</p>
+
+<p>She followed her brother to the study
+and said, 'Where do you think they have
+gone, Len?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'How can I tell? I never heard of a
+rich uncle, did you?'</p>
+
+<p>His sister shook her head. 'Daddy was
+an only son, I know,' she said. 'But I think
+mother had a brother.'</p>
+
+<p>'Was he a millionaire?' asked Leonard.</p>
+
+<p>'He was a doctor, which is quite as good,
+I am sure, for that is&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>'Flo, you're a duffer,' interrupted her
+brother. 'There's nothing like millionaires
+in these days, and so I hope this uncle, whoever
+he may be, has made his pile, and will
+leave it all to us.'</p>
+
+<p>'But you don't know it is an uncle they
+have gone to see. Father had friends in
+London, and this telegram came from Westminster,
+and I know that is in London.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, we shall hear all about it when
+they come, I dare say. Now run away, little
+girl, for I want to get on with my lessons,
+now I have got the book I wanted.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that was what you wanted! You
+boys are so careless. It is a good job you
+can borrow of each other;' and Florence
+went away, leaving Leonard to do his lessons
+or reflect upon the strange events of the
+evening.</p>
+
+<p>After a few angry thoughts concerning
+Taylor and his behaviour towards him that
+evening, he began wondering once more
+whether it was an uncle his parents had gone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>
+to see, and then whether he was rich, and
+would make them wealthy too. He had
+never thought so much of money and what
+it could do for its possessor until lately, but
+Taylor and Curtis both belonged to wealthy
+families, and he thought of what they could
+do. He called to mind the half-sovereign
+and the cigarettes he had seen them smoking,
+and he had no doubt they were going to a
+famous billiard-room in the town. Billiards,
+cigars, and half-sovereigns made up an entrancing
+picture to the boy, and he sat and
+dreamed of these things, and wished he had
+plenty of money, until half the evening was
+gone; and although he declined to go to bed
+at the usual hour, he only half knew his
+lessons when he did go.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning he started for school
+in good time, for fear he should miss Taylor,
+and be compelled to have those bottles on
+his mind all the morning. But Taylor was
+looking out for him at the corner of the
+road where they usually met. He was in a
+different mood this morning, and flattered
+and praised the lad for having got the
+chemicals without anyone finding out what
+he had done.</p>
+
+<p>'You carry the bag to the gate, and
+I'll take it of you there, and no one will
+ever see those bottles again, I can promise
+you.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'But how are you going to manage?'
+asked Leonard.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, I have made my plans! I have
+to work in "the stinkery" this morning,
+so the thing will be easy enough when I
+have once got your bottles up in the "lab.,"
+and they'll go in my pockets for me to
+take them up there. Oh, never fear! we
+shall get rid of that board school beggar
+this time, for Skeats is awfully particular
+about his stuff, and he'll never forgive him
+for using chemicals like these away from "the
+stinkery." I know where to put them till
+I want them, so you can give them to me
+in a minute, and I will put them into the
+pockets of this dust-coat I am carrying; I
+brought it with me on purpose.'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard breathed a sigh of relief when
+the bottles were safely transferred from the bag
+to the inside pockets of the fashionable coat.</p>
+
+<p>'If the stopper should come out of that
+bottle of sulphuric acid, your coat won't be
+worth much,' he said, as Taylor swung the
+coat over his arm.</p>
+
+<p>'The stoppers are all right, I can see,'
+he said; but still he carried the coat carefully,
+and went at once to hang it up when he got
+to the school.</p>
+
+<p>The laboratory had been built at a later
+date than the main body of the school, and was
+reached by a flight of steps from the play<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>ground.
+The room below it was used for
+coats and hats and other impedimenta the
+boys might bring with them, each boy having
+his own peg and place on the shelf for bag or
+lunch basket. They passed through this room
+on their way to the laboratory, and so it would
+be easy for Taylor to take down his coat, and
+carry it up with him when he went for his
+practical chemistry lesson, and he did this
+without any notice being aroused among the
+other boys.</p>
+
+<p>At twelve o'clock, when school was over,
+the science master went to the playground
+to look for Howard, who was eating his
+sandwiches as he walked up and down. 'You
+won't be long before you go up to the
+laboratory, I suppose, Howard?' he said, when
+he saw the lad.</p>
+
+<p>'No, sir, I'm going in a minute,' said the
+boy.</p>
+
+<p>'I have left three boys there finishing
+their work. Just see they leave their things
+all right, when you go in.'</p>
+
+<p>Horace frequently performed such small
+services for the science master, and readily
+promised to do this. But just as Mr. Skeats
+turned away, Warren came up, and the two
+stood talking for two or three minutes before
+Howard went to the laboratory. He ran up
+the steps, and was surprised to find the door
+closed, but not locked, as boys usually locked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>
+it when they were left to do some work after
+school hours. When he opened the door, he
+was struck by the peculiar smell of almonds
+that pervaded the place. He closed the door,
+but did not lock it. 'I say, what have you
+fellows been using?' he said, as he went to the
+further end of the room. There lay one boy
+stretched out on the floor near a bench, and
+close to another lay a second. He tried to
+rouse the one nearest to him, and then seized
+him by the legs and dragged him across the
+room out on to the landing. There he shouted
+'Help! help!' and ran back to pull out the
+others, for he knew the deadly nature of that
+almond-like smell. He managed to get
+another to the door, where he would get fresh
+air, and then returned for the third. He found
+him lying near 'the stinkery,' and thought he
+would open that door, for the better ventilation
+of the outer room; but as he passed his own
+bench, which stood near, he was overpowered
+by the fumes pouring out of a flask standing
+there, from which acid also was boiling over on
+to the bench and floor. He reeled, and before
+he could reach the door fell insensible to the
+ground, one hand falling helplessly into the
+pool of burning liquid there. But by this time
+the fresh air had revived the first boy he had
+dragged out, and he called to a lad in the
+playground.</p>
+
+<p>'What's the row?' said Warren&mdash;for it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>
+happened to be that young gentleman. 'Oh,
+what a stink!' he said the next minute, and
+putting his head in, he saw Howard and the
+other lad lying on the floor at the further end
+of the room. He knew that the fumes were
+dangerous, and stuffing his pocket-handkerchief
+into his mouth and up his nostrils, he dashed
+in and tried to drag both boys at once
+to the door, but had to drop one just as
+Mr. Skeats rushed up. He picked up Horace,
+and carried him down, and then sent for
+the head master and other lads to carry
+out those who, although somewhat revived,
+were still lying on the landing at the top of
+the steps.</p>
+
+<p>'You must have a doctor, sir,' said Warren,
+pushing his way through the crowd of boys
+who had gathered round to know what was
+the matter.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes,' said the master; and Warren
+rushed off to the gate and ran hastily
+down the road. He knew his father was
+often in the neighbourhood about that time
+of the day, and, to his great joy, he saw him
+driving in his gig. The boy ran and shouted,
+and speedily attracted the doctor's attention
+when his son shouted, 'Something wrong in
+the "lab!"'</p>
+
+<p>He ran into the playground, and there half-a-dozen
+voices called, 'They have carried them
+all to the master's house.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Here he found two of the boys well-nigh
+recovered, but the third one was still unconscious,
+and Horace seemed even worse. His
+hand and arms were badly burned with the
+acid, and there were splashes of it on his
+face.</p>
+
+<p>The masters were doing what they could
+to get the deadly poison out of his lungs, but
+it seemed as though Horace and the third lad
+had inhaled so much of the gas that all their
+efforts were in vain. The doctor looked grave
+when Mr. Skeats told him the boys had been
+breathing hydro-cyanic acid gas. The application
+of artificial respiration was redoubled, but
+it was not until nearly four o'clock that Horace
+began to revive, and what Leonard felt during
+those awful hours of suspense could be better
+imagined than described! The laboratory had
+been locked up, as soon as it was known what
+had happened, so that the affair might be
+inquired into. No boy was allowed to go
+home either, although Taylor had complained
+of being very ill, and had wanted to leave
+early.</p>
+
+<p>Not until it was known that Horace was
+out of all immediate danger was there a word
+spoken, and then Dr. Mason said, 'I am ready
+to hear any explanation that you may wish
+to give me as to the cause of what has
+happened. I have heard all about the attendant
+circumstances and the rescue of these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>
+lads.  What I want to know is, who caused
+the disaster?'</p>
+
+<p>Not a sound broke the silence of the school
+when the doctor had said this. Leonard was
+ready to tell of his share in the affair, but as
+he glanced at Taylor he received such a look
+of warning as made him cower in his seat, and
+the school broke up wondering what would
+happen next.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">Righteous Retribution</span>.</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="sp1">W</span>arren volunteered the information
+that Howard's mother had gone away
+from home, and only his elder brother
+could take care of him, if he was sent there,
+so that it was decided that he should remain
+in the master's house for the present; and
+Warren went to let Fred know that his
+brother would not be home all night.</p>
+
+<p>'Why, what is the matter?' asked the
+young carpenter anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>'There was something wrong in the "lab."
+this dinner-time. Nobody knows just how it
+happened, but there'll be a jolly row about it
+to-morrow, I know.'</p>
+
+<p>'I hope Horace had nothing to do with
+it,' said Fred.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, didn't he, though! Three boys
+would soon have been dead if he hadn't gone
+in. That's how he got hurt. You can go and
+see him, my father says, only you mustn't talk
+much.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Fred was not long getting his tea; he was
+too anxious to go and hear more of what had
+happened to his brother, but he took care to
+wash himself and change his working clothes
+before presenting himself at the master's
+house.</p>
+
+<p>He found Horace in bed, with both hands
+bandaged and looking very pale. He was able
+to tell him what had happened, but begged
+him not to say a word about it to his mother,
+as he felt sure he should be quite well in the
+morning. Fred hardly knew what to do, but
+at length agreed not to say a word about it
+when he wrote to his mother. When he had
+nearly reached his own home, he saw a boy
+waiting near the gate, and he said, 'Are you
+Howard's brother?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes. Who are you?' asked Fred.</p>
+
+<p>'My name is Morrison, and I want to
+know if you think he will get well again.'</p>
+
+<p>'I hope so. But why are you so anxious
+about it? Do you know how it happened?'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard nodded.</p>
+
+<p>'I know a bit,' said the boy sheepishly,
+'and I wondered whether I'd better tell my
+father.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes&mdash;tell him by all means,' said
+Fred eagerly. 'Come in a minute, and if you
+like I will go home with you and break the
+ice. I've always been in the habit of telling
+my mother when I got into a scrape; but it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>
+made it a bit easier if Horace told her something
+about it first, so I know how you feel
+about telling your father.'</p>
+
+<p>'We didn't mean to hurt the fellows, you
+know,' said Leonard eagerly, as he went into
+the little sitting-room. 'We didn't mean to
+hurt anybody; only make a jolly stink in the
+"lab.," and get somebody into a row.'</p>
+
+<p>He did not say who the 'somebody' was,
+and Fred did not ask him. They went away
+together, and walked almost in silence, for
+Fred did not like to press the boy to tell him
+any more. It was a long walk round to
+Leonard's home, but Fred did not mind; and
+if the doctor had got back he might hear of his
+mother, and something of what had happened
+since she had been gone, for he had not had
+a letter from her, as he had expected.</p>
+
+<p>When they got to the doctor's house, and
+Fred asked to see him, the servant said he had
+only just come home, and she was not sure
+that he could see anybody.</p>
+
+<p>'I think he will see me, if you tell him that
+my name is Howard,' said Fred. 'I have
+come to see him about my brother, who was
+hurt at school to-day.'</p>
+
+<p>The doctor was certainly mystified as to
+the meaning of the last part of the message,
+but he was glad to see Fred, for he had
+promised his mother he would see him as
+soon as possible.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The doctor rose from his seat and took
+Fred's hands as he entered the room. 'I
+am very glad to see you. I have some
+wonderful news for you. I left your father
+a few hours ago. Your mother wished me
+to tell you. Do you remember your father?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, sir, a little,' answered Fred, quite
+forgetting what he actually had come for.</p>
+
+<p>'You do remember him?' repeated the
+doctor.</p>
+
+<p>'I know he was a gentleman,' said Fred,
+a little proudly.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, he has proved himself a steadfast,
+God-fearing, humble Christian. A true gentleman
+in these later years,' said Mr. Morrison;
+'and I have promised him, and your mother
+too, that you shall hear something of what
+those years have been.'</p>
+
+<p>'But I should like to know first why he
+went away and left us all alone,' said Fred,
+with reddening brow. 'It was not fair to
+my mother, or to any of us, and I am not
+sure that I shall ever want to see him again.'
+And then the tears filled Fred's eyes.</p>
+
+<p>'Sit down, my lad,' said the doctor; 'your
+father knew that you must feel angry at what
+has happened, and, to use his own words, he
+does not deserve anything else at your hands,
+but I was to tell his story in as few words as
+possible, and leave the rest to you.</p>
+
+<p>'Some time before he went away he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>
+a patient named Taylor. He seems to have
+been a very fascinating sort of man, and your
+father was not a very strong one. Through
+this man he neglected his practice a great deal&mdash;he
+was a doctor, you know&mdash;his friend
+always seemed to have plenty of money, and
+they went about the country a good deal
+together enjoying themselves, doing no great
+harm, beyond your father neglecting his work
+and you at home.</p>
+
+<p>'This lasted for some time, and then one
+day his friend begged him, as a great favour, to
+sign his name to a bill. Of course, by doing
+this your father became responsible for the
+whole amount of the debt, if his friend should
+fail to repay it within the time named; but
+he had such confidence in Mr. Taylor, and
+believed all he said about the wealth coming
+to him, that he signed it after a little persuasion,
+although it was for a very large
+amount of money.</p>
+
+<p>'He never told your mother of this transaction,
+because he knew she disliked and
+mistrusted this Taylor.</p>
+
+<p>'A few days before this bill became due
+your father found to his dismay that his friend
+had disappeared from his London house, and
+no one knew where he had gone. Still, your
+father said no word to your mother of what
+had happened, but when he was served with
+the notice that he must now pay the debt,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+he was seized with panic at the thought of the
+ruin he had brought upon himself and family,
+and, instead of bravely staying to do what he
+could to help those who were dependent upon
+him, he went out one morning, and took a
+passage to Australia by a vessel that was
+just leaving the docks.</p>
+
+<p>'It must be said in excuse for him that
+just at the time there was a great talk of the
+rapid fortunes that were being made in the
+gold-fields, and he had heard that Taylor had
+gone there to make his fortune.</p>
+
+<p>'I need hardly tell you that he did not
+see his false friend again, although he heard
+of him more than once during his wanderings
+in the wilds of Australia.</p>
+
+<p>'He wrote one short letter, telling your
+mother he would come home as soon as he
+had made his fortune; and he resolved in his
+own mind not to do so until he had accomplished
+this, for only in this way he thought
+he could atone for the past and prove that he
+was worthy of her confidence for the future.</p>
+
+<p>'But he found the task much harder than
+he had supposed, and instead of making his
+fortune at the gold-fields he was robbed of
+the little he possessed, and was glad to get
+any sort of work that would provide him with
+a crust of bread.</p>
+
+<p>'Then he met with Mrs. Morrison's brother,
+who was not unlike himself in many respects&mdash;easily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>
+led, weak to resist temptation&mdash;but
+in the hard school of affliction to which they
+had condemned themselves God met them,
+and showed them the folly and sin of which
+they had been guilty; and they sought and
+found pardon through the Lord Jesus Christ.
+Then, through the help of God's Holy Spirit,
+they began to struggle against the temptations
+by which they were beset, and in the struggle
+grew strong, strong enough to resist even the
+making of illegal gains; and so the fortune
+that was to restore them to home and country
+was a long time in the making, and meanwhile
+they clung to each other, and to God.'</p>
+
+<p>'But my father might have written to us,'
+said Fred, still a little hardly.</p>
+
+<p>'They both wrote to their nearest friends
+in England. But you must remember that
+your mother had left London, and I had left
+Liverpool, where I was living when my
+brother-in-law went away; so both letters
+were returned, and the wanderers could only
+work on in faith and hope that one day God
+would bring them to their dear ones again.'</p>
+
+<p>Fred had listened with the greatest intentness
+to the doctor's story, and now he
+roused himself, remembering that the errand he
+had come upon had not yet been mentioned.
+'Thank you, Dr. Morrison,' he said, 'for
+telling me this; but I cannot help thinking
+still that my father has been very cruel to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>
+us, although he may not have intended it;
+but I came to see you about something else.
+You have a son who goes to school with my
+brother; Horace has been hurt somehow, and
+is in bed at the master's house. Your son
+wishes me to tell you that he knows something
+of what happened. He did not mean to
+hurt anybody, but three boys might have
+died through what was done.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, that is just it. Boys never intend
+wilfully to hurt each other, I believe, and it
+is only rarely that men do so; but they do
+it through their weakness and thoughtlessness,
+and bring untold misery upon friends, and all
+who love them. Your father's spoiled life,
+and my brother-in-law's almost wasted one,
+should teach all you lads a lesson. Ask God
+to make you strong to resist the first temptation&mdash;strong
+in the strength of the Lord Jesus
+Christ, for this alone can help you in the
+hour of trial. And remember that this time
+of trial must come to you sooner or later; and
+the sooner it comes in life the better, if only you
+go to the Strong for strength to sustain you.'</p>
+
+<p>Then the doctor rang the bell, and told
+the servant to send Leonard to him. Fred
+rose to go, but the doctor told him to sit
+down again.</p>
+
+<p>'We'll get this business over while you are
+here,' he said. And when Leonard appeared,
+he said, 'My friend, Mr. Fred Howard, says<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>
+you have something to tell me. Yes, he is
+my friend, and I trust that you will make
+him yours also, if he will accept the friendship
+of a boy like you,' said the doctor, answering
+the look of perplexity on Leonard's face. 'This
+lad's father has saved your uncle's life more
+than once, it seems, while you have nearly
+killed his brother. Is that true?'</p>
+
+<p>Leonard hung his head, and the tears
+slowly gathered in his eyes. 'Did Mr. Warren
+tell you that, father?' he said with a gasp.</p>
+
+<p>'I have not seen Warren yet,' said Dr.
+Morrison. 'What is it you have to tell me?
+Do not be afraid, I want to hear all the truth
+from you. Now what is it you have to tell
+me, Len?' said the doctor, in a more tender
+tone. 'I hear you have got into some scrape
+at school, and somebody has got hurt.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, father; the scholarship boy, and I
+was afraid he might die.'</p>
+
+<p>'Well, what was your share of the mischief?
+Did you really wish your schoolfellow
+to die?'</p>
+
+<p>'Father, we didn't mean to hurt him really.
+We only wanted to drive him away from the
+school.' And then, bit by bit, Mr. Morrison
+heard the whole story of what had been going
+on at Torrington's for the last few months.</p>
+
+<p>Fred was as much astonished as Mr.
+Morrison. 'My brother never said a word
+about it at home,' he said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Your brother has the brave gallant spirit
+of a gentleman,' said the doctor. 'But what
+am I to say of my son and his cowardly
+companions? Go to your room, sir!' he said,
+addressing Leonard, for he was very angry.</p>
+
+<p>'But, Mr. Morrison, that he should wish
+to come and tell you of it before it is known
+at the school who has done it, should not
+be forgotten,' said Fred, pleadingly.</p>
+
+<p>'Certainly, certainly, it is something, as
+you say,' answered Mr. Morrison; but in
+truth he felt overwhelmed just now.</p>
+
+<p>As Fred was leaving, a servant from Dr.
+Mason's arrived with a note, asking that Mr.
+Morrison would bring his son, and be at the
+school by nine o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>'Mason has found out all about it, I
+expect,' he said, as he read the note. He
+gave orders for his carriage to be ready by
+half-past eight the following day, for he had a
+great deal to do before he started for London
+in the evening.</p>
+
+<p>He went to see Leonard in his own room
+before he went to bed, and then told him
+something of his uncle's life, and why it was
+that he wished to befriend Horace Howard.</p>
+
+<p>His father's talk made a deep impression
+on the boy's mind. 'Mamma told me something
+of this once but she did not say the
+"somebody" was my uncle.'</p>
+
+<p>'My boy, she loved this brother as Florrie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>
+loves you, and how could she tell you all the
+miserable tale?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, papa, I am so sorry! What can I do
+to make you believe that I do mean to try and
+do right always for the future? I wish I could
+do something for that poor Horace. His
+hands are awfully bad, and he won't be able to
+use them for ever so long. There's nobody to
+take care of him at home either. Don't you
+think he might come here, papa?'</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Morrison looked at Leonard, and
+breathed a sigh of relief. 'My boy, could I
+trust you to be good to him if I fetched him
+here to-morrow?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes, papa; indeed I will try to make
+it up to him, if you will let him come. I am
+so sorry. I did not know it was going to be
+so bad, until I heard Mr. Skeats say he
+wondered they were not dead. That was why
+I wanted to see Howard's brother. I knew he
+was the worst, and I wanted them to know
+that I did not mean really to hurt him.'</p>
+
+<p>'I can quite believe and sincerely hope that
+this will be a lesson you will never forget
+through your whole life. But if I forgive you
+it is more than you can expect Dr. Mason to
+do. I almost wonder he has not put it into the
+hands of the police, and had you all arrested.
+The punishment will be severe, I have no
+doubt; it ought to be, to make an impression
+upon the school; and remember, whatever it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>
+may be, I shall expect you to bear it patiently
+and bravely. I forgive you, but I shall not
+seek to lessen the punishment your schoolmaster
+may inflict. Now go to sleep as soon
+as you can, and I will take you to school in the
+carriage with me in the morning.'</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Morrison was compelled to pay a visit
+to a patient on his way to the school the next
+day, so that when they arrived they found all
+the school assembled in the hall. Prayers
+were just over, and when Leonard entered
+with his father, he was directed to take his
+place beside Taylor and Curtis, who were
+standing in front of the platform, where Dr.
+Mason and the other masters were sitting.
+His father was asked to take a seat there
+beside two other gentlemen, whom he afterwards
+heard were Mr. Curtis and Mr. Taylor,
+who had come to hear what their sons were
+charged with.</p>
+
+<p>'It might have been manslaughter,' said
+Dr. Mason severely, when one of the gentlemen
+asked this question rather angrily.</p>
+
+<p>'Last night, before we separated, I asked
+if anyone wanted to make a statement about
+this matter,' said the master, addressing the
+school. 'No one answered then; now it is
+too late, and I can tell you myself all that
+happened. When the chemistry class left the
+laboratory yesterday morning, Mr. Skeats left
+three boys to finish what they were doing,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>
+believing that they were the only lads there.
+Just after he had gone they heard the stink-chamber
+door opened, and Taylor put something
+down on Howard's bench, which is close
+to that door. They took no notice of this at
+first, until the peculiar odour arrested their
+attention. Then one of them went round to
+see what it was, but coming in closer contact
+with the fumes was overcome by them, and
+fell down unconscious. Soon a second fell at
+his bench, and the third fell just as Howard
+opened the laboratory door and called to
+them. None were able to answer; but he
+pulled two out on to the landing, and then
+went back for the third, but fell unconscious
+himself, close to his own bench, and near the
+lad he was trying to save. Fortunately, his
+cry for help was heard, and both lives were
+saved, I am thankful to say, although Howard
+has been burned a great deal with the acid
+of the poison.'</p>
+
+<p>There was a dead silence throughout the
+school while the master was speaking. After
+a pause he said, 'I do not suppose that either
+Taylor, Curtis, or Morrison knew what their
+act would be likely to cause. I am sure they
+were ignorant of the danger they caused to
+three or four of their schoolfellows. But I do
+know that for some time past these boys have
+been persecuting one of their companions; and
+this sort of thing shall never be allowed at this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>
+school. Therefore, to save this school from
+future disgrace and trouble, I am compelled to
+expel from the school those who have been
+the ringleaders in this persecution. Taylor!
+Curtis! your names will be removed from the
+school roll, and never again will you be
+admitted as scholars of Torrington's school.
+Morrison has been greatly to blame in the part
+he has taken in this business; but taking into
+consideration that he made a full confession to
+his father last night of all he had done, added
+to the fact that he is a younger and weaker
+boy than the others, I shall suspend him from
+attending this school for six months; and if
+at the end of that time he can bring a
+certificate of good conduct from any other
+school, he may possibly be reinstated at
+Torrington's. The honour of the school
+demands that these punishments should be
+strictly adhered to.' The master sat down,
+and before a boy could leave his place Dr.
+Morrison sprang to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>'Dr. Mason, I am an old Torrington boy,'
+he said; 'and I thank you with all my heart
+for defending the honour of the dear old school.
+My son is one of the culprits, and I thank you
+in his name for giving him another chance to
+retrieve his character. I shall send him for
+the six months to one of the board schools in
+the town, where I hope and trust he may earn
+the right to come among you once more, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>
+bring no further disgrace upon Torrington's
+school.'</p>
+
+<p>The other two gentlemen did not say a
+word. They were exceedingly angry with the
+culprits, but could not complain that the master
+had been unduly severe with them. Before
+they left, Dr. Mason said that he must charge
+them with the cost of a new suit of clothes for
+Horace. 'Those he was wearing yesterday
+are burned into holes, so that the poor lad has
+nothing to wear when he is able to get up,'
+said Dr. Mason.</p>
+
+<p>'I will see to that,' said Dr. Morrison.</p>
+
+<p>'I understand you are going to charge yourself
+with the care of the lad until he is well,'
+said the master. 'I like justice all round, and
+it is only fair these gentlemen should buy the
+boy a new suit. Will you leave me to order
+it?' he said, addressing the two.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes, of course, and we will pay the
+bill,' both answered in a breath.</p>
+
+<p>'Now, Morrison, you can go and tell the
+lad that he will soon have some new clothes,
+for I understand that is the chief trouble
+with him this morning&mdash;that he has spoiled his
+best jacket, and burned holes in his trousers.
+Mrs. Mason will give you something to take
+him home in, and I think it will do both lads
+good to know more of each other. The wisest
+thing you could do is what you have decided
+upon for Leonard, and I hope I shall see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>
+him back at Torrington's at the end of six
+months.'</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Morrison found Fred was with his
+brother, but he readily agreed to his being
+taken home by the doctor. Horace himself
+did not know what to make of it. Fred had
+just told him what he had heard from Dr.
+Morrison about his father, and now the doctor
+assured him that Leonard was very anxious
+to make up to him for all the unkindness he
+had been guilty of in the past.</p>
+
+<p>'For our father's sake you ought to give
+him this chance,' said Fred, for he knew he
+could not give his brother the care he needed.</p>
+
+<p>'Thank you, doctor; I will go with you,'
+said Horace.</p>
+
+<p>Just as he was being wrapped up Mr.
+Warren came in to see his patient, and was
+glad to learn that he was going home with
+Dr. Morrison.</p>
+
+<p>'You will let Warren come and see me,
+won't you?' said Horace.</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes, send him by all means; and
+I shall be glad if you can look in upon him
+yourself to-morrow, for I am obliged to go
+to London this evening, so that he must be
+left to the tender mercies of Len and the
+servants for a day or two.'</p>
+
+<p>Horace was carried to the carriage where
+Leonard was seated, shedding a few quiet
+tears over the folly that had gained for him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>
+this suspension for the honour of the school.
+Still, he was thankful that he was allowed a
+chance of return, and resolved to do all he
+could&mdash;even in a board school&mdash;to earn the
+right to go back at the end of six months.
+He was glad enough to have Horace seated
+beside him, and the first words he said were,</p>
+
+<p>'I hope you will forgive me for being
+such a fool. We must be friends, you know,
+and I hope to come back to Torrington's
+with you by-and by.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes, we will be good friends if you
+like,' said Horace, with the tears shining in
+his eyes. 'Only I don't know what my
+mother will say when she comes home.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, that will be all right,' answered
+Leonard. 'Your mother has gone to London
+with my mother. I dare say we shall know
+all about it presently. But father is too busy
+now, for he is going to London again this
+evening, and so I shall have to take care of
+you until he comes back. We'll ask Warren
+to come and see us as well, because I know
+you like Warren.'</p>
+
+<p>This last proposal cost Leonard the most,
+for he wanted Horace to like him now. But
+it was a proof to Mr. Morrison that his son
+had learned to conquer himself; and he had
+more hope for him now than he had since
+he first heard of this school scandal.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor had taken care to say as little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>
+as possible to the two boys about the fortune
+Mr. Howard had made while he was away,
+and it had made so little impression upon
+Horace, that when Mr. Morrison came back
+from London the next day, and told him that
+his mother wanted him to go to the sea-side
+as soon as he was able to go, Horace looked
+at him in mute wonder.</p>
+
+<p>Could his mother afford to send him to
+the sea-side? he wondered, and he resolved
+to ask Fred what he thought about it when
+he came.</p>
+
+<p>His brother came to sit with him for an
+hour every evening, and as soon as they were
+left to themselves that night Horace said,
+'Have you heard that mother wants us to go
+to the sea-side&mdash;Leonard, and you and I?
+What does it mean, Fred? Has mother got
+money enough now to spend it like that?'</p>
+
+<p>'I suppose she has,' said Fred, with something
+like a sigh; 'but I am not sure that it is
+going to make us any happier, Horry,' he added.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, I suppose that will depend upon
+what we do with it, won't it?' said Horace
+simply.</p>
+
+<p>'Well, then I don't know that I shall let
+them spend any of it on me,' said Fred, in
+an angry tone.</p>
+
+<p>'Then you won't let mother be happy,
+though she may have more money, and not
+have to work for it now.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Now, Horace, you know it is on mother's
+account that I feel as I do. It was unkind
+and cruel of father to go away and leave
+her as he did for years and years, though
+he was making a fortune for us. I tell you
+that money has been bought too dearly, and
+for mother's sake I don't feel as though I
+could touch a penny of it.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Fred! think how unhappy she will
+be if you say that to her.'</p>
+
+<p>'I have said it,' replied Fred bitterly. 'I
+wrote and told her that I hoped she would
+leave me to be a carpenter, and live on in
+the little cottage where she had worked so
+hard.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, how could you&mdash;what did she say?'
+cried Horace, with the tears shining in his
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Fred covered his face for a moment. 'She
+begged me to forgive my father for her sake, as
+though it was not for her sake I feel as I do.'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, yes, I know,' said Horace. 'But
+you will have to do as she says, or else we
+shall all be so unhappy. Oh, Fred, for
+mother's sake, for my sake, forgive father!
+for why should I lose my brother because
+my father has come home? I cannot help
+myself. I must let him help me, and if he
+did stay and work for this money just to
+prove that he was sorry for what he had
+done so long ago, I think we ought to forgive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span>
+him, as mother has. He is ill, too, through
+the hardships he had to endure.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Horry, if only he hadn't gone away
+like that! To have to forgive your father,
+instead of looking up to him as Len Morrison
+does, is so bitter; and it might all have been
+so different if only he had kept on doing his
+duty and asking God to help him when things
+were a bit harder than usual.'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, Fred, ask God to help you now, to
+help you forgive him for mother's sake, and
+for Jesus Christ's sake!' cried Horace, in a
+passion of tears.</p>
+
+<p>'I have, dear, I have! and I think I shall
+be able to do it soon; but I think God wanted
+me to see that making a fortune can't make up
+for not doing the right thing at the right time;
+no, not even to the people you may make the
+fortune for. I shall have to let my father know
+this before I can fully forgive him.'</p>
+
+<p>It was a bitter lesson for the returned
+prodigals to learn, for Leonard Morrison took
+the same view concerning his uncle, having
+memories of days when his mother was too ill
+and too sad to be glad with them; and he heard
+now from his father that this was generally
+caused by some memory of the dearly loved
+brother who had fled from them under a
+cloud of disgrace.</p>
+
+<p>At length, however, Fred wrote and
+assured his mother that for her sake, and for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>
+his brother's, he would do as they wished, and
+join them at the sea-side, when Horace went
+for a holiday before returning to school. His
+hands were better, thanks to the kind attention
+he received from everyone at Dr. Morrison's.
+Indeed, he was such good friends now with
+Leonard, that he begged to be allowed to
+go to the sea-side with him, in order to make
+the acquaintance of his mother and his father
+as well as of his own uncle, who was still
+staying with them to help the invalid.</p>
+
+<p>Fred wrote this letter, and Mrs. Howard
+was greatly relieved to receive it. To her it
+had been easy enough to receive and pardon
+her husband for his long neglect, and she failed
+to understand why her elder son, who had
+always been so good to her, should assume
+such a hard, unforgiving demeanour towards
+his father.</p>
+
+<p>But when they met some weeks later she
+learned to understand the lad better; and
+when she told her husband he said, 'It is
+better. He is young, and has all his life before
+him, and he is right in thinking that no fortune
+can make up for wasted opportunities and
+neglected duties.'</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 65%;' />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of That Scholarship Boy, by Emma Leslie
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+</body>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of That Scholarship Boy, by Emma Leslie
+
+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: That Scholarship Boy
+
+Author: Emma Leslie
+
+Release Date: July 22, 2008 [EBook #26104]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT SCHOLARSHIP BOY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh,
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+       [Illustration: HE PICKED UP HORACE AND CARRIED HIM DOWN.
+       [_Page 106._]
+
+
+
+                                 THAT
+
+                           SCHOLARSHIP BOY
+
+
+
+                                  By
+
+                             EMMA LESLIE
+
+  _Author of 'Arthur Ranyard's Training,' 'Dearer than Life,' etc._
+
+
+
+                           THIRD IMPRESSION
+
+
+
+
+                                LONDON
+
+                     THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
+
+         4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E.C.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                  PAGE
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+BROTHER AND SISTER                 5
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+SENDING HIM TO COVENTRY            8
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE COCK OF THE WALK              32
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+DR. MORRISON                      46
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE CHAMPION                      59
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+FOR THE HONOUR OF THE SCHOOL      74
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+NEWS FOR MRS. MORRISON            89
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+RIGHTEOUS RETRIBUTION            109
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+BROTHER AND SISTER.
+
+
+'I say, we've got a new boy at Torrington's. Haven't had one for ages
+and ages, so it's made quite a stir among us.'
+
+'You can make stir enough when you are coming out of school,' said his
+sister, lifting her eyes from her lessons and looking across the
+table.
+
+'Who is the new boy?' she asked.
+
+'Nobody knows--that's the fun,' said Leonard, with a short whistle.
+
+'Don't you even know his name?'
+
+'That's just like a girl, Duffy; you're worse than usual,' said her
+brother, setting his elbows on the table, and nibbling the end of the
+pen-holder in a meditative fashion. 'Of course he was properly
+introduced to the class as Mr. Horace Howard.'
+
+'Howard is a nice name,' commented Duffy, whose real name was
+Florence. 'It was Aunt Lucy's name before she was married, you know.'
+
+No, I don't know. I may have heard it, but the name's nothing. I
+don't suppose his father was hanged!' said her brother.
+
+'Perhaps he is some distant relative of the Duke of Norfolk? though
+auntie says she has nothing to do with those Howards.'
+
+A mocking laugh greeted this suggestion. 'Go on, Duffy, let us have
+some more of your wisdom.'
+
+'I don't see what there is to laugh at, Len, and I am sure I don't
+want to hear about the new boy,' said his sister indignantly, and she
+turned to her lessons once more.
+
+This brought a fusillade of paper pellets from the student sitting
+opposite. She bore it patiently for a minute or two, and then angrily
+demanded why he did not get on with his lessons and let her do the
+same, and threatened to ring the bell.
+
+'Don't be a bigger duffer than you are, Flo. You can't help being a
+girl, I know; but I'm willing to help you all I can out of a girl's
+foolishness. Only a girl would talk of ringing the bell, and making a
+row, because she can't have all her own way. Come now, I want to talk
+to you about the new boy, and we can finish the lesson afterwards.'
+
+'But you say you don't know anything about him, and so there's nothing
+to talk about,' said his sister.
+
+'Yes, that's just it. Why shouldn't the fellow tell us who his people
+are, where he comes from, and what he's going to do with himself
+by-and-by?'
+
+It was his sister's turn to laugh now. 'What queer notions boys have!'
+she exclaimed. 'I suppose you expect a new scholar to come and say,
+"My father is a doctor, or a lawyer, and we have three servants at our
+house," as soon as the master has introduced him to the class.'
+
+A ball of paper was levelled at Duffy's head for this remark. 'Who
+said he was to do it the first day or the second day? But when a
+fellow has been there nearly a fortnight you expect to hear something
+about who he is.'
+
+'But suppose he don't choose to tell you, what then?'
+
+'Yes, that's it. How are we going to make him? What would you do,
+Duffy? That's what I want to know.'
+
+'Oh, I'm only a girl,' said Duffy with a laugh. 'I can't be expected
+to understand boys' affairs like that.'
+
+'Yes, you do--that's just what girls do understand. We can't have a
+good stand up fight, which is the way we generally settle things.'
+
+'Why not? If the new boy won't do as the rest tell him, then fight it
+out, if he won't give in!'
+
+Leonard heaved a sigh of despair. 'There never was anything half so
+stupid as a girl!' he exclaimed. 'Do you think if it was anything we
+could settle off-hand like that I should ask you about it?'
+
+'Well, tell me what it is, and I'll help you if I can. What is the new
+boy like?' she asked.
+
+'Oh, like most other fellows, I suppose, or at least he was the first
+day, I know, for I took particular notice as he came into the class;
+but the last day or two he has come in a jacket that ought to have
+gone to the rag-bag three months ago, and----'
+
+'But his jacket can't hurt you,' interrupted his sister, 'you don't
+have to wear it.'
+
+'You stupid duffer! don't he go to Torrington's, I tell you, and
+haven't we got to stand up for the honour of the school?'
+
+'Who--the boys or the head master?' asked Duffy innocently.
+
+'Why, all of us, to be sure, and we mean to do it too. Why,
+Torrington's is as good as Eton.'
+
+'Oh yes, of course it's a good school,' admitted Duffy.
+
+'Yes, and we mean to keep it so; we don't mean to have any cads among
+us.'
+
+'Is the new boy a cad, then?' asked his sister.
+
+'He can't be anything else, if the story Bob Taylor has heard is true.
+He brought it to school yesterday, and says he knows it is a fact
+That the new fellow is a scholarship boy from one of those low board
+schools in Middleton, and that he walks back to the town every day.'
+
+'What is a scholarship boy?' asked Duffy.
+
+'Why, a poor beggar who can't afford to pay his own schooling, and so
+the County Council pay it for him.'
+
+'What a shame!' exclaimed the young lady indignantly. 'Mamma was
+saying only yesterday how much our schooling cost. Why don't the
+County Council pay for us, especially as father has something to do
+with it?'
+
+Leonard shook his head. He either did not know or did not choose to
+tell his sister the conditions upon which County Scholarships were
+granted. He merely remarked, 'You're a dreadful duffer about some
+things, Flo. But you could tell us what girls would do if their school
+was going to be dragged down.'
+
+But Florence shook her head. 'I don't know what we should do,' she
+said, 'because I am not one of the elder girls, and we juniors don't
+count for much; but if the girl weren't nice I should not speak to her
+or help her with her lessons or anything.'
+
+'Oh, the beggar don't want any help with _his_ lessons. He has climbed
+to the top of the class, and hooked Taylor out of his place already.
+And old Mason actually had the cheek to tell us to-day that we should
+have to pay a good deal more attention to our home work, or else
+Howard would carry off all the prizes by-and-by. I should like to see
+him do it,' he added.
+
+'No, you wouldn't; and so you had better get on with your lessons
+now,' said the young lady practically.
+
+'No, no! let's settle this first. You haven't told me what a girl's
+way would be with a fellow like this Howard.'
+
+'Why, if he isn't nice, don't speak to him. Of course you can't help
+it if he does his lessons better than you do, or you must work at them
+a little more carefully, I suppose, if you mean to get ahead of him in
+the class and take some of the prizes!'
+
+'Oh, prizes be bothered!' exclaimed Leonard crossly, for his sister's
+advice had not pleased him at all. 'I tell you we want to get rid of
+the fellow if we can. Taylor says the head master ought to have
+refused to take a scholarship boy.'
+
+'Perhaps father could interfere,' said Florence. 'He has a good deal
+to do with the Council.'
+
+'If you breathe a word of what I've said to father, I'll never speak
+to you again!' said her brother vehemently. 'The idea of such a thing!
+Tell father, indeed! What would the other fellows say, do you think?
+No, no, we can fight our own battle, and defend the honour of the
+school in our own way. A nice hash you would make of everything. You
+are a worse duffer than I thought, though I don't think you are a
+tell-tale.'
+
+'Of course I shall not tell father what we have been talking about, if
+that is what you mean,' said Duffy, a little indignantly. The tears
+were shining in her eyes, for she was very fond of her brother, and
+always ready to help him whenever she was allowed, and so she felt
+this scornful rebuff the more keenly.
+
+'There, you needn't cry over it. I suppose you can't help being only a
+girl. But mind, if you say a word to father or mother of what I have
+told you, I never will speak to you again!' And with this last threat
+Leonard turned with a sigh to his lessons.
+
+'I've wasted a lot of time over you this evening,' he said, after a
+short silence, during which Duffy had been muttering over a French
+verb. 'I'm awfully disappointed about it,' he went on, 'for I shall
+have to tell Taylor and the rest that you're nothing but a duffer.'
+
+'Because I can't tell you how to manage with a boy that I don't know;
+it isn't fair, Len, and you say boys always are fair,' said his
+sister, in a tone of protest, as she turned to her lessons once more.
+
+Leonard tried to follow her example, but he could not fix his
+attention upon problems in Euclid with that greater problem
+unsolved--how the honour of the school was to be saved, and the new
+boy got rid of? That was really what Taylor and one or two leading
+spirits had decided must be done; but how to do it was the puzzle!
+
+Leonard's lessons were very imperfectly prepared that night, and every
+moment he could snatch the next morning was given to looking over his
+books, that he might not utterly fail when he was called upon to
+produce what he should have learned; and he was conning over one task
+as he walked to school, when he was overtaken by Taylor and the rest.
+
+'Oh, I say, Dabbs'--Len's nickname among his friends--'we saw that new
+fellow with another carrying a basket of tools--looked like a
+carpenter's basket,' said one.
+
+'It was his brother, too, I know--looked as though he was going
+wood-chopping somewhere,' said another. But Taylor slipped his arm in
+Len's and drew him aside. 'Look here, what are we going to do about
+it--what did your clever sister say?'
+
+'She couldn't think of anything last night, she was too busy.'
+
+'Oh, that's all rot you know. You said she would be sure to think of
+something clever, and it's come to this--that we must do something at
+once, or Torrington's will go to the dogs, with working fellows coming
+here and lording it over gentlemen. The question is how are we to get
+rid of him?'
+
+'Yes, that's it. How are we? It is easy to say, get rid of him, but
+the question is--how? The only thing that we can do at present that I
+can see is to send him to Coventry!'
+
+To send a boy to Coventry required united action on the part of the
+whole school, but Leonard Morrison and Taylor, with one or two of
+their friends, did not despair of persuading their class-mates to
+follow their example. Of course the boys in the lower classes might
+speak an occasional word, and the seniors in the upper form might have
+occasion to do the same, but the classes in this school were large and
+practically self-contained, so that they had little to do with those
+in the upper or junior classes; it was therefore comparatively easy
+for the leading spirits to persuade or compel the rest to follow their
+lead, whatever it might be.
+
+So the day following the talk between the brother and sister, Horace
+Howard found himself sent to Coventry, as his foes had decreed. As he
+was a quiet, studious lad, he did not notice this at first, but by
+degrees it impressed itself upon him that no one had asked him a
+question all day, or even told him that he must not do this or that.
+He felt vaguely uncomfortable before he set off on his long walk home;
+and when he found that several of his schoolfellows, who had
+previously talked to him as they walked part of the way together, ran
+off as soon as the gate was passed, his heart sank within him, and he
+wondered what he could have done to bring this punishment upon
+himself.
+
+But, whatever he might feel, he determined not to let his mother know
+anything about it, and so he went into the little room where she sat
+at work, whistling cheerily as usual.
+
+'Stitch, stitch, stitch,' he said, as his mother looked up from her
+work for the accustomed kiss.
+
+'You're earlier to-night, dear,' said Mrs. Howard, as she laid aside
+her work and drew the tea-tray close to her.
+
+'I suppose I walked a bit faster, and didn't gossip quite so much,'
+said the lad, and he had to strangle a sigh as he spoke, lest his
+mother should detect it.
+
+'Are you hungry, my boy?' said his mother as he hung up his cap.
+
+'Not very,' answered Horace, for he knew by this time that it was
+inconvenient for him to have a large appetite, and so he was learning
+to regulate it by the state of their finances.
+
+'You went in your old jacket again to-day, Horace,' she remarked as
+she set his dinner before him, for he took his mid-day meal with him
+to school.
+
+'Yes, I wore my old jacket. Why not?' said Horace. 'You mended it up
+so nicely that it was a pity not to give it another turn and save the
+other. Jackets can't be picked up in the street, you know; and though
+we may sometimes pick wool off the hedges, it isn't woven and made up
+into boys' jackets.'
+
+Horace talked on in this strain, to prevent his mother from asking
+questions as to how he had got on at school during the day, for Mrs.
+Howard knew something of the ways of boys, and was terribly afraid
+lest some of her son's schoolfellows should find out something of
+their circumstances, and not treat Horace as they would an equal.
+
+Nothing but the lad's love of science and her desire to give him an
+education that would fit him to make use of this talent, had made her
+willing to consent that he should compete for a scholarship that would
+enable him to do this. It was the first time, she knew, that a boy
+from the board school had ever been admitted to this exclusive grammar
+school known as 'Torrington's'; and she had watched anxiously each
+day, to find out whether the lads were treating their poorer companion
+kindly and courteously, and thus far she had been perfectly
+satisfied.
+
+Her elder son was as anxious as she was that Horace should have all
+the advantages a good education could give, but he was opposed to his
+brother going to Torrington's.
+
+'I am only a carpenter,' he said, 'and never want to be anything
+better, but it won't suit those boys to hear that one of their
+schoolfellows has a brother who is a common working man.'
+
+'You are not a common working man, Fred,' said his mother quickly.
+
+'Not to you, perhaps, mother mine, but I want you to look at things as
+the world does. I do common work--carpenter's work, and am glad to get
+the chance of doing it, and to help you and Horace. Here we can only
+be common working people--you sewing for the shops and I working for a
+builder. That is all the people know, and all we want them to know,
+and I wish Horace could have been a carpenter too.'
+
+'Perhaps it would have been as well,' said his mother with a sigh.
+
+'I am sure it would. We agreed to come here and leave the whole
+miserable past behind.'
+
+'It is left behind,' interrupted his mother quickly.
+
+'Ah, yes, we have done our best; but who knows what questions may be
+asked, now Horace has gone to that school? Boys are often curious in
+their inquiries, and it is not as though----'
+
+'Fred, Fred, we must leave these things in the hand of God, and be
+content to take one step at a time. I could not, in fairness to
+Horace, let him throw away this opportunity of getting a good
+education that will fit him to use the gifts which I believe God has
+given him.'
+
+This conversation had taken place at dinner-time that very day, and
+Mrs. Howard was thinking of it as she watched Horace eat his dinner.
+
+The boy knew that his mother's eyes were upon him, and he was the more
+anxious to guard his secret, and so he rattled on until his mother
+forgot her fears, and thought Fred was making himself anxious without
+the slightest shadow of cause.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+SENDING HIM TO COVENTRY.
+
+
+Horace Howard sat longer over his lessons that night, and was quite
+undisturbed by any talking with his mother and brother, and when the
+time came for him to put the lessons aside and go to bed, he knew he
+had only half mastered them, for his thoughts had wandered continually
+from the subject of the lesson before him to the events of his day at
+school, trying to discover what he had done to offend his
+schoolfellows, that they should all at once send him to Coventry in
+this fashion. The study of mathematics, French, chemistry, and physics
+did not help him to the solution of this problem; but the school
+mystery greatly hindered the other subjects from becoming clear to his
+mind, and when he took his place in class the next morning he knew it
+would be a bad day for him with his class-work.
+
+It was worse even than he feared, and as he lost place after place,
+and went down at last even below the dunces of the form, it hurt him
+more to see how gleeful the other boys were over his mistakes than to
+lose his place in the class.
+
+At last, when Horace had blundered worse than usual over some lesson,
+the master said, 'What is the matter with you to-day, Howard? Are you
+ill? Have you got a headache?'
+
+'No, sir,' answered Horace, for he was a truthful lad, and could not
+avail himself of the excuse the master had thus offered him.
+
+'You could not have prepared your lessons last night, then; you know
+the rule about this, don't you?' said the master sternly.
+
+'Yes, sir; I studied my lessons for more than two hours last night,'
+said Horace, reddening and growing more confused, for he knew all the
+class were staring at him, and, as he fancied, glorying in his
+discomfiture. In this he was not far wrong; but there were one or two
+who pitied him in his various dilemmas, and would have broken that ban
+of silence that had been decreed against him, but the leaders kept
+their eyes upon them, and they would not venture to brave the
+displeasure of their elders.
+
+Altogether it was a cruelly hard day for Horace, and he felt strongly
+inclined to say when he went home, that he would never go near the
+school again, but become a carpenter like his brother. One trade would
+be as good as another, if he could not go on and learn more of the
+mysteries of chemistry and physics It was some consolation to him
+that his master had told him to prepare a special lesson in chemistry,
+in readiness for some practical experiments that were to take place
+the following day.
+
+In his eagerness over this Horace forgot the vexations and trials of
+the day, and had mastered it so quickly, that he was able to look over
+again the lessons that had floored him in class. These imperfect
+lessons would be like the damaged links of a chain, and might bring
+him trouble again and again, if he did not repair the mischief at
+once; and so by the time he went to bed he had well-nigh mastered all
+the difficulties, and worked himself into a state of self-content,
+which was about the best preparation for the next day's work, for he
+went to sleep without a thought beyond his lessons, and took his place
+in the class looking bright and cheery once more.
+
+To-day was to be a sort of recapitulation of the previous fortnight's
+work in chemistry, and the stupid blunders made the previous day were
+more than atoned for, and at last when the boy had worked out a
+brilliant result that greatly surprised the master he said, 'Why, you
+must have been ill yesterday.'
+
+'No, sir, I was well,' said Horace, seeing the master waited for an
+answer. 'I was well enough, but I was not quite happy.'
+
+'Well, then, let me advise you to make yourself happy in future under
+any circumstances.' And then he added in an undertone, 'You are a
+scholarship lad, and we expect more from you than from some of the
+others.'
+
+'Thank you, sir, I'll try,' said Horace; and throughout that day he
+did not find it hard to try, as the master had suggested.
+
+The others had their eyes upon him, and were puzzled to account for
+his success. They had made up their minds the previous day that they
+would only have to carry on their present tactics for a short time,
+and Horace would leave the school in disgust, or else he would be
+asked to leave by the head master, and thus Torrington's would be
+saved from going to the dogs through this scholarship boy. But this
+day's experience of what Horace could do under the terrible ban of
+their displeasure puzzled them, and they resolved to watch more
+closely, to make sure none of those who were suspected of faltering in
+allegiance to the decree of their leaders did not speak to him on
+their way home.
+
+But Horace himself did not expect this now. The first bitterness of
+the trial had worn off, and as soon as he was beyond the school gate
+he set off home at a sharp trot, softly whistling to himself, as he
+pondered over what would be the probable effect if a certain acid they
+had been using was mixed with another substance entirely different
+from anything they had used in that day's experiments.
+
+He whistled and thought, and turned the matter over and over in his
+mind, and finally ended by wishing that his mother could afford to
+give him pocket-money like most boys had to spend. This cost him a
+sigh, as he thought he might as well wish for a slice of the moon at
+once as for pocket-money, and by the time he got home he was whistling
+to himself again as happily as ever.
+
+When he got in, his mother noticed his eager, animated looks.
+
+'Why, what has happened to make you so merry?' she said, as he threw
+up his cap in sheer exuberance of spirits.
+
+'Nothing much, mother; only I have got an idea.'
+
+'Keep it, then, lad--keep it,' said his brother, laughing.
+
+'All right,' said Horace, thinking he should be under no temptation to
+part with it, since his schoolfellows would not speak to him. 'It's a
+good idea, I know, if I can only find out the way to carry it out,'
+added Horace, at which his brother laughed, and his mother remarked
+that a good many people had ideas, but the difficulty was to carry
+them into effect, so that they were of practical use.
+
+'Oh, it will want a good deal of thinking about, I know; but it has
+made me quite decide not to be a carpenter.'
+
+'I thought you had made up your mind about that long ago,' said Fred.
+
+'Ah, but I was thinking the other day it would be a great deal easier
+to be a carpenter, and earn money. I wasn't sure that I ought not to
+do something to help mother soon.'
+
+'No, my boy,' interrupted Mrs. Howard; 'it would not be your duty to
+give up all opportunity of using the talents God has given you, when
+the way has been made clear for you to receive the education that will
+fit you to use them by-and-by. Fred always liked cutting wood and
+making boats and stools, just as you are fond of making chemical
+experiments, and watching what the result will be.'
+
+'I wouldn't be anything but a carpenter; but I shall study mathematics
+more, that I may do better at my trade by-and-by,' said Fred. 'Every
+man to his trade, I suppose; but there's nothing like making things, I
+think,' he added.
+
+So the brothers agreed to differ; but it was a very happy evening to
+Horace, and he thought he had overcome all his difficulties, and could
+be very happy, in spite of the ban that his schoolfellows had placed
+upon him. He learned his lessons that night without difficulty, and
+the next morning began to recover his place in the class; but the hour
+of recess tried him sorely.
+
+A few of the boys who lived in the neighbourhood went home to dinner
+from one to two o'clock, but many who came from a distance brought
+luncheon with them, or had dinner provided for them at the school.
+There was a luncheon room provided for those who brought their meals
+with them, but Horace had preferred eating his slice of bread and
+butter or bread and dripping, walking about the playground. There were
+others who did the same thing, but they walked in groups and chatted
+and frolicked, or played games, and when he first came Horace had been
+invited to join these, and had been initiated into the mysteries of
+one game peculiar to the school, which was, therefore, very popular
+among the boys.
+
+Now, however, this was altered. Horace was left severely alone, and
+though a boy might go shouting round for another to make up the game,
+no one ever asked Horace to take the vacant place. He was left to walk
+up and down the side of the playground until the bell rang for
+afternoon school, and then the boys who might be near, as they were
+passing in, took care to hold as far aloof from him as possible.
+
+Horace wondered how long this was going to last. He had made several
+attempts to break through this silent persecution, but each boy to
+whom he had spoken had walked away as though he was stone deaf; and so
+at last Horace gave up the attempt, and tried to be happy in spite of
+this.
+
+'I say, Morrison, how much longer is that beggar going to hold out?'
+said Taylor, one day speaking to Leonard, as though he ought to know
+all about it.
+
+Taylor had lost his place in the class, and so had Leonard, and
+neither felt very amiable.
+
+'Ask him, if you want to know. I'm nearly sick of it, I can tell you.
+It's lasted a month now, and I think we may as well give it up.'
+
+'I daresay you do. My brother who has just come home from Oxford, says
+it is your people who have brought him into the school.'
+
+'My people!' shouted Leonard, crimson with wrath at the insinuation.
+'Who do you mean by "my people?" and why should you think so?'
+
+'Now don't get mad, Len,' said Taylor in a quieter tone. 'But you know
+your father is on the County Council, and they say it was he who
+recommended that Howard should be sent to Torrington's.'
+
+'I don't believe it!' blazed Leonard Morrison; and then with fine
+inconsistency he added, 'If he did, it was because the fellow got a
+scholarship, and he had to go somewhere.'
+
+'Anywhere but at Torrington's would have done for him,' grumbled
+Taylor; 'and I think the master or the Council ought to turn him out,
+now they know the rest of the fellows don't like it.'
+
+'But do they know we have sent him to Coventry?' asked Leonard.
+
+'Are they bats--do they go about with their eyes shut--haven't you
+noticed that Howard has been up in the chemistry "lab." yesterday and
+to-day all the lunch time? I saw Skeats speaking to him yesterday just
+after we came into the playground, and the two walked away together.
+It was the same again to-day, only Howard was looking out for him, and
+went to meet him as soon as he appeared. Now what are we going to do,
+if the masters try to beat us at this game?'
+
+'I say it isn't fair,' answered Morrison.
+
+'Fair! I call it the meanest thing I ever heard of, and shows that
+Torrington's is going to the dogs, masters and all. I wish you'd speak
+to your pater about it, Morrison. I think you might, now Skeats has
+taken to interfering with us like this.'
+
+Leonard shrugged his shoulders. 'I think it would be better for
+somebody else to come and see my father, if they think he had anything
+to do with sending that boy here. You don't know the pater. He'd just
+turn me inside out, and then laugh at me; but he couldn't serve any
+other fellow that way.'
+
+But Taylor shook his head. It was true that he did not know Dr.
+Morrison, but he had heard that this gentleman had said it would be
+for the advantage of Torrington's to receive a few scholarship boys,
+for they were sure to be sharp, studious lads, and it would waken the
+other boys up and put them on their mettle. So he declined to go and
+see Mr. Morrison, but declared that Leonard ought to undertake the
+mission on behalf of the school.
+
+'Look here, Curtis!' he called to another lad, who, like himself, was
+one of the elders of the class, and consequently domineered a good
+deal over the rest. 'Morrison won't do his duty in upholding the
+honour of the school. You come and talk to him.'
+
+'What's the row?' asked Curtis loftily, sauntering up with his hands
+in his pockets, and looking down upon Leonard Morrison as a big
+overgrown lad likes to look at one of his smaller schoolfellows, as if
+to intimidate him with his superior height and bulk.
+
+'Now, then, little Morrison, speak up. What is it?' he said in a
+sleepy tone, but trying to look fierce.
+
+'Why, it's just this, Curtis, that beggar we have sent to Coventry
+don't seem inclined to take himself out of the school, and so somebody
+must be made to move him.'
+
+'Of course,' said Curtis, who did not mind who the somebody might be,
+so long as he was not called upon to exert himself beyond a little
+bullying, 'you hear, little Morrison, just you do as you're told!' he
+commanded.
+
+'This is what I want him to do,' explained Taylor. 'I have heard that
+it is all through his father that we have got the beggar here, and so
+it's Mr. Morrison and that precious Council that must move him.'
+
+'Of course,' assented Curtis. 'You hear, Morrison?'
+
+'I tell you it must be some of the other fellows that must go and
+explain to the pater that the school don't like scholarship boys. You
+don't know my pater,' he went on, a little plaintively. 'He would very
+likely report us to the head master for sending the fellow to
+Coventry, and then where should we be?'
+
+'Where we are now, but that fellow wouldn't.'
+
+'I tell you, Curtis, you don't know the pater. He would ask what he
+had done that the school had sent him to Coventry, and you know well
+enough that we haven't acted on the square with him.'
+
+'Oh, that's it, is it? You are going to take his part now, and peach
+on us!' raved Taylor.
+
+Curtis yawned. 'You'd better give in, and do as Taylor orders you.'
+
+'Well, then, I should peach, and no mistake, if I told my father we
+had sent the fellow to Coventry for the last month. "What for?" he
+would say in his quiet way, while he looked into your very soul, so
+that you knew you must make a clean breast of everything. No, thank
+you. I don't mind going with you and Taylor and two or three other
+fellows as a sort of deputation from----'
+
+'Deputation be bothered!' interrupted Taylor viciously. 'Why should we
+go cap in hand to ask your father to take the fellow away? It ought to
+be enough for you to tell him that the school don't like it, and that
+we are determined to uphold the honour of Torrington's.'
+
+'Yes, that's it. We don't mean to let the school go to the dogs to
+please anybody,' said Curtis lazily.
+
+'Yes; and what are we to do next, for the beggar don't seem to care
+now whether we send him to Coventry or not, and Skeats is giving the
+game away by letting him go to the chemistry "lab." every dinner
+hour.'
+
+'Let's send Skeats to Coventry,' said Curtis.
+
+Leonard laughed at the suggestion, but Taylor grew more angry.
+
+'It's no good fooling over this now,' he said. 'I have been talking to
+some of the fellows in the sixth, and they have made up their minds
+not to have the beggar among them.'
+
+'All right, let them get rid of him, then,' said Curtis. 'I don't see
+why we should do their dirty work. When's he going up?'
+
+'He swats as though he expected to go next term,' complained Leonard
+Morrison, who had lost his place in the class that morning through
+Horace.
+
+'Swats! It's shameful the pace that fellow goes with his lessons; and
+the masters think we ought to do the same,' foamed Taylor.
+
+'Ah, they've tried to force it upon all of us,' observed Curtis; 'but
+I won't let it disturb me, I can tell you.'
+
+'You don't mind being the dunce of the school,' said Leonard, with a
+short laugh.
+
+'I don't care what the fellows call me, so long as they let me
+alone,' said the young giant, still with his hands in his pockets. He
+was getting tired of the discussion, and Taylor saw that it was of
+little use trying to threaten Leonard, and so he walked sulkily away,
+to try and think out some other means of getting rid of the obnoxious
+scholarship boy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE COCK OF THE WALK.
+
+
+'I say, Duffy, there's an awful row among the fellows at school;
+Taylor and Curtis are like raging bulls over this new fellow, and they
+say it's all the pater's fault.'
+
+The brother and sister were sitting at their lessons in the little
+room known as the study, as they sat when this story opened. Several
+weeks, however, had elapsed since that time, and Florence, having her
+own cares and interests to think of, had well-nigh forgotten how she
+had been appealed to in the matter of the new boy.
+
+'What are you talking about, Len?' she asked, after a pause, during
+which she had been muttering over a French verb, with her hand
+covering the page, by way of testing whether she knew her lesson.
+
+'That's like a girl!' answered her brother tartly. 'I have told you
+more than once or twice about that new boy at Torrington's, and now
+you ask me what I am talking about.'
+
+'Oh, well, I didn't know he was so interesting as all that. You told
+me a week or two ago that you had sent him to Coventry and settled
+him, and so of course I thought it was all over,' said the young lady,
+propping her chin in her hands and looking across at her brother.
+
+'But if a fellow won't be settled, what are you to do? I want you to
+tell me that, Duffy.'
+
+The young lady shook her head. 'Tell us all about it, Len, I'm not
+very busy to-night.'
+
+'Well, we sent that fellow to Coventry, as I told you--not that he's a
+bad sort of chap; only he came from one of those beastly board schools
+in the town, and we didn't know who he was or what he was, and he kept
+his mouth shut about his people, and so the fellows took up the notion
+that Torrington's would soon go to the dogs if we let that sort of
+cattle stay there, and so we said he must go. Well, we thought the
+Coventry game had done the trick for us just at first, for you never
+saw such an awful ass as he made of himself one morning at all the
+classes. "Howard, are you ill?" said Skeats at last, in his sharp way.
+And we thought the beggar would get off for the rest of the lessons.
+But, if you'll believe it, he was game enough to say, "No, sir, I'm
+quite well," which was as good as telling Skeats he was a fool for
+asking such a question.'
+
+Florence nodded. 'I like plucky boys,' she said approvingly.
+
+'Well, it was a plucky thing to do, I daresay, but it didn't help him
+much with Skeats that day, for he never spared him a bit, as he did
+not take the excuse that had been offered him, and he blundered and
+floundered worse than ever, so that Curtis, the biggest dunce in the
+class, answered for him, and took his place in the class.'
+
+'What a shame!' said Florence, pityingly.
+
+'Well, I felt sorry for the poor little beggar at last, for we knew he
+had swatted well over the lesson, and yet he seemed to have lost his
+wits. "That's done the trick," Taylor whispered to me, when Skeats
+frowned at him once for being such an ass. "We shan't see that
+scholarship swatter here any more."'
+
+'Swatter,' repeated Florence. 'But I thought you said he didn't know
+his lessons.'
+
+'Ah! that once. But it wasn't for the want of swatting, for it was
+just that that put the fellows' backs up. He comes into the school
+looking as meek as a rabbit. "I've been to the board school," he says
+to Taylor, when he put him through the usual mill. Not a word did he
+say about French and Latin, and so Taylor thought he would have him
+for a fag, as he was a junior; but we soon found out that we should
+have to swat over our lessons, and no mistake, if we were to keep out
+of rows with the masters. He set the pace, don't you see, till Taylor
+got as mad as a hatter when he lost his place at the top of the
+class, and then he said this new boy would have to go.'
+
+'Because he learned his lessons better than the rest!' exclaimed his
+sister.
+
+'Well, not that exactly--of course not,' replied her brother; 'but you
+see he was only a board school boy, and his mother couldn't be a lady,
+and his brother is only a common carpenter, they say; and so for a
+fellow like that to come to Torrington's would just ruin the school.
+That's why we want to get rid of him, don't you see?'
+
+'No, I don't,' said Florence, indignantly; 'and Taylor and the rest
+are a set of mean cads!' The expression was not very elegant or
+ladylike; but she had learned it from her brother, and knew he would
+feel the reproach conveyed by this word more surely than by anything
+else she could say.
+
+It stung him into a fierce passion of wrath. 'What do girls know about
+boys' schools and boys' ways?' he demanded.
+
+'I know what you have told me about Taylor and the rest, and I say
+they are not gentlemen, but a set of mean cads.' She was careful not
+to include Leonard in this scathing denunciation, for she added, 'I
+should not like to think my brother would act like that.'
+
+'Oh, well, Duffy, you see you are a girl, and can't be expected to
+know everything; but I did tell Taylor to-day that I thought we might
+leave the beggar alone, and let him out of Coventry now.'
+
+'If I was the new boy, I would send you there, and see how you liked
+it. What are you going to do?' she asked.
+
+'That's just it--just what I wanted to talk to you about. The fellows
+say it is all the pater's doings that Howard has been sent to
+Torrington's, and----'
+
+Florence clapped her hands. 'Dear old daddy!' she said. 'He knew what
+Torrington's wanted. Now go on,' she added.
+
+'It's no good when you interrupt like that. I wanted to tell you what
+the fellows are saying; and now if I do, you'll just go and peach
+about the whole thing.'
+
+'Now, Len, did I ever peach about anything you told me? Haven't we
+always been fair and square to each other?' expostulated his sister,
+who felt herself insulted by such a charge.
+
+'Yes, you always have been pretty fair for a girl,' admitted her
+brother, 'and I hope you'll remember that mum must be the word still.
+And mind, if you hear about this, you don't know anything, but just
+tell the pater to ask me about it. I don't want you to go and give
+your opinion about the school and the fellows, though Curtis and one
+or two more may be a poor lot. The thing is, they feel themselves
+insulted by having this scholarship boy sent to Torrington's, and they
+want me to speak to the pater about it.'
+
+'Oh, do--do, and let me be there when you tell him,' said Florence,
+her eyes dancing with glee at the prospect.
+
+'Don't be a duffer. Do you think I don't know my own daddy well enough
+to know that it would be no good going to him with the fellows'
+complaints? I told Taylor he had better come and see the pater himself
+about it.'
+
+'Of course,' nodded Florence, 'that would be the proper way, and I
+should like to see them do it.' And again the girl laughed.
+
+This seemed to annoy her brother. 'It's all very well for you to
+laugh,' he said. 'You don't know what it is to be mixed up with such
+an affair, and I want to know what I am to do.'
+
+'What do they want you to do?'
+
+'Haven't I told you? They say I must get the pater to remove Howard
+from the school at once. And one of the fellows told me as I came home
+that he overheard Taylor and Curtis say that, if it wasn't pretty soon
+done, they'd send me to Coventry, and find out some other way to get
+rid of Howard.'
+
+'I wouldn't care if I was you.'
+
+'Wouldn't you? If you was a boy, you'd know what it was to be sent to
+Coventry, perhaps, and let me tell you, you wouldn't want a second
+dose. It's none so pleasant, I can tell you, to have this fellow turn
+his back, and begin to whistle if you attempt to speak to him. Why,
+they make it so strict at Torrington's that if the master sends a
+message to a fellow in Coventry, they fetch a junior to deliver it.
+Oh, I know enough to make me hate the thought of it, and so would
+you.'
+
+'Girls are not so nasty as that,' said Florence, 'but I tell you what
+you could do if they send you to Coventry--chum up with the new boy. I
+should think he was a nice fellow.'
+
+But Leonard turned up his nose at the suggestion. 'He isn't much at
+games,' he said. 'I don't think he ever saw a fives court until he
+came to Torrington's; and I do like a good game at fives.'
+
+'I'd play by myself then,' said his sister.
+
+'Ah! and see every other fellow pick up his ball and walk out of the
+court as soon as you appeared. You'd feel like playing then, wouldn't
+you?' he added.
+
+His sister sighed. She was very fond of Leonard, although he was not
+very brave, she feared. Still, big lads like Taylor and Curtis could
+make things very uncomfortable for the younger and weaker lads, like
+Leonard.
+
+'Now just see if you can't help me out of this hole, Flo,' said the
+boy, after another pause. 'I told the fellows I'd do something
+to-night, and I must, you know.'
+
+'Do something!' repeated his sister, 'what do you want to do?'
+
+'I don't want to do anything. The poor beggar might stay at
+Torrington's for ever if he liked; but you see the others have set
+their faces against it, and they say I must either make the pater
+remove him, or else think of another plan to get rid of him. Don't you
+see, Duffy, I must do one or the other?'
+
+'No, I don't see; and you shan't call me Duffy either, if you mean to
+help these wretched cads at Torrington's, and I'll never own you for a
+brother again!' His sister spoke calmly, but with the utmost scorn and
+contempt in her tones, and then laid her head on the table and burst
+into tears. 'I'm ashamed of you, I am!' she sobbed through her tears.
+
+Leonard stared at her in silent amazement for a minute or two, and
+then said slowly, 'You don't know this scholarship boy, do you?'
+
+She shook her head. 'Of course I don't,' she said, as soon as she
+could speak.
+
+'Then what are you crying for? I'd be ashamed to cry for a fellow I'd
+never seen; and you a girl too!'
+
+Florence started to her feet as her brother uttered this taunt; and
+dashing away her tears, with blazing eyes she exclaimed, 'It is not
+for this strange boy I am crying, but for _you_--that you are as much
+a cad as Taylor and the rest!' Then, gathering up her books, she
+marched out of the room with the air of an offended duchess.
+
+'Ah, you're only a girl!' exclaimed Leonard as she departed; and he
+broke into a whistle, but it soon ended in a sigh, when the door
+closed and he was left to himself.
+
+'I wonder what girls are made of,' he said, as he slowly opened his
+lesson books. 'To think of Duffy flying at me like that! She called me
+a cad too, nasty little thing! I won't speak to her for a week, when
+we come in here to lessons. I'll give her a taste of Coventry, and see
+how she likes it.' And Leonard set himself to master a Latin verb. But
+before he had conned it three minutes his thoughts had wandered to his
+sister, and from her to Taylor and the lads at school, who expected
+him to solve the problem that they had made into a bogey--how to get
+rid of the scholarship boy, since all their efforts thus far had
+failed.
+
+Before he got to school the next morning he met half a dozen of his
+schoolfellows.
+
+'Well, what's the news, Morrison?' asked two or three in a breath.
+'You know, of course, Taylor expects you to bring a message from your
+father about that fellow to-day.'
+
+'Blessed are they that expect nothing, for they shall never be
+disappointed,' said Leonard in a tantalising tone.
+
+'Well, you can cheek us, of course, little Morrison, but it won't do
+for Taylor, let me tell you. He don't mean to stand any nonsense. That
+fellow's got to go. We don't mean to have any board school boys here.
+Torrington's was founded for gentlemen, and we don't mean to have cads
+here. We've made up our minds about it, and the sooner your father and
+that precious Council understand this the better.'
+
+'Did Taylor tell you to say all that?' said Morrison sneeringly, 'How
+long have you been his fag?' he asked of the lad who had spoken.
+
+'Oh, well, fag or no fag, you'll know it when Taylor comes.' And, as
+if in verification of his words, Taylor called to them the next minute
+to wait for him.
+
+'We're late now,' shouted Leonard back, and then he started off at a
+sharp pace towards the school, for he had not quite made up his mind
+yet what he should tell Taylor, by way of excuse for not speaking to
+his father, and so he did not want to meet him just now.
+
+He could not help noticing, as he ran, that none of the rest attempted
+to join him, but waited at the corner of the road they had been
+crossing for Taylor to come up.
+
+'So Morrison has skulked off,' he said, as soon as he joined them.
+
+'I believe he wanted to get out of your way,' said one.
+
+'I shouldn't wonder,' said the bigger lad; 'but he need not think he's
+going to do it. I tell you that I've been ferreting out things a bit,
+and I know now that it was Dr. Morrison that persuaded the County
+Council to send that fellow to Torrington's, and so he must and shall
+take him away, and that pretty soon too, and I mean to tell Morrison
+that.'
+
+'How are you going to do it?' asked one.
+
+'Oh, through Morrison junior, of course. There isn't much spunk about
+him, and he'll soon cry Peccavi! when we put the screw on.'
+
+'What will you do--how will you do it?' asked one.
+
+'Send him to Coventry as we did the other,' was the prompt reply.
+
+'Oh, that be bothered; we can't be worried with two there at once. You
+must think of something else.'
+
+'Bless you, the threat of it will be enough for little Morrison. He'll
+give in when he hears the mystic word Coventry!'
+
+'You'll give him another chance it he hasn't brought the message?'
+
+'Well, I shall hear what he's got to say first. Now look alive,
+there's the last bell, and we shall all get an imposition instead of a
+pleasant talk with little Morrison, if we don't get inside that
+gate.'
+
+As he spoke the heavy clang of the school gate was heard, and the boys
+looked at each other as Taylor ejaculated, 'Dash it all! they haven't
+rung that last bell two minutes, and that's the regulation time.' They
+propped their backs against the wall and rested after their run, for
+the gate would not be opened again until prayers were over in school,
+and then their names would be taken as they went in, and an extra
+lesson would be exacted from them in the dinner hour.
+
+'Don't let little Morrison get off without seeing me in the
+afternoon,' said Taylor. 'I sha'n't be able to nail him in the dinner
+hour, but it will give me a bit more time to think of some other
+plan.'
+
+'It's a beastly shame they ever sent that scholarship boy to
+Torrington's!' said another lad, as though he did not like the task of
+hunting him out.
+
+'Oh, well, he's here, and we must get him out,' said Taylor, as though
+he rather liked the hunt. Just then the gate opened, and the lads
+filed in. Nearly a dozen were late from the whole school; and each as
+he passed was asked if he had brought a note to excuse this breach of
+the rule, and then they passed on to their different class-rooms
+instead of going to the hall for prayers.
+
+The being late and consequent imposition of an extra lesson did not
+improve Taylor's temper, and when he met Leonard at the close of
+afternoon school he was in a towering rage.
+
+'Now, then, Morrison, out with it! What message has your father sent
+to the school for his abominable behaviour--what has he to say for
+himself?'
+
+Leonard looked a little scared at the abruptness and tone of this
+question, and he answered very quietly, 'My father was busy last
+night, and I could not speak to him about it.'
+
+'Busy, was he? Well, it won't be good for you if he's busy to-night,
+let me tell you, for the school don't mean to wait any longer, and if
+that fellow isn't soon removed, you shall both go. Do you hear, little
+Morrison, we mean to clear the school of all vermin at once?'
+
+'Why didn't you tell him to take himself off?' said one, when Taylor
+had walked away. 'This is getting a bit too much. You stand up for
+yourself and your father, if he comes any more of that bullying. What
+right has he to say who shall come to Torrington's? If he had spoken
+of my father like that, he should have had a black eye, if he killed
+me for it afterwards!' added his friend.
+
+Leonard sighed, 'You don't know Taylor as well as I do,' he said. 'He
+isn't a bad sort of fellow, if you let him have his own way.'
+
+'But it's such a beastly way that I wouldn't put up with it,' said the
+other. 'He may be "the cock of the walk," but he need not think we are
+all going to cackle to him like a set of hens. I mean to take that
+fellow out of Coventry after this. Come on, let us both walk home with
+him a bit, and see how the cock likes that. There's Howard just ahead;
+let's catch him.'
+
+But instead of quickening his pace Leonard looked timorously back; and
+there was Taylor with a group of lads round him vigorously declaiming
+against the County Council for sending one of their scholarship boys
+to Torrington's. So Leonard felt afraid to join this unpopular
+scholar, and set himself in defiance of the present wave of anger that
+was passing over his friends, and he turned down a by-road and walked
+home by himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+DR. MORRISON.
+
+
+Leonard Morrison found himself sent to Coventry, not by his
+schoolfellows, but by his sister. It was just the punishment he had
+decided she deserved for daring to have an opinion of her own that
+differed from his, and so to find himself 'hoist with his own petard'
+made him very angry.
+
+'Where is Flo going to do her lessons to-night?' he asked his mother,
+when he went to the study and found it in darkness. His sister usually
+lighted the lamp ready for him, but his mother had come with him to do
+it to-night.
+
+'She has gone to her own room--she wants to be quiet, she says. You
+should not talk so much, Lenny dear,' added the lady.
+
+'Nasty little thing! She has been telling tales, I suppose?'
+
+'She did not say what you had been talking about, if that is what you
+mean,' said Mrs. Morrison, 'but your father heard a great deal of
+chatter, he says.'
+
+'So Flo has taken herself off,' said Leonard, as he took his seat and
+opened his school satchel. 'A nice time I shall have, if Taylor keeps
+his word and sends me to Coventry at school! I shall lose the use of
+my tongue in about a week, if nobody will speak to me. It's a lively
+look-out, any way, and what have I done to deserve it, I should like
+to know?'
+
+Leonard considered himself a very ill-used individual just then, and
+he was specially angry with his sister because she had so neatly
+turned the tables upon him in leaving him to do his lessons alone.
+
+He missed her sadly as the time went on, and there was no one to
+grumble at or ask advice from. What to do about speaking to his father
+he did not know, and at last he decided to say something to his mother
+about the matter; not that he meant to tell her all, but he would just
+ask her if she thought Taylor was right in his statement.
+
+So when Mrs. Morrison came into the room with his slice of cake for
+his supper, he said, 'Do you know whether father had anything to do
+with sending that scholarship boy to Torrington's?'
+
+'Why--isn't he a good boy?' said the lady.
+
+'That isn't it, mother. He may be good--I dare say he is--but did
+father send him there?'
+
+'The County Council sent him; your father would not have the power.'
+
+'I suppose not,' said Leonard in a satisfied tone.
+
+'But why did you ask, my boy?' said the lady.
+
+'Oh, it doesn't matter,' said Leonard, lightly. 'As long as daddy
+didn't send him it's all right.'
+
+'But what has happened? What sort of a boy is he?'
+
+'Oh, he's all right, I dare say. Boys can't peach, you know, mother.'
+
+And Leonard's light words sent his mother out with an aching heart.
+
+'More trouble, I fear,' she said softly to herself, as she closed the
+door and went back to the dining-room. 'Poor Dick! poor, dear Dick!
+What misery he has brought to us all! And yet he was never
+wicked--only weak.'
+
+The lady buried her face in her handkerchief for a few minutes, but
+roused herself when she heard the street door open and close, and went
+and rung the bell for supper to be served.
+
+'You are late to-night, dear,' she said, when her husband entered the
+room.
+
+'Yes, I have had a busy day, and am as hungry as a hunter. Chicks gone
+to bed, I suppose, he added, as he looked round the room before going
+to wash his hands and change his coat for a comfortable hour by his
+own fireside.
+
+A tasty hot supper was on the table when he came back, but he noticed
+as he ate that his wife scarcely touched hers; but he did not ask what
+was troubling her until the meal was over and the table cleared. Then
+he said, leaning back in his chair--
+
+'Now, little woman, I have done my duty to your nice supper, which I
+know is all you have been waiting for. Now tell me what is amiss. Has
+Flo cut her finger, or Len got into mischief?' he asked.
+
+'No, dear, the children are all right,' said Mrs. Morrison, with a
+sigh; 'but I have been wondering whether you were wise to get that
+little board school boy sent to Torrington's. You did have a good deal
+to do with it, I know,' added the lady.
+
+'To be sure I did. The lad had fairly earned the Thompson Scholarship,
+and, from all we heard of the lad and his relatives, we thought he
+would be an acquisition to the school rather than otherwise. His
+mother was a patient of mine about a year ago, and from all I saw then
+I concluded that they were people who had come down in the world, for
+it was easy to see that they were superior to their surroundings, and
+I thought then that if ever it was in my power to help them I would
+do so. The father is abroad, travelling, I understand; but he seems to
+have left his family badly provided for. What have you heard about the
+boy?'
+
+'Oh, nothing,' promptly replied Mrs. Morrison. 'Only from a word Lenny
+dropped I fancy he is not popular at the school, and you know what
+queer notions people take sometimes; and if it was said that Dr.
+Morrison sent a board school boy to the school they are all so proud
+of, we might have all our old troubles over again.'
+
+The doctor laughed. 'You think half my patients must be offended as
+well as the boys at Torrington's! I have heard a whisper that some of
+them don't like the new scholar; but he will live it down, I daresay,
+and I am not going to notice it.'
+
+'But, my dear, if you should lose your patients? If this boy should
+disgrace himself, people will be sure to say that you had no business
+to send him to such a school, and the worst of the trouble is sure to
+come upon us.'
+
+'Ah, I see you have been saddling the horse ready to go and meet it!
+How many times am I to tell you, little woman, to wait until the
+trouble comes to you, and then to look it squarely in the face and
+fight it, if fighting is likely to do any good, and if it is not, then
+bear it with all the patience and courage that God will give you, if
+you only do your share in the matter? Now what has Master Len been
+saying about this lad?'
+
+'He asked if it was true that you were the means of sending that
+scholarship boy to Torrington's. The boys had said you did it.
+
+The doctor laughed. 'Murder will out, you see, Maria.'
+
+'I told him the County Council sent him, and of course they did.'
+
+'Quite true; but I had the casting vote in the matter, and I voted
+that the lad should go to Torrington's, both for the sake of the
+school and the boy, and also that I might hear incidentally from Len
+what sort of a lad he was. What does he say?'
+
+'Nothing definite. He wanted to know whether it was true that you had
+sent him, and when I asked why, he said boys were not allowed to tell
+tales, or words to that effect.
+
+The doctor smiled. 'Then it's nothing very bad,' he said, 'and if this
+lad can only hold his own among some of those big louting lads, he
+will do our school a world of good.'
+
+'How is he to do that?' asked the lady.
+
+'Why, this boy has formed the habit of steady application to the task
+before him, whatever it may be. If he had not, he could not have
+passed the examination necessary to gain this scholarship. Now
+Torrington's sadly needs a few lads like this, for it is beginning to
+suffer from the dry rot that a great name often brings to a school
+after some years. The sons of wealthy men are sent there, who have no
+need to toil with either hands or brains, and they take care not to do
+it themselves, and to hinder others from doing it if they can. For
+Len, and lads like him, this example is bad; and so to introduce a
+studious lad, who will think less of games than of lessons, has become
+a necessity, if Torrington's is to be saved from going to the dogs;
+and I should be very sorry to see the school go down. I went there
+when I was a lad, and have always been proud of Torrington's, and that
+is why I am anxious to save it from collapse.'
+
+'I believe Lenny is just as proud of it as you are,' said his wife.
+
+'I should hope so. I don't think much of a lad who is not proud and
+fond of his school, and ready to fight for its honour against all
+antagonists.'
+
+'I think all Torrington's lads feel the same about their school,' said
+Mrs. Morrison. 'But suppose some of them should think a poor boy, who
+is dependent upon a scholarship for his schooling, beneath the rest of
+the scholars? I cannot forget the old trouble,' she added.
+
+'Then they must learn to know better! Learn to consider that there is
+something more in the world than money worth consideration. This is
+what I am afraid is spoiling some of the Torrington boys just now, and
+it is high time it was checked. We talked this aspect of the matter
+over at the Council meeting--for there are several old boys among us
+who are proud of our school--and we agreed that a little new blood
+among these purse-proud young gentlemen would do them a world of good,
+and I hope this boy may be what is needed among them. As for the old
+trouble,' went on Dr. Morrison, 'that is left behind, I hope; but you
+must remember that it arose from a very different cause. Your brother
+Dick behaved very badly to more than one of my patients, and so
+disgraced us.'
+
+'Poor, dear Dick!' said the lady with a sigh; 'I am sure he never
+intended to do us any harm.'
+
+'I never thought he did. No one who knew Dick would think that of him;
+but the misery came to us all the same, and Dick was responsible for
+it.'
+
+This allusion to her brother brought the tears to Mrs. Morrison's
+eyes. He had been such a bright, winning lad. When he was the age of
+Leonard he had only one fault that she would admit, even now, and that
+was that he was too easily led. He could not say 'No,' though not to
+say it and abide by it under the circumstances was wrong. This ended
+at last in what was little less than a crime, for which they had to
+pay the penalty in a long struggle against adverse circumstances, and
+eventually to leave Liverpool, and return to Mr. Morrison's native
+town and begin the world afresh.
+
+This ending to what might have been a bright and honourable career for
+her brother, and a no less prosperous one for her husband, was a very
+bitter trial to the lady; and though Dr. Morrison's practice was now
+steadily increasing, anything that rendered him less popular might
+bring back the old trouble she feared.
+
+In thinking thus she, of course, exaggerated the circumstances in
+every way, for, in point of fact, not even Mrs. Howard knew that it
+was through the doctor's influence that Horace was sent to the same
+school with his own son; and as the name of Morrison was not mentioned
+by Horace, she did not know that he was there for some time. Her son
+was industrious and fond of scientific study, and had fairly won the
+scholarship, she was assured by the schoolmaster. He was very proud to
+add that Horace was the first scholarship boy who had been sent by the
+County Council to Torrington's. But that her doctor had had anything
+to do with the selection of a school for Horace she knew nothing.
+
+She heard afterwards that it was the best school in the county; but
+she thought more of whether Horace would be able to do the lessons
+required of him, without overworking himself, and also whether she
+would be able to keep him suitably clothed, so that he did not look
+particular among the other lads.
+
+The school was nearly two miles from their home, so that he would wear
+out his boots very fast, she reflected, when considering ways and
+means. There was a small allowance made for this, after the school
+fees were paid out of the scholarship money, and it was the
+consideration of this that made Horace resume wearing the old jacket,
+when his mother wished him to keep on with his best one, which he had
+worn for the first week or two.
+
+In fact, he had worn the best jacket until he was so mysteriously sent
+to Coventry, and though he carefully kept this fact to himself, it was
+the underlying meaning of what he told her when he said it would make
+no difference to him at school whether he wore a new or an old jacket.
+
+Of the bitterness underlying the words that were said, that she should
+not spend too much on his clothes, she knew nothing. Indeed, after the
+first week or two Horace was very reticent about what passed at
+school, rarely mentioned a schoolfellow by name, and seemed absorbed
+in his lessons all the evening. He talked sometimes to Fred about his
+mysterious idea, which she knew was connected with chemistry; but
+beyond this she knew very little of her boy's life at this time.
+Sometimes he looked worried as he sat poring over his books, as though
+they were a little beyond his power, she thought; and then she would
+say, 'Now, Horace, if you are getting tired, give it up. You know
+going to this school is quite an experiment for you, and if you fail
+to keep up with the rest it will be no disgrace to own it. You have
+been looking pale the last day or two.'
+
+'I feel quite well, mother; and as to keeping up with the rest, well,
+you should see the young giant who is always at the bottom of the
+class.' And Horace laughed as he mentally recalled the perpetually
+yawning figure of Curtis, with his back propped against the wall. 'I
+believe he would go to sleep outright if it wasn't for the master
+saying, "Now, Curtis, keep your ears and eyes open!"'
+
+'Poor fellow! perhaps he does not feel able to do the work,' said Mrs.
+Howard pityingly.
+
+'Well, he doesn't let lessons trouble him much. He and "the cock of
+the walk," that's another big chap who doesn't care much about books,
+they take it pretty easy, except when they get an "impot," and that
+takes all their dinner time.'
+
+'And what do you do at dinner time?' asked his brother at this point.
+
+'Eat my dinner, to be sure,' answered Horace.
+
+'Well, you don't look much the better for it. Mother, I'm going to be
+paid an extra shilling a week, and I vote it goes in dinners for the
+boy with an idea,' said Fred.
+
+'No! No! I can do very well, and I enjoy my dinner hours now, for I
+often go up to the "lab.," and have a nice time to myself. Mr. Skeats
+told me I might go, if I did not take any of the other boys with me.
+You see, some of them might get up to larks, and----'
+
+'Why don't you get up to larks?' interrupted his brother.
+
+Horace laughed, 'Oh, you know that isn't much in my way, and there's
+room for everybody in a big school like Torrington's.'
+
+'I wish the youngster did not look so serious,' said Fred, after his
+brother had gone to bed that night.
+
+'He always was quiet,' remarked his mother.
+
+'Quiet, yes; but now he looks up from his book sometimes, as though he
+had a world of care upon his mind.'
+
+'Perhaps he is thinking over his "idea." You know he could talk of
+nothing else for a day or two,' said Mrs. Howard.
+
+'Well, he doesn't talk much now, at any rate, and I am wondering
+whether he is quite happy at that school.'
+
+'But surely he would tell us if he was not. I have asked him again and
+again. I think he would tell us if there was anything wrong.'
+
+'Now, mother, don't vex yourself, or I shall be sorry I have spoken.
+Just let that extra shilling a week I am to have go for the
+youngster's mid-day meal. Get him something better than bread and
+butter to take with him--sandwiches or a little meat-pie. They say
+people who work with their brains want as much to eat as those who
+work with their hands, and I am sure two slices of bread and butter
+wouldn't satisfy me at twelve o'clock.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+THE CHAMPION.
+
+
+'Mother, I think I shall be obliged to wear that other jacket to go to
+school,' said Horace one evening as he ate his dinner.
+
+He had come home from school looking almost radiant, and his mother
+had heard incidentally that one of the other boys had walked most of
+the way with him.
+
+'But I thought you said no one lived this way?' said Mrs. Howard.
+
+'Oh, I think Warren came out of his way a bit that we might finish our
+talk! He likes history awfully, and so do I a bit, and we got talking
+about those old battles, and almost forgot the time. Now, mother,
+don't you think I had better take my best jacket for school? The
+sleeves of this are getting so short.'
+
+His mother laughed.
+
+'Why, I told you the same thing a month ago,' she said, 'but you
+insisted that it did not matter!'
+
+'Well, you know, I don't want to cost you more than I am obliged for
+clothes, and I thought I might wear the old jacket a bit longer, as I
+should wear out so many boots; but now----' And there Horace stopped,
+lest he should say something that might betray how his schoolfellows
+had treated him lately.
+
+'You must be careful to wear the linen apron and sleeves while you do
+your chemistry work,' remarked his mother, 'for you are beginning to
+make the old one a variegated colour.'
+
+'All right, I'll be careful; but I thought Warren looked at my hands
+poking too far through the sleeves of that old one, and Warren is a
+nice fellow; I should not like to hurt his feelings,' said Horace.
+
+'Ah! you find that some lads are more particular about their clothes
+than you are. Yes, wear the best jacket by all means, and I have no
+doubt I shall be able to buy you a new one when you want it.'
+
+So the matter was settled, and the next morning he met his new friend
+as they had arranged, and the two boys had a pleasant chat on all
+sorts of subjects as they walked along the road. Just before the
+school was reached, and when they came within sight of other groups of
+boys, Horace stopped short, and said--
+
+'Now you had better go on; it don't matter if I am late, I have plenty
+of time in the dinner hour to do the imposition.'
+
+'What do you mean--what do you take me for?' said Warren, thrusting
+his arm through his companion's.
+
+'Well, you know the school have sent me to Coventry lately; and if you
+know what for, it's more than I do, so that it isn't likely to alter
+its opinion in a hurry,' said Horace.
+
+'Oh, the school be bothered!' said Warren. 'Of course a fellow has to
+do the same as the rest when he is at school, but "the cock of the
+walk" is going a bit too far this time, and I mean to let the whole
+lot see that I won't follow the lead, when I don't think it's fair and
+square. If they had any good reason for sending you to Coventry, I'd
+see you hanged before I'd try to take your part; but I like fair play,
+and it is not a fair game they are playing against you now.'
+
+'But suppose they send you to Coventry as well?' said Horace.
+
+'Oh, they will, you bet. Taylor and Curtis and that crowd are sure to
+do it, and I dare say they will rage like a bull in a china shop. Come
+on here. They see we are going in arm-in-arm.'
+
+A storm of hisses greeted their appearance at the school gate, and
+Horace changed colour and his arm shook; but Warren gripped him the
+tighter, so that he could not get away.
+
+'Is it worth while sticking to me if the rest don't like it?'
+whispered Horace.
+
+'Is anything worth fighting for as those old Englishmen fought in the
+Civil War--Hampden and that lot?' Warren's face was flaming, and he
+held his head high, as he led Horace through the hooting crowd of
+boys, while he asked this question loud enough for any of them to
+hear.
+
+Horace did not answer. He almost wished Warren would leave him alone.
+But this was not that gentleman's way. 'I tell you what it is,
+Howard,' he said, when they had reached the comparative shelter of the
+playground, where the hooting had to cease, for fear the master should
+insist upon knowing what it was about. 'I have been thinking a lot of
+what we were talking about last night, and it's my opinion that there
+would not be so many tyrants in the world if they did not find easy
+victims. You knuckled under to "the cock of the walk" at the first
+touch, when you ought to have said, "Now, what do you mean by sending
+me to Coventry? What rule of the school have I broken?"'
+
+'Ah, but you know we are not rich people. I am only a scholarship boy,
+and come from a board school.'
+
+'As if I didn't know that. As if my pater has not told me a dozen
+times lately that he wishes he had sent me to a board school when I
+was young. Bless you, we are not rich. My father is only a doctor,
+like Morrison's, and there are swarms and swarms of children in the
+nursery, so you may know we haven't got money to roll in, like Curtis.
+No, old fellow, we are two poor boys, and so we'll just stand shoulder
+to shoulder, and fight the lot, if they want to fight us. Now mind,
+you've got to fight for me, and I'll fight for you; and we'll let 'em
+see what two can do, if nobody else joins us. Little Morrison will,
+though I think Taylor has led him a dog's life lately; and so I should
+think he would be glad enough to cut that shop, and join Howard and
+Co.'
+
+Horace laughed as he had not done since he had been at Torrington's.
+He was ready enough to fight for his new friend, and when one or two
+tried to hustle them apart as they were going to school, he did not
+hesitate to push one of them off, when he was crowding down upon
+Warren.
+
+The boy turned and scowled at Horace. 'Who are you?' he demanded
+angrily.
+
+'The scholarship boy, and this is my friend,' he said, still holding
+on to Warren, and dealing some sharp thrusts at those who were trying
+to push between them. There could be no great demonstration here in
+the lobby of the school, or the masters would want to know what the
+quarrel was about.
+
+At dinner time there was little opportunity for the new friends to
+meet, for the science master, if he did not know, shrewdly guessed the
+attitude taken by the rest of the class towards the scholarship boy,
+and so had contrived to find something for him to do in the chemistry
+laboratory during the recess; and Horace was only too glad of the
+change to do a little extra practical work towards the elucidation of
+his idea, which grew all the more interesting, as he saw it would need
+great care and industry to arrive at the result.
+
+But when afternoon school was over Warren waited about until Horace
+appeared, and then he said, 'Just go on a little way, while I speak to
+Morrison. I want him to come with us, for I know that "cock of the
+walk" is bullying him, and if he'll just join us we shall be three to
+the other lot. Little Morrison isn't a bad sort of fellow, when you
+can get him to make up his mind, and the Curtis lot are getting a deal
+too cocky.'
+
+So Horace walked on to the corner of the road, and Warren waited for
+Leonard; but the moment Taylor saw him speak to the lad he pounced
+down upon him. 'Now look here, Morrison,' he said, 'if you go talking
+to Warren now he's joined that fellow in Coventry, you'll be sent
+there yourself by the rest of the school. I'll give you a week to
+think over what we were talking about at dinner time;' and Taylor, as
+he spoke, slipped his arm into Leonard's and walked him off, leaving
+Warren to try and persuade another boy to join him in his walk home
+with Horace.
+
+But the Taylor and Curtis party were too strong just now for another
+to rebel against their rule, and so the two lads walked home by
+themselves, amid the derisive cheers of Taylor and a few others.
+
+This state of things continued for a few days--the two friends
+learning to know and like each other better each time they met, and
+cared less for the company of others. Then a quarrel broke out in the
+ranks of the popular party, and Warren heard that Taylor was so
+hectoring the others as to what they should do, that at last, out of
+sheer perversity, two or three came to walk home with them, and held a
+discussion concerning Taylor and his ways that ought to have made that
+young gentleman's ears tingle.
+
+'We're all in Coventry now, of course,' said one boy, 'and I vote that
+we make ourselves jolly over it. I say, Howard, I want you to tell me
+how you get your lessons done, for you're always ready with an answer,
+and I've been so floored lately that I've had a private message if I
+don't do better I shall have to go down among the juniors, and that
+would make my people wild.'
+
+Horace laughed at the idea of there being any royal road to the
+acquisition of lessons but the one of careful, steady, thoughtful
+study.
+
+'Then you do swat awfully, as the fellows say, and that's what they
+are so mad about. Taylor says Torrington's will be nothing better than
+a swatting shop, and no place for gentlemen, if it isn't stopped.'
+
+Horace opened his eyes. 'I thought we went to school that we might
+learn all we could!' he said.
+
+'Oh, Torrington's has got so fashionable that fellows have come to
+think of it as an easy-going place, where they need not work if they
+don't like it.'
+
+'Just what my pater says!' exclaimed Warren. 'And he told me that if I
+didn't turn over a new leaf he should send me somewhere else. Now I
+propose we make ourselves into a swatting club. I believe Mr. Mason
+would be glad if we did.'
+
+'I'm sure Skeats would,' said another.
+
+'Well, there are six of us here. Suppose we agree that we'll stick to
+our work of an evening till we've got our lessons perfect for the
+next day.'
+
+'Won't Taylor be mad when he finds it out!' said another. But, as
+Taylor had offended them, the suggestion added piquancy to the notion.
+And so before they separated each pledged himself to join the new
+swatting club. It was not an elegant name for a party of students to
+call themselves, but the object of the combination was good, and was
+warmly commended by the parents, who were taken into the confidence of
+their sons.
+
+If the little party of students thought they were going to have an
+easy time of it at school, they were mistaken; for Taylor and the more
+popular party soon found out by the answers given in the classes what
+the new combination meant, and he was more angry than ever.
+
+'A parcel of beggars who set themselves up to be gentlemen have no
+business at Torrington's; and the sooner they take themselves off the
+better!' he exclaimed angrily, when discussing this new departure with
+a few of his chosen friends.
+
+Warren overheard what he said, and was not averse to a duel of words
+with 'the cock of the walk.'
+
+'Who do you call gentlemen?' he demanded--'those who live in glass
+houses, and the son of a man who used to keep----'
+
+Taylor did not wait to hear more. Before the objectionable word could
+be spoken Warren received a blow that felled him to the ground.
+
+It came so unexpectedly and was struck so unfairly that there was an
+instant cry of, 'Coward! coward! Fight it fair and square!'
+
+'All right, let him come on,' said Taylor. But Warren was in no fit
+condition to stand up to his antagonist just now, for he had struck
+his head as he had fallen, and lay for a minute or two quite
+unconscious. Some of the boys grew alarmed, and all were glad to see
+the boy open his eyes and the colour slowly return to his face. They
+were outside the school premises when the incident occurred, and they
+all took care to walk away as quickly as they could, lest the master's
+attention should be called to the quarrel, and they be compelled to
+give an account of it, which would not have been at all to their
+taste, as they preferred to manage their own affairs in their own way,
+with as little interference from the masters as possible in what they
+regarded as their own private business.
+
+Taylor was one of the first to walk off when he saw Warren was getting
+better, and the rest, who had hoped to enjoy the spectacle of a fight,
+were disappointed. There were plenty to urge Warren to 'take it out'
+of Taylor another day, and plenty more to side with the bigger lad,
+and urge him to 'have it out' with Warren for his 'cheek' in daring to
+dispute the authority of the majority of the class, and speak to the
+scholarship boy when he had been sent to Coventry.
+
+Leonard Morrison was one of the foremost in urging Taylor to fight it
+out.
+
+'The school expects it of you,' urged Leonard. 'He said your father
+was----'
+
+'Shut up, will you!' snarled Taylor, turning his angry gaze upon
+Leonard. 'If he has taken that fellow out of Coventry, it was a plucky
+thing to do in the face of the whole class, and I like pluck,' he
+added, 'though I may get the kicks.'
+
+It was plain that 'the cock of the walk' was seriously hurt or alarmed
+by what Warren had said, for he ceased to crow as loudly as usual, and
+walked home without noticing what his satellites said, his eyes bent
+on the ground, and evidently lost in thought over something that
+disturbed him more than the prospect of a fight with Warren.
+
+Of course, as this was the latest phase of the scholarship boy
+question, it occupied more of the thought and attention than the
+earlier question; and so Horace walked into school the next morning
+chatting with one or two others, and no protesting hisses were
+raised.
+
+It was noticed that Warren was not with him, and he looked round
+anxiously from time to time in search of his friend. But the day
+passed, and he did not appear, and the boys' spirits were damped a
+little in consequence, for they remembered now that they had heard
+that a blow on the head might prove dangerous to Warren.
+
+But, to the relief of everybody, the two friends were seen coming
+along the road together the next morning, and when Taylor appeared
+round a bend in the road Warren walked up and joined him.
+
+'Look here, Taylor, I had no business to say what I did the other day,
+for I can't fight you, it seems. My father has forbidden it,
+because----'
+
+'Then you won't repeat what you said the other day?' interrupted
+Taylor eagerly.
+
+'What do you take me for? I should be a cad if I did. Besides, I can
+see now that I have no business to blame you for what----No, I'm not
+going to say anything,' he whispered, in answer to Taylor's frown.
+'Let every tub stand on its own bottom, I say.'
+
+'All right, old fellow, we'll let the matter drop, then, and, mind,
+mum is the word between us.'
+
+'Right you are,' said Warren, and then he ran off to join Horace, for
+he had drawn Taylor aside to say this, as neither of them wished
+their talk to be overheard.
+
+Whatever it might be that Warren had heard concerning the antecedents
+of Taylor's family, he could not be more sensitive upon the point than
+Warren was over his inability to fight without danger to his life. For
+a schoolboy to be told that he cannot stand up in a fair, square fight
+without bringing the danger to his antagonist of being charged with
+manslaughter, had brought such a shock to the boy that it was this,
+rather than the effects of the fall, that made his father forbid him
+going to school the previous day. The lad had wondered how he was to
+get out of finishing the fight already begun; and it demanded a
+greater amount of courage on his part to walk up to Taylor and ask him
+to let the matter end where it was, than to stand up before him for a
+turn at fisticuffs, even with the almost dead certainty of getting the
+worst of it.
+
+He had told his secret to Horace as he came along, glad of a confidant
+who would understand his difficulty; and Horace had counselled that he
+should make up his quarrel with Taylor, even though it involved
+throwing him over, if Taylor should make the demand.
+
+Warren shook his head. 'I shan't do that,' he said. 'I think we shall
+find another way, and you can tell the fellows we have agreed to cry
+quits. But don't tell them I can't stand up and fight, for fear the
+other fellow should get sent to prison afterwards. That's the dreadful
+part about it, and that's what my father says would be pretty sure to
+follow. What an awful muff I must be!' sighed the boy, 'worse than any
+girl!'
+
+'But look here, you've just done something that took a lot more
+courage of another sort,' said Horace, who was ready to make a hero of
+his new friend for managing the affair with Taylor without throwing
+him over. 'You did a plucky thing too, speaking to me in the face of
+all the class.'
+
+'Oh, that was just part of the fight that is in me. I believe I was
+born a fighter, and now for the sake of other people I must be mum,
+and go through the world like a girl.'
+
+'I don't know anything about girls; I never had a sister, so I can't
+tell what they are like, but I know you will have plenty of the other
+sort of courage when it is wanted, so you need not mind much, if you
+can't fight with your fists.'
+
+They had reached the crowd of boys near the gate now, and two or three
+pressed eagerly forward, to know when and where the fight was to come
+off.
+
+'We've settled it now,' answered Warren.
+
+'Bosh! Don't believe it, boys. They are just going off to have it out
+by themselves.'
+
+'You're not going to let Warren off, are you, Taylor?' shouted another
+lad, as Taylor appeared.
+
+'Shut up and mind your own business, and leave Warren and me to settle
+our own affairs in our own way!' And having said this, he pushed his
+way through the crowd and marched straight into school.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+FOR THE HONOUR OF THE SCHOOL.
+
+
+'How is your friend Warren to-day, Len?' asked Mr. Morrison, on the
+day when the boys thought the adjourned fight ought to have come off.
+
+'Warren's no friend of mine now, he's an awful sneak!' said Leonard,
+angrily. He was greatly mystified over the fight not taking place, for
+he intended to support Taylor, and at least do part of the cheering on
+his side; and the collapse of the whole affair annoyed him, and he
+chose to consider it was Warren's fault. 'He just funked it you know,
+dad,' he said, when he explained the matter to his father.
+
+'I don't know so much about that,' said Mr. Morrison; 'I met his
+father yesterday, and he told me he had forbidden his son to engage in
+a fight, either now or at any future time, and I asked him if he
+thought his son would obey him.'
+
+'"Yes, I do!" he said, and seemed quite confident that his boy would
+respect his wishes, and I wondered whether he was right. So Warren
+junior refused to fight, did he?' said Mr. Morrison. 'It was a plucky
+thing to do, and I like a boy who can say "No," and stick to it.'
+
+'The fellows are saying it was beastly mean of him, and he funked it
+because Taylor is a bigger fellow.'
+
+'Ah! boys often jump to wrong conclusions. It isn't the only plucky
+thing Warren has done. Have you joined the swatting club yet, my boy?'
+
+'What did you say, father?' asked Leonard, with widely opened eyes.
+
+'The formation of a swatting club is the last new move, I hear, at
+Torrington's. To swat is to study, I understand--is that right?'
+
+'Oh yes, the word is right enough; but who told you about it?'
+
+'Is it a secret, then? Didn't you know about it--haven't you been
+asked to join it?'
+
+'No! they wouldn't ask me; it isn't likely; for all the school know
+that I am trying to keep up the honour of Torrington's--keep it from
+going to the dogs, in fact,' said the boy, loftily, but with an angry
+tone in his voice.
+
+'I am glad to hear it, Len. I was a Torrington boy in my time, and I
+love the old school still.'
+
+'Then, father, what did you send that beastly scholarship boy there
+for?' burst out Leonard, scarcely knowing what he said in his anger.
+
+'Leonard! Leonard!' chided his mother.
+
+'I beg your pardon, mother, but it is what the fellows are always
+saying, and I forgot.'
+
+'But why should the boys be vexed that the County Council chose to
+send one of the most promising of their scholars to that school? Has
+he done anything to offend you?'
+
+'We don't give him the chance, and we want you, father, to take him
+away at once. Don't you see the honour of the school is at stake, and
+the fellows like Curtis and Taylor----'
+
+The doctor held up his hand to stop the boy's angry flow of words. 'We
+won't discuss those gentlemen, if you please,' he said.
+
+'But they are always discussing it,' exclaimed Leonard.
+
+'Very foolish of them,' interrupted Mr. Morrison. 'But now tell me
+what you mean by the honour of the school, and why this lad has
+endangered it.'
+
+'He comes from a board school, which, of course, is intended for poor,
+common people,' answered the boy.
+
+'But "poor, common people" must be taught, you know; and now, if they
+possess the brains, they have the right to learn to use them as well
+as those who are better off. From Dr. Mason's report to the Council,
+this lad has given every satisfaction while he has been at the school,
+and I had hoped that you would have made his acquaintance by this
+time, and that I might have learned a little more about him from your
+point of view.'
+
+Leonard shook his head. 'You must go to Warren for that; he has chosen
+to take him up in defiance of the whole school, and--and----' he
+stopped, dimly conscious that in his anger he had already said too
+much. Mr. Morrison was called away from the table at this point, and
+Leonard felt relieved that no further questions could be asked.
+
+Later he went to the little room where lessons were learned, and found
+his sister sitting in her usual place. 'Mother wished me to come,
+Len,' she said, in explanation of her presence.
+
+'All right, Duffy--not that you are such a duffer,' he added, 'and I
+shall try to find another name for you.'
+
+'Oh, Duffy will do. Don't waste your time thinking about another name
+for me. What's in a name after all? It's what you are, not what name
+you are called by. I say, what is this swatting club father has heard
+about? You never told me about it.'
+
+'Never heard of it myself before. Won't Taylor be mad when I tell him,
+for if there is one thing he hates it is swat! He says it's low and
+vulgar, and not fit for a school like Torrington's.'
+
+'But you know father doesn't think that, and I am sure you ought to
+know that father is wiser than Taylor, if he is the biggest boy in the
+school.'
+
+'As if that made any difference! You're just as much of a duffer as
+ever, to think such a thing,' he added.
+
+'Well, what is it about Taylor that makes you call him the "cock of
+the walk?" I met him at a party last week, and I did not think much of
+him, I can tell you.'
+
+'Ah! that's because you are a girl, and don't know anything. Taylor is
+a jolly fellow.'
+
+'Well, I'm glad he's not my brother, for he is not very kind to his
+sister, and he was quite rude to his mother. He is no gentleman, and
+so he has no right to find fault with father because he sent a board
+school boy to sit with him at Torrington's.'
+
+Leonard only laughed at his sister's denunciation of his hero; but he
+was curious to learn what had been said about this swatting
+club--whether she had heard it spoken of before to-day. 'I should like
+to know how long they have been at it, and who are in it,' he said.
+
+'Father said Warren and the scholarship boy; he was telling mother
+about it when you came in.'
+
+'Oh, that scholarship boy is at the bottom of the whole mischief, of
+course,' said Leonard; 'but I should like to know how many more are in
+it; it's no good going to Taylor with half a tale. Won't he be mad,
+when he hears of this last move! Warren is forbidden to fight, too! I
+wonder why that is? Something wrong with his head, I shouldn't
+wonder,' added Leonard, after a minute's thought.
+
+'Why, what makes you think that?' asked Florence.
+
+'Because when Taylor knocked him down the other day he lay still as
+though he were dead for a minute or two, and never turned up at school
+all the next day. What larks if he can't fight! I'll put Taylor on to
+that, and see what he can make of it.'
+
+'Len, how can you like to do such mean things? I wish father had not
+told you about it; but, of course, he never thought you were going to
+peach to the rest of the school about it, and especially to that
+vulgar thing Taylor.'
+
+'Now, Duffy, that "vulgar thing" is your brother's chosen friend, so
+of course you don't like him, for I've noticed lately that if I like
+anything or anybody, you take a dislike to them directly.'
+
+'Yes, because the things and the people you like are never nice.
+Mother was saying the other day she hoped you would not grow up like
+somebody she knew. I did not hear his name, but she sighed as she said
+it, and father did not smile or say anything when he heard her say
+it.'
+
+'Look here, Duffy, you need not talk about those sort of things; I
+shall grow up all right, never fear. What I want to know is who are in
+the swatting lot besides Warren and the scholarship boy? Find that out
+for me, will you?'
+
+'No, indeed, I will not, unless you promise to join them, and I don't
+believe you mean to do that, although you know father would like it.'
+
+'I wonder whether he joined a swatting club when he went to
+Torrington's?' rejoined Leonard.
+
+'I will ask him when he comes home,' replied his sister. 'Now I must
+begin my lessons; I have done them better lately, my governess says,
+and if I only work steadily on, I shall get a prize at Christmas.
+
+Her brother whistled. 'Half-a-crown book for six months' work. That
+game don't pay except for duffers,' he said in a tone of contempt.
+
+'I would rather be a duffer than some people who think themselves so
+clever. Now don't hinder me, but get on with your own lessons, and let
+me learn mine,' said his sister.
+
+'Swat! swat! swat! with fingers and brain and pen,' sung her brother,
+while Florence propped her head on her hands and stared at her book.
+Then the door opened, and Mrs. Morrison appeared.
+
+'Lenny, I want to have a little talk with you. Playing again, my boy;
+I knew some one else who chose to play a great deal of his time away
+at school, but he has bitterly repented it since. Perhaps you had
+better take your books up to your own room, dear,' she said, turning
+to Florence; 'I thought you might help each other if you did them
+together again, but when I heard Lenny singing I knew it was no good.'
+
+Mrs. Morrison said that while Florence was gathering up her books, and
+when she had gone upstairs, she took her seat facing Leonard and had a
+long talk with him. She told him what his father had heard concerning
+one portion of the school; that it was becoming almost lawless in its
+determination not to learn more than the masters could force upon
+them. 'He told you too that he heard to-day of a few boys who had
+separated themselves from this party, and were determined to profit by
+the instruction given, and learn the home lessons to the best of their
+ability.'
+
+Mrs. Morrison saw Leonard's lip curl as she spoke in admiration of
+these lads. 'They're just a set of cads!' he muttered under his
+breath.
+
+'No, they are not; and it is your father's wish, and mine too, that
+you should join this section of the school, and learn your home
+lessons as well as you possibly can. We do all we can to help you, and
+Florence is quite willing to come back and do her lessons here, if you
+do not hinder her. Now will you promise me, Lenny, to turn over a new
+leaf, and set your mind steadily to the tasks that may be set for you,
+instead of wasting your time in play as you have done lately?'
+
+'I don't mind doing my lessons,' grunted Leonard ungraciously, 'but I
+don't see why father should want me to join that scholarship lot at
+school.'
+
+'He wishes it because they are a steady set of lads, and you are
+easily led into mischief by your companions.'
+
+'What mischief have I done?' angrily demanded the boy.
+
+'Well, I don't know that there has been any particular mischief,'
+admitted his mother; 'but your father is not very satisfied with the
+way things have been going on at school lately. You know the last
+report was far from satisfactory, and your father said you were just
+wasting your time, instead of learning all you could. Now promise me,
+dear, that you will make a new beginning.'
+
+Leonard stared at his book and drummed on the table in silence, and
+Mrs. Morrison, feeling that she had said enough for once, rose and
+left the room. She hoped that Leonard would think over what she had
+said and act upon it, although he had not given the promise that she
+asked.
+
+She went back to the drawing-room and sat down to think, and her
+thoughts wandered to that brother whom her son so strangely resembled;
+and she prayed that God would save her boy from wrecking his life and
+bringing misery to his friends, as this beloved brother had done.
+
+Now Leonard chose to be half offended over what his mother had said to
+him. 'Mother wants me to be like a duffing girl,' he whispered to
+himself as she left the room. 'I wonder who it is she was telling me
+about. Somebody who has got himself into a nice scrape, and been
+obliged to leave England. It was a nice thing to be told I was like
+this scapegrace,' he muttered. But, in spite of his anger, he did
+manage to learn something of his lessons that night before he went to
+bed; and he might have got on fairly well in class, if he had not met
+Taylor early in his walk to school. Taylor was brimming over with the
+importance of a piece of news he had heard.
+
+'What do you think, Morrison? There are a lot of sneaks in the school
+who have set up a swatting club without saying a word to us about it!'
+
+'Yes, I know; my pater has heard of it, and wants me to join it.'
+
+'You'll never do it, Morrison!' exclaimed the elder lad.
+
+'Not if I know it. What do you take me for? Isn't it enough to be
+worried by the masters? No, thank you; I'm going to stick to my
+friends.'
+
+'Yes, and you must fight with them too, unless you want to see
+Torrington's ruined as a school for gentlemen. That's what my pater
+says, and I guess he knows as much as most. He has made his pile;
+means I shall be a gentleman, and that is all he cares for. Lessons be
+blowed! They're all very well for scholarship boys and such cads. Your
+father ought to be ashamed of himself ever to have sent that board
+school boy among gentlemen, and the beggar will have to go!'
+
+Leonard did not reply, for he did not like to hear any action of his
+father blamed, and so he walked along in silence, while Taylor poured
+out further angry denunciations until the school was reached.
+
+During the course of the class lessons that morning it became very
+evident that there was a dividing line between those who had carefully
+studied their subjects and the rest of the class. Warren, Howard, and
+seven or eight other lads held the top part of the class in all
+subjects, and Taylor, Morrison, and the rest of that part kept
+steadily at the bottom.
+
+'I've had enough of this,' said Taylor when they came into the
+playground after dinner. 'That scholarship boy is at the bottom of the
+whole thing, and we must get rid of him.'
+
+'You've said that before,' grumbled Curtis.
+
+'Yes, I know I have, and I hoped Morrison would persuade his pater to
+do the job for us, as he brought him in; but it don't seem as though
+he was going to move in the matter, and so _I_ shall, and little
+Morrison must help me.'
+
+'But what are you going to do?' asked Leonard.
+
+'That's my business. All you've got to do is what I tell you, and to
+ask no questions.'
+
+Curtis lifted his sleepy eyes and looked at Taylor with a little more
+interest.
+
+'What is it to be?' he asked.
+
+'Well, I mean to stink him out; it will all be done up in the
+stinkery.'
+
+'The stinkery'--or stink-room, to give it its proper title--was a small
+slip-room divided from the laboratory by a close wooden partition with
+several ventilating shafts, under which noisome-smelling chemicals could be
+used without causing any annoyance to the students working in the general
+laboratory.
+
+'That scholarship boy shall have enough of his precious slops. I'll
+let Skeats know whether he shall favour a fellow because the rest of
+us have sent him to Coventry!'
+
+'Why, what has Skeats done?' asked one of the lads; for the science
+master was a favourite among most of the boys.
+
+'Can't you see what he's doing every day? That sneak from the board
+school pretends to have "an idea," whatever that may be, and goes
+talking to old Skeats about it, and so he lets him go up to the "lab."
+every dinner-time to work at it. Don't you see the little game? We
+can't make him feel he is in Coventry, if he is taken out of our way.
+But I am going to upset this family party, and I mean little Morrison
+shall help me. It's only fair, as his father brought the fellow here,
+that he should be used to get rid of him.'
+
+'What do you want me to do?' asked Leonard, turning pale, and
+heartily wishing himself out of the way.
+
+'Why, you shall get the stuff we want. Your father is a doctor, and so
+it will be easy enough.'
+
+'But the pater does not keep a store of chemicals,' said Leonard.
+
+'Who said he did? I said he was a doctor, and I suppose you can't deny
+that, can you?'
+
+Leonard looked offended, and was turning away, but Taylor soon fetched
+him back. 'Look here, little Morrison, it's no good funking. You can
+do this job better than anybody else, and you've got to do it. I don't
+want you to steal your father's stuff, but you must get two of his
+bottles, and go to get what I shall tell you, and if the people at the
+drug store ask you whether it is for your father, why, of course you
+must say, "Yes." Now mind, mum must be the word, for I'm not going to
+tell all the crowd what I'm going to do. Curtis is going to find half
+the money, and I'll find the other half. Here's half a sovereign. I
+don't know what the things will cost, any more than the man in the
+moon, but I shall want the things I have put down in this paper; and
+tell them to fasten them down tight, so that they don't leak out; for
+you'll have to keep 'em in your bag till I can use 'em to-morrow.'
+
+'Must I get them to-night?' asked Leonard, wishing he could tell
+Taylor he would not do it.
+
+'Yes, you _must_!' answered the 'cock of the walk' in a masterful
+tone. 'Now, mind you don't lose the money, and be sure you bring the
+right chemicals.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+NEWS FOR MRS. MORRISON.
+
+
+'Oh dear, how late you are for luncheon! it always happens so, if I
+want you to come home early!'
+
+'Can't help it, my dear,' said Dr. Morrison, as he began to take off
+his coat.
+
+But his wife was too impatient to let him do it this time. 'Come in
+here while they put luncheon on the table,' she said, and she drew him
+into the little room. 'I have had a letter. Guess who it is from.'
+
+But Dr. Morrison shook his head. 'I am too hungry to guess anything,'
+he said. 'Is it from the man in the moon?'
+
+'Almost as wonderful,' said the lady. 'It is from Dick, dear old Dick!
+I feel ready to jump for joy.'
+
+The doctor stood still and looked at his wife in blank amazement.
+'From Dick? your brother Dick?' he said at last.
+
+'Oh dear, don't speak like that, as though the poor fellow had ever
+done anything wicked! I have heard you say many times that he was
+only weak, not wicked.'
+
+'Yes, yes, I know he is only weak; only too ready to say "Yes," and be
+led into mischief, when he ought to say "No," and stand to it. Think
+what his easy-going ways have cost us.'
+
+'No, no, I can't think of that now,' interrupted the lady. 'I can only
+remember that he is my only brother, and I want you to take me to him
+at once. I have not seen him for five years,' she added, 'and he begs
+that you will go to him at once, because he has a friend with him who
+needs your attention at once. He says he met with him out in the wilds
+of Australia, and he has been the best friend he ever had--that this
+Mr. Howard has saved him body and soul. But he has fallen ill, through
+disappointment at not receiving a letter from his wife as soon as he
+landed. That he has not heard from her for years, because he had to
+leave England in a hurry, a great many years ago.'
+
+'Why, that might be written of Dick himself,' said the doctor, with a
+smile. '"Birds of a feather," you know the old proverb!'
+
+'Oh, but Dick must have altered, I am sure, for he says that he and
+Mr. Howard have both worked very hard, and made a moderate fortune, or
+they would not have come home to England again. That is not like the
+old Dick, is it?'
+
+'No, my dear, for he generally let other people do the hard work,
+while he dreamed of what he would like to do. But now let me see this
+letter.'
+
+'Luncheon is served, ma'am,' said the housemaid, tapping at the door
+at this moment.
+
+The doctor and his wife were to have the meal alone to-day, and so the
+servant's service was dispensed with, that they might discuss this
+wonderful letter, for wonderful it was, even the doctor had to
+confess, when he had read it.
+
+There was far more about his friend, whose wife and family he was
+anxious to find, than there was about the writer himself; but the most
+interesting piece of information was in the postscript.
+
+'My friend has just heard that his wife went to live in the
+neighbourhood of your town. Can you make inquiries? She has two sons,
+Frederick and Horace. The latter would be about thirteen, I think.'
+
+The doctor dropped the letter and gazed at his wife. 'I wonder whether
+it is the father of that scholarship boy!' he almost gasped.
+
+'What scholarship boy?' asked Mrs. Morrison impatiently.
+
+'Why, the one that was sent from the board school to Torrington's.
+His father was entered as a traveller, I believe, and he was said to
+be abroad. My dear, put your things on, and we will drive round and
+see this Mrs. Howard. She lives at that old-fashioned cottage just
+outside the town.'
+
+'Oh, but I want to go and see Dick!' said the lady.
+
+'And we will go, if possible; but I shall have to see Warren first,
+and we must do as Dick wishes, and inquire for his friend's wife
+before we go.'
+
+Dr. Morrison was not a man to let the grass grow under his feet, and
+so the carriage was ordered at once, and in half an hour they were on
+their way to the cottage.
+
+A very few words convinced the doctor that he had found the lady he
+was seeking; and when she had read all that was said about her husband
+she readily agreed to go with the doctor and Mrs. Morrison to London.
+While the doctor went to his friend Warren, she wrote a letter
+explaining something of what had happened, and that she was going with
+Dr. Morrison to London. This she sent by a messenger to Fred at his
+work, asking him to tell Horace something of what had occurred, and
+also to meet his brother when he came home to tea.
+
+Fred was not a little puzzled when he received this letter, but he
+asked to be allowed to leave a little earlier, and so managed to
+reach home just as Horace appeared at the bend of the lane.
+
+'I tried to get here before you, but you were too quick for me,' he
+said, when his brother rushed in at the garden gate.
+
+'Where's mother?' asked Horace, when he saw Fred take the street-door
+key from his pocket.
+
+'Come indoors, and I'll tell you all I know. Let me light the fire
+first,' he added. Fred had learned to be very handy about the house,
+and he soon had the fire blazing under the kettle; and while it boiled
+he told Horace that a letter had been sent to him early in the
+afternoon from his mother, saying that she had just received news of
+his father, who was ill in London. 'Dr. Morrison came and told her all
+about it, and he has gone to London with her.'
+
+'Dr. Morrison!' repeated Horace. 'Why, Morrison is in my class at
+school; and the doctor is his father, I know.'
+
+'What sort of a fellow is young Morrison?' asked Fred. He was handing
+cups and saucers to Horace, who was setting them ready for tea.
+
+'Oh, Morrison is all right,' said Horace, who was clattering the cups
+and saucers; for he did not want to discuss his school troubles with
+his brother. 'I don't see much of him, because he likes to go with
+the bigger boys. I say, Fred, do you remember our father?' said
+Horace; 'he's been gone away such a long time. We used to have a nice
+house and servants when he stayed at home with us, didn't we?'
+
+'Then you remember him, Horry?' said Fred.
+
+But Horace shook his head. 'No, I don't remember a bit about him, only
+that we had a nice house a long time ago.'
+
+'Well, I only remember a little,' said Fred. 'But I know he was a tall
+gentleman, and I think he was a doctor. He went away to travel, I have
+heard mother say, and she thought he must be dead until Dr. Morrison
+came this afternoon. I have brought home some sausages,' announced
+Fred, who wanted to change the conversation.
+
+He knew so little and remembered so little about his father and those
+former days; but as he had grown older he had grown angry that his
+father should leave his mother as he had, without cause--so far as
+Fred knew--and without explanation, he had heard, and simply gone
+abroad to travel, leaving them to battle with poverty as they could.
+
+As time went on he had spoken less and less of his father, but he had
+become certain that there must have been some cause for his father's
+disappearance, though his mother might not know it; but in his own
+mind there was a lurking fear that some disgrace might lie hidden
+below the long silence. And so, as soon as tea was over, he said--
+
+'I am going out to get some things for breakfast.'
+
+So Horace was left to the comfort of his books and the study of his
+lessons.
+
+When Leonard reached home that same afternoon, Florence met him with
+the information that father and mother had both gone out, and Mary the
+housemaid did not know what time they would be home.
+
+'Where have they gone?' asked Leonard, for it was a rare occurrence
+for both to be away at the same time.
+
+Florence shook her head. 'Mary says that James was sent with a letter
+to Mr. Warren, and so I should think father had asked him to look
+after some of his patients.'
+
+'Very likely,' answered her brother; and then he took his satchel to
+the little room where lessons were studied and sat down to think.
+
+He did not know whether he was glad or sorry to hear that his father
+had gone out. As he came along he had made up his mind that it would
+be impossible to get bottles from his father's dispensing-room, for he
+was never allowed to go there, and it was just possible that his
+father had locked the door before going out, in which case he could
+tell Taylor that it was impossible to get the chemicals for him, and
+there would be an end of it.
+
+But, although he said this, he knew there would not be an end of it,
+and if he refused at last to get what was wanted, he would be sent to
+Coventry, at least by those whose society he desired.
+
+So after washing his hands before going to tea he went to the
+dispensing-room, to find out whether the door could be opened, and
+found that it yielded at once. He went in and closed the door, lest
+one of the servants should come that way and see him, when they would
+be sure to remind him that he was not allowed to go there.
+
+After closing the door he looked round to see what he could find, and
+there by the sink was a row of glass-stoppered bottles, evidently
+filled with water for washing them. He selected two that he thought
+would hold about half a pint each, and pouring out the water he took
+them to the study and hid them in a corner out of sight, in case
+Florence should decide to do her lessons with him this evening.
+
+But it seemed as though everything was to favour him in what he knew
+was wrong-doing. His sister told him at tea-time that she must do her
+lessons in her own room, for she had an extra piece of history to
+study, as she was working for the history prize to be given at
+Christmas.
+
+'Oh, all right,' said Leonard, with his mouth full of bread and jam.
+'It's all a girl can do, I suppose, get a prize now and then.'
+
+'You can't do that if you are a boy!' retorted Florence; and then
+there was a little more sparring and wrangling, until the housemaid
+appeared to clear the table. Florence went upstairs to her lesson
+then, and Leonard sauntered off to the little study and lighted the
+gas, for it was getting dusk.
+
+When the gas was lighted he went to look at his bottles, and then saw
+in the corner, near where he had hidden them, an old leather bag of
+his father's. He remembered now that he had been told he might have it
+for his books when the satchel was worn out; and he decided to take it
+at once. 'This is good fortune indeed! Taylor says he'll take care
+nobody finds out, if I only get the stuff there. Taylor is a smart
+fellow, and so is his father, or he could not have made a big fortune
+in a year or two, as Taylor says he did. My dad won't make one in a
+life-time, I'm afraid, and I shall just have to go plodding on at hard
+work, unless I can learn a thing or two from Taylor by-and-by.'
+
+While he had been speaking to himself he had been wrapping each bottle
+up separately in a piece of old newspaper and putting them into the
+bag. Then he took the written paper given him by Taylor and the
+half-sovereign, and decided to go at once and get his bottles filled.
+He must tell the chemist to seal the stoppers down securely, or there
+would be such a smell from the bag that it would betray them before it
+could be got into 'the stinkery' at school. He put a book in the bag
+as well as the bottles, so that if his sister should discover that he
+had been out, he could say he had been to borrow a book from one of
+his schoolfellows.
+
+He went out by the back gate, for he did not want anyone to know he
+was going if he could help it, and Florence might hear him shut the
+front door. He knew where to go, and as he brought his father's
+private bottles and half-a-sovereign to pay for what he had, the
+chemist served him without demur. He wondered a little what the doctor
+could want the chemicals for, but reflected that as Leonard was old
+enough to sign his poison-book in the regular way, and as Mr. Morrison
+was a well-known practitioner in the town, there could be no harm done
+in letting him have what he wanted.
+
+So Leonard walked home in triumph with the bottles securely wrapped up
+in the bag. On his way back he met Taylor walking arm-in-arm with
+Curtis, and both smoking cigarettes.
+
+'Hullo, little Morrison!' he said in a patronising tone, as Leonard
+stopped them, for they would have passed without noticing him.
+
+'This is a piece of luck!' exclaimed the boy. 'You can take the bag
+now, Taylor. The bottles and stuff are in it safe enough.'
+
+'What bottles? What stuff?' he said, stepping back a pace, as if the
+proffered bag would bite him.
+
+'You know what it is,' said Leonard in a tone of surprise.
+
+'Oh no, I don't! I know nothing until you bring me the stuff I told
+you about. Ta-ta! little Morrison. Don't forget the bag in the
+morning;' and the 'cock of the walk' and his friend went on their way
+laughing, leaving the boy transfixed with anger and amazement. His
+first thought was that he would go and throw the bottles in the canal
+just as they were, give Taylor the change out of the half-sovereign,
+and tell him where he would find the bottles if he wanted them. He
+went so far as to walk down the canal road, but his courage evaporated
+before he had gone any distance, and although he was still very angry
+over the treatment he had received from his chosen friend, he turned
+his steps homeward, still carrying the bottles, but half decided that
+he would not take them to Taylor in the morning.
+
+As he was going in at the back gate one of the servants met him.
+
+'Dear me, Mr. Leonard! how you made me jump! There's a telegram come
+for you, and Miss Florence has been hunting all over the house to find
+you, for the boy said he was to wait for an answer.'
+
+The importance of having a telegram sent to him soothed Leonard's
+ruffled feelings, and he hurried in to find his sister and learn what
+the message could be. 'Mother and I cannot come home to-night--coming
+to-morrow.' This was what the mysterious yellow envelope contained by
+way of a message, and Leonard read it with Florence looking over his
+shoulder.
+
+'There's no answer to go back,' said Leonard, when he saw Mary looking
+at him. 'Go and tell the boy Father has just sent to say that he is
+not coming home to-night;' and then he went and carried the bag to the
+little room, leaving Florence to read the telegram over for her own
+satisfaction--as if that would give her any more information.
+
+She followed her brother to the study and said, 'Where do you think
+they have gone, Len?'
+
+'How can I tell? I never heard of a rich uncle, did you?'
+
+His sister shook her head. 'Daddy was an only son, I know,' she said.
+'But I think mother had a brother.'
+
+'Was he a millionaire?' asked Leonard.
+
+'He was a doctor, which is quite as good, I am sure, for that is----'
+
+'Flo, you're a duffer,' interrupted her brother. 'There's nothing like
+millionaires in these days, and so I hope this uncle, whoever he may
+be, has made his pile, and will leave it all to us.'
+
+'But you don't know it is an uncle they have gone to see. Father had
+friends in London, and this telegram came from Westminster, and I know
+that is in London.'
+
+'Well, we shall hear all about it when they come, I dare say. Now run
+away, little girl, for I want to get on with my lessons, now I have
+got the book I wanted.'
+
+'Oh, that was what you wanted! You boys are so careless. It is a good
+job you can borrow of each other;' and Florence went away, leaving
+Leonard to do his lessons or reflect upon the strange events of the
+evening.
+
+After a few angry thoughts concerning Taylor and his behaviour towards
+him that evening, he began wondering once more whether it was an uncle
+his parents had gone to see, and then whether he was rich, and would
+make them wealthy too. He had never thought so much of money and what
+it could do for its possessor until lately, but Taylor and Curtis both
+belonged to wealthy families, and he thought of what they could do. He
+called to mind the half-sovereign and the cigarettes he had seen them
+smoking, and he had no doubt they were going to a famous billiard-room
+in the town. Billiards, cigars, and half-sovereigns made up an
+entrancing picture to the boy, and he sat and dreamed of these things,
+and wished he had plenty of money, until half the evening was gone;
+and although he declined to go to bed at the usual hour, he only half
+knew his lessons when he did go.
+
+The next morning he started for school in good time, for fear he
+should miss Taylor, and be compelled to have those bottles on his mind
+all the morning. But Taylor was looking out for him at the corner of
+the road where they usually met. He was in a different mood this
+morning, and flattered and praised the lad for having got the
+chemicals without anyone finding out what he had done.
+
+'You carry the bag to the gate, and I'll take it of you there, and no
+one will ever see those bottles again, I can promise you.'
+
+'But how are you going to manage?' asked Leonard.
+
+'Oh, I have made my plans! I have to work in "the stinkery" this
+morning, so the thing will be easy enough when I have once got your
+bottles up in the "lab.," and they'll go in my pockets for me to take
+them up there. Oh, never fear! we shall get rid of that board school
+beggar this time, for Skeats is awfully particular about his stuff,
+and he'll never forgive him for using chemicals like these away from
+"the stinkery." I know where to put them till I want them, so you can
+give them to me in a minute, and I will put them into the pockets of
+this dust-coat I am carrying; I brought it with me on purpose.'
+
+Leonard breathed a sigh of relief when the bottles were safely
+transferred from the bag to the inside pockets of the fashionable
+coat.
+
+'If the stopper should come out of that bottle of sulphuric acid, your
+coat won't be worth much,' he said, as Taylor swung the coat over his
+arm.
+
+'The stoppers are all right, I can see,' he said; but still he carried
+the coat carefully, and went at once to hang it up when he got to the
+school.
+
+The laboratory had been built at a later date than the main body of
+the school, and was reached by a flight of steps from the playground.
+The room below it was used for coats and hats and other impedimenta
+the boys might bring with them, each boy having his own peg and place
+on the shelf for bag or lunch basket. They passed through this room on
+their way to the laboratory, and so it would be easy for Taylor to
+take down his coat, and carry it up with him when he went for his
+practical chemistry lesson, and he did this without any notice being
+aroused among the other boys.
+
+At twelve o'clock, when school was over, the science master went to
+the playground to look for Howard, who was eating his sandwiches as he
+walked up and down. 'You won't be long before you go up to the
+laboratory, I suppose, Howard?' he said, when he saw the lad.
+
+'No, sir, I'm going in a minute,' said the boy.
+
+'I have left three boys there finishing their work. Just see they
+leave their things all right, when you go in.'
+
+Horace frequently performed such small services for the science
+master, and readily promised to do this. But just as Mr. Skeats turned
+away, Warren came up, and the two stood talking for two or three
+minutes before Howard went to the laboratory. He ran up the steps, and
+was surprised to find the door closed, but not locked, as boys usually
+locked it when they were left to do some work after school hours.
+When he opened the door, he was struck by the peculiar smell of
+almonds that pervaded the place. He closed the door, but did not lock
+it. 'I say, what have you fellows been using?' he said, as he went to
+the further end of the room. There lay one boy stretched out on the
+floor near a bench, and close to another lay a second. He tried to
+rouse the one nearest to him, and then seized him by the legs and
+dragged him across the room out on to the landing. There he shouted
+'Help! help!' and ran back to pull out the others, for he knew the
+deadly nature of that almond-like smell. He managed to get another to
+the door, where he would get fresh air, and then returned for the
+third. He found him lying near 'the stinkery,' and thought he would
+open that door, for the better ventilation of the outer room; but as
+he passed his own bench, which stood near, he was overpowered by the
+fumes pouring out of a flask standing there, from which acid also was
+boiling over on to the bench and floor. He reeled, and before he could
+reach the door fell insensible to the ground, one hand falling
+helplessly into the pool of burning liquid there. But by this time the
+fresh air had revived the first boy he had dragged out, and he called
+to a lad in the playground.
+
+'What's the row?' said Warren--for it happened to be that young
+gentleman. 'Oh, what a stink!' he said the next minute, and putting
+his head in, he saw Howard and the other lad lying on the floor at the
+further end of the room. He knew that the fumes were dangerous, and
+stuffing his pocket-handkerchief into his mouth and up his nostrils,
+he dashed in and tried to drag both boys at once to the door, but had
+to drop one just as Mr. Skeats rushed up. He picked up Horace, and
+carried him down, and then sent for the head master and other lads to
+carry out those who, although somewhat revived, were still lying on
+the landing at the top of the steps.
+
+'You must have a doctor, sir,' said Warren, pushing his way through
+the crowd of boys who had gathered round to know what was the matter.
+
+'Yes, yes,' said the master; and Warren rushed off to the gate and ran
+hastily down the road. He knew his father was often in the
+neighbourhood about that time of the day, and, to his great joy, he
+saw him driving in his gig. The boy ran and shouted, and speedily
+attracted the doctor's attention when his son shouted, 'Something
+wrong in the "lab!"'
+
+He ran into the playground, and there half-a-dozen voices called,
+'They have carried them all to the master's house.'
+
+Here he found two of the boys well-nigh recovered, but the third one
+was still unconscious, and Horace seemed even worse. His hand and arms
+were badly burned with the acid, and there were splashes of it on his
+face.
+
+The masters were doing what they could to get the deadly poison out of
+his lungs, but it seemed as though Horace and the third lad had
+inhaled so much of the gas that all their efforts were in vain. The
+doctor looked grave when Mr. Skeats told him the boys had been
+breathing hydro-cyanic acid gas. The application of artificial
+respiration was redoubled, but it was not until nearly four o'clock
+that Horace began to revive, and what Leonard felt during those awful
+hours of suspense could be better imagined than described! The
+laboratory had been locked up, as soon as it was known what had
+happened, so that the affair might be inquired into. No boy was
+allowed to go home either, although Taylor had complained of being
+very ill, and had wanted to leave early.
+
+Not until it was known that Horace was out of all immediate danger was
+there a word spoken, and then Dr. Mason said, 'I am ready to hear any
+explanation that you may wish to give me as to the cause of what has
+happened. I have heard all about the attendant circumstances and the
+rescue of these lads. What I want to know is, who caused the
+disaster?'
+
+Not a sound broke the silence of the school when the doctor had said
+this. Leonard was ready to tell of his share in the affair, but as he
+glanced at Taylor he received such a look of warning as made him cower
+in his seat, and the school broke up wondering what would happen
+next.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+RIGHTEOUS RETRIBUTION.
+
+
+Warren volunteered the information that Howard's mother had gone away
+from home, and only his elder brother could take care of him, if he
+was sent there, so that it was decided that he should remain in the
+master's house for the present; and Warren went to let Fred know that
+his brother would not be home all night.
+
+'Why, what is the matter?' asked the young carpenter anxiously.
+
+'There was something wrong in the "lab." this dinner-time. Nobody
+knows just how it happened, but there'll be a jolly row about it
+to-morrow, I know.'
+
+'I hope Horace had nothing to do with it,' said Fred.
+
+'Oh, didn't he, though! Three boys would soon have been dead if he
+hadn't gone in. That's how he got hurt. You can go and see him, my
+father says, only you mustn't talk much.'
+
+Fred was not long getting his tea; he was too anxious to go and hear
+more of what had happened to his brother, but he took care to wash
+himself and change his working clothes before presenting himself at
+the master's house.
+
+He found Horace in bed, with both hands bandaged and looking very
+pale. He was able to tell him what had happened, but begged him not to
+say a word about it to his mother, as he felt sure he should be quite
+well in the morning. Fred hardly knew what to do, but at length agreed
+not to say a word about it when he wrote to his mother. When he had
+nearly reached his own home, he saw a boy waiting near the gate, and
+he said, 'Are you Howard's brother?'
+
+'Yes. Who are you?' asked Fred.
+
+'My name is Morrison, and I want to know if you think he will get well
+again.'
+
+'I hope so. But why are you so anxious about it? Do you know how it
+happened?'
+
+Leonard nodded.
+
+'I know a bit,' said the boy sheepishly, 'and I wondered whether I'd
+better tell my father.'
+
+'Yes, yes--tell him by all means,' said Fred eagerly. 'Come in a
+minute, and if you like I will go home with you and break the ice.
+I've always been in the habit of telling my mother when I got into a
+scrape; but it made it a bit easier if Horace told her something
+about it first, so I know how you feel about telling your father.'
+
+'We didn't mean to hurt the fellows, you know,' said Leonard eagerly,
+as he went into the little sitting-room. 'We didn't mean to hurt
+anybody; only make a jolly stink in the "lab.," and get somebody into
+a row.'
+
+He did not say who the 'somebody' was, and Fred did not ask him. They
+went away together, and walked almost in silence, for Fred did not
+like to press the boy to tell him any more. It was a long walk round
+to Leonard's home, but Fred did not mind; and if the doctor had got
+back he might hear of his mother, and something of what had happened
+since she had been gone, for he had not had a letter from her, as he
+had expected.
+
+When they got to the doctor's house, and Fred asked to see him, the
+servant said he had only just come home, and she was not sure that he
+could see anybody.
+
+'I think he will see me, if you tell him that my name is Howard,' said
+Fred. 'I have come to see him about my brother, who was hurt at school
+to-day.'
+
+The doctor was certainly mystified as to the meaning of the last part
+of the message, but he was glad to see Fred, for he had promised his
+mother he would see him as soon as possible.
+
+The doctor rose from his seat and took Fred's hands as he entered the
+room. 'I am very glad to see you. I have some wonderful news for you.
+I left your father a few hours ago. Your mother wished me to tell you.
+Do you remember your father?'
+
+'Yes, sir, a little,' answered Fred, quite forgetting what he actually
+had come for.
+
+'You do remember him?' repeated the doctor.
+
+'I know he was a gentleman,' said Fred, a little proudly.
+
+'Yes, he has proved himself a steadfast, God-fearing, humble
+Christian. A true gentleman in these later years,' said Mr. Morrison;
+'and I have promised him, and your mother too, that you shall hear
+something of what those years have been.'
+
+'But I should like to know first why he went away and left us all
+alone,' said Fred, with reddening brow. 'It was not fair to my mother,
+or to any of us, and I am not sure that I shall ever want to see him
+again.' And then the tears filled Fred's eyes.
+
+'Sit down, my lad,' said the doctor; 'your father knew that you must
+feel angry at what has happened, and, to use his own words, he does
+not deserve anything else at your hands, but I was to tell his story
+in as few words as possible, and leave the rest to you.
+
+'Some time before he went away he had a patient named Taylor. He
+seems to have been a very fascinating sort of man, and your father was
+not a very strong one. Through this man he neglected his practice a
+great deal--he was a doctor, you know--his friend always seemed to
+have plenty of money, and they went about the country a good deal
+together enjoying themselves, doing no great harm, beyond your father
+neglecting his work and you at home.
+
+'This lasted for some time, and then one day his friend begged him, as
+a great favour, to sign his name to a bill. Of course, by doing this
+your father became responsible for the whole amount of the debt, if
+his friend should fail to repay it within the time named; but he had
+such confidence in Mr. Taylor, and believed all he said about the
+wealth coming to him, that he signed it after a little persuasion,
+although it was for a very large amount of money.
+
+'He never told your mother of this transaction, because he knew she
+disliked and mistrusted this Taylor.
+
+'A few days before this bill became due your father found to his
+dismay that his friend had disappeared from his London house, and no
+one knew where he had gone. Still, your father said no word to your
+mother of what had happened, but when he was served with the notice
+that he must now pay the debt, he was seized with panic at the
+thought of the ruin he had brought upon himself and family, and,
+instead of bravely staying to do what he could to help those who were
+dependent upon him, he went out one morning, and took a passage to
+Australia by a vessel that was just leaving the docks.
+
+'It must be said in excuse for him that just at the time there was a
+great talk of the rapid fortunes that were being made in the
+gold-fields, and he had heard that Taylor had gone there to make his
+fortune.
+
+'I need hardly tell you that he did not see his false friend again,
+although he heard of him more than once during his wanderings in the
+wilds of Australia.
+
+'He wrote one short letter, telling your mother he would come home as
+soon as he had made his fortune; and he resolved in his own mind not
+to do so until he had accomplished this, for only in this way he
+thought he could atone for the past and prove that he was worthy of
+her confidence for the future.
+
+'But he found the task much harder than he had supposed, and instead
+of making his fortune at the gold-fields he was robbed of the little
+he possessed, and was glad to get any sort of work that would provide
+him with a crust of bread.
+
+'Then he met with Mrs. Morrison's brother, who was not unlike himself
+in many respects--easily led, weak to resist temptation--but in the
+hard school of affliction to which they had condemned themselves God
+met them, and showed them the folly and sin of which they had been
+guilty; and they sought and found pardon through the Lord Jesus
+Christ. Then, through the help of God's Holy Spirit, they began to
+struggle against the temptations by which they were beset, and in the
+struggle grew strong, strong enough to resist even the making of
+illegal gains; and so the fortune that was to restore them to home and
+country was a long time in the making, and meanwhile they clung to
+each other, and to God.'
+
+'But my father might have written to us,' said Fred, still a little
+hardly.
+
+'They both wrote to their nearest friends in England. But you must
+remember that your mother had left London, and I had left Liverpool,
+where I was living when my brother-in-law went away; so both letters
+were returned, and the wanderers could only work on in faith and hope
+that one day God would bring them to their dear ones again.'
+
+Fred had listened with the greatest intentness to the doctor's story,
+and now he roused himself, remembering that the errand he had come
+upon had not yet been mentioned. 'Thank you, Dr. Morrison,' he said,
+'for telling me this; but I cannot help thinking still that my father
+has been very cruel to us, although he may not have intended it; but
+I came to see you about something else. You have a son who goes to
+school with my brother; Horace has been hurt somehow, and is in bed at
+the master's house. Your son wishes me to tell you that he knows
+something of what happened. He did not mean to hurt anybody, but three
+boys might have died through what was done.'
+
+'Ah, that is just it. Boys never intend wilfully to hurt each other, I
+believe, and it is only rarely that men do so; but they do it through their
+weakness and thoughtlessness, and bring untold misery upon friends, and all
+who love them. Your father's spoiled life, and my brother-in-law's almost
+wasted one, should teach all you lads a lesson. Ask God to make you strong
+to resist the first temptation--strong in the strength of the Lord Jesus
+Christ, for this alone can help you in the hour of trial. And remember that
+this time of trial must come to you sooner or later; and the sooner it
+comes in life the better, if only you go to the Strong for strength to
+sustain you.'
+
+Then the doctor rang the bell, and told the servant to send Leonard to
+him. Fred rose to go, but the doctor told him to sit down again.
+
+'We'll get this business over while you are here,' he said. And when
+Leonard appeared, he said, 'My friend, Mr. Fred Howard, says you have
+something to tell me. Yes, he is my friend, and I trust that you will
+make him yours also, if he will accept the friendship of a boy like
+you,' said the doctor, answering the look of perplexity on Leonard's
+face. 'This lad's father has saved your uncle's life more than once,
+it seems, while you have nearly killed his brother. Is that true?'
+
+Leonard hung his head, and the tears slowly gathered in his eyes. 'Did
+Mr. Warren tell you that, father?' he said with a gasp.
+
+'I have not seen Warren yet,' said Dr. Morrison. 'What is it you have
+to tell me? Do not be afraid, I want to hear all the truth from you.
+Now what is it you have to tell me, Len?' said the doctor, in a more
+tender tone. 'I hear you have got into some scrape at school, and
+somebody has got hurt.'
+
+'Yes, father; the scholarship boy, and I was afraid he might die.'
+
+'Well, what was your share of the mischief? Did you really wish your
+schoolfellow to die?'
+
+'Father, we didn't mean to hurt him really. We only wanted to drive
+him away from the school.' And then, bit by bit, Mr. Morrison heard
+the whole story of what had been going on at Torrington's for the last
+few months.
+
+Fred was as much astonished as Mr. Morrison. 'My brother never said a
+word about it at home,' he said.
+
+'Your brother has the brave gallant spirit of a gentleman,' said the
+doctor. 'But what am I to say of my son and his cowardly companions?
+Go to your room, sir!' he said, addressing Leonard, for he was very
+angry.
+
+'But, Mr. Morrison, that he should wish to come and tell you of it
+before it is known at the school who has done it, should not be
+forgotten,' said Fred, pleadingly.
+
+'Certainly, certainly, it is something, as you say,' answered Mr.
+Morrison; but in truth he felt overwhelmed just now.
+
+As Fred was leaving, a servant from Dr. Mason's arrived with a note,
+asking that Mr. Morrison would bring his son, and be at the school by
+nine o'clock.
+
+'Mason has found out all about it, I expect,' he said, as he read the
+note. He gave orders for his carriage to be ready by half-past eight
+the following day, for he had a great deal to do before he started for
+London in the evening.
+
+He went to see Leonard in his own room before he went to bed, and then
+told him something of his uncle's life, and why it was that he wished
+to befriend Horace Howard.
+
+His father's talk made a deep impression on the boy's mind. 'Mamma
+told me something of this once but she did not say the "somebody" was
+my uncle.'
+
+'My boy, she loved this brother as Florrie loves you, and how could
+she tell you all the miserable tale?'
+
+'Oh, papa, I am so sorry! What can I do to make you believe that I do
+mean to try and do right always for the future? I wish I could do
+something for that poor Horace. His hands are awfully bad, and he
+won't be able to use them for ever so long. There's nobody to take
+care of him at home either. Don't you think he might come here, papa?'
+
+Dr. Morrison looked at Leonard, and breathed a sigh of relief. 'My
+boy, could I trust you to be good to him if I fetched him here
+to-morrow?'
+
+'Yes, yes, papa; indeed I will try to make it up to him, if you will
+let him come. I am so sorry. I did not know it was going to be so bad,
+until I heard Mr. Skeats say he wondered they were not dead. That was
+why I wanted to see Howard's brother. I knew he was the worst, and I
+wanted them to know that I did not mean really to hurt him.'
+
+'I can quite believe and sincerely hope that this will be a lesson you
+will never forget through your whole life. But if I forgive you it is
+more than you can expect Dr. Mason to do. I almost wonder he has not
+put it into the hands of the police, and had you all arrested. The
+punishment will be severe, I have no doubt; it ought to be, to make an
+impression upon the school; and remember, whatever it may be, I shall
+expect you to bear it patiently and bravely. I forgive you, but I
+shall not seek to lessen the punishment your schoolmaster may inflict.
+Now go to sleep as soon as you can, and I will take you to school in
+the carriage with me in the morning.'
+
+Dr. Morrison was compelled to pay a visit to a patient on his way to
+the school the next day, so that when they arrived they found all the
+school assembled in the hall. Prayers were just over, and when Leonard
+entered with his father, he was directed to take his place beside
+Taylor and Curtis, who were standing in front of the platform, where
+Dr. Mason and the other masters were sitting. His father was asked to
+take a seat there beside two other gentlemen, whom he afterwards heard
+were Mr. Curtis and Mr. Taylor, who had come to hear what their sons
+were charged with.
+
+'It might have been manslaughter,' said Dr. Mason severely, when one
+of the gentlemen asked this question rather angrily.
+
+'Last night, before we separated, I asked if anyone wanted to make a
+statement about this matter,' said the master, addressing the school.
+'No one answered then; now it is too late, and I can tell you myself
+all that happened. When the chemistry class left the laboratory
+yesterday morning, Mr. Skeats left three boys to finish what they were
+doing, believing that they were the only lads there. Just after he
+had gone they heard the stink-chamber door opened, and Taylor put
+something down on Howard's bench, which is close to that door. They
+took no notice of this at first, until the peculiar odour arrested
+their attention. Then one of them went round to see what it was, but
+coming in closer contact with the fumes was overcome by them, and fell
+down unconscious. Soon a second fell at his bench, and the third fell
+just as Howard opened the laboratory door and called to them. None
+were able to answer; but he pulled two out on to the landing, and then
+went back for the third, but fell unconscious himself, close to his
+own bench, and near the lad he was trying to save. Fortunately, his
+cry for help was heard, and both lives were saved, I am thankful to
+say, although Howard has been burned a great deal with the acid of the
+poison.'
+
+There was a dead silence throughout the school while the master was
+speaking. After a pause he said, 'I do not suppose that either Taylor,
+Curtis, or Morrison knew what their act would be likely to cause. I am
+sure they were ignorant of the danger they caused to three or four of
+their schoolfellows. But I do know that for some time past these boys
+have been persecuting one of their companions; and this sort of thing
+shall never be allowed at this school. Therefore, to save this school
+from future disgrace and trouble, I am compelled to expel from the
+school those who have been the ringleaders in this persecution.
+Taylor! Curtis! your names will be removed from the school roll, and
+never again will you be admitted as scholars of Torrington's school.
+Morrison has been greatly to blame in the part he has taken in this
+business; but taking into consideration that he made a full confession
+to his father last night of all he had done, added to the fact that he
+is a younger and weaker boy than the others, I shall suspend him from
+attending this school for six months; and if at the end of that time
+he can bring a certificate of good conduct from any other school, he
+may possibly be reinstated at Torrington's. The honour of the school
+demands that these punishments should be strictly adhered to.' The
+master sat down, and before a boy could leave his place Dr. Morrison
+sprang to his feet.
+
+'Dr. Mason, I am an old Torrington boy,' he said; 'and I thank you
+with all my heart for defending the honour of the dear old school. My
+son is one of the culprits, and I thank you in his name for giving him
+another chance to retrieve his character. I shall send him for the six
+months to one of the board schools in the town, where I hope and trust
+he may earn the right to come among you once more, and bring no
+further disgrace upon Torrington's school.'
+
+The other two gentlemen did not say a word. They were exceedingly
+angry with the culprits, but could not complain that the master had
+been unduly severe with them. Before they left, Dr. Mason said that he
+must charge them with the cost of a new suit of clothes for Horace.
+'Those he was wearing yesterday are burned into holes, so that the
+poor lad has nothing to wear when he is able to get up,' said Dr.
+Mason.
+
+'I will see to that,' said Dr. Morrison.
+
+'I understand you are going to charge yourself with the care of the
+lad until he is well,' said the master. 'I like justice all round, and
+it is only fair these gentlemen should buy the boy a new suit. Will
+you leave me to order it?' he said, addressing the two.
+
+'Yes, yes, of course, and we will pay the bill,' both answered in a
+breath.
+
+'Now, Morrison, you can go and tell the lad that he will soon have
+some new clothes, for I understand that is the chief trouble with him
+this morning--that he has spoiled his best jacket, and burned holes in
+his trousers. Mrs. Mason will give you something to take him home in,
+and I think it will do both lads good to know more of each other. The
+wisest thing you could do is what you have decided upon for Leonard,
+and I hope I shall see him back at Torrington's at the end of six
+months.'
+
+Mr. Morrison found Fred was with his brother, but he readily agreed to
+his being taken home by the doctor. Horace himself did not know what
+to make of it. Fred had just told him what he had heard from Dr.
+Morrison about his father, and now the doctor assured him that Leonard
+was very anxious to make up to him for all the unkindness he had been
+guilty of in the past.
+
+'For our father's sake you ought to give him this chance,' said Fred,
+for he knew he could not give his brother the care he needed.
+
+'Thank you, doctor; I will go with you,' said Horace.
+
+Just as he was being wrapped up Mr. Warren came in to see his patient,
+and was glad to learn that he was going home with Dr. Morrison.
+
+'You will let Warren come and see me, won't you?' said Horace.
+
+'Yes, yes, send him by all means; and I shall be glad if you can look
+in upon him yourself to-morrow, for I am obliged to go to London this
+evening, so that he must be left to the tender mercies of Len and the
+servants for a day or two.'
+
+Horace was carried to the carriage where Leonard was seated, shedding
+a few quiet tears over the folly that had gained for him this
+suspension for the honour of the school. Still, he was thankful that
+he was allowed a chance of return, and resolved to do all he
+could--even in a board school--to earn the right to go back at the end
+of six months. He was glad enough to have Horace seated beside him,
+and the first words he said were,
+
+'I hope you will forgive me for being such a fool. We must be friends,
+you know, and I hope to come back to Torrington's with you by-and by.'
+
+'Yes, yes, we will be good friends if you like,' said Horace, with the
+tears shining in his eyes. 'Only I don't know what my mother will say
+when she comes home.'
+
+'Oh, that will be all right,' answered Leonard. 'Your mother has gone
+to London with my mother. I dare say we shall know all about it
+presently. But father is too busy now, for he is going to London again
+this evening, and so I shall have to take care of you until he comes
+back. We'll ask Warren to come and see us as well, because I know you
+like Warren.'
+
+This last proposal cost Leonard the most, for he wanted Horace to like
+him now. But it was a proof to Mr. Morrison that his son had learned
+to conquer himself; and he had more hope for him now than he had since
+he first heard of this school scandal.
+
+The doctor had taken care to say as little as possible to the two
+boys about the fortune Mr. Howard had made while he was away, and it
+had made so little impression upon Horace, that when Mr. Morrison came
+back from London the next day, and told him that his mother wanted him
+to go to the sea-side as soon as he was able to go, Horace looked at
+him in mute wonder.
+
+Could his mother afford to send him to the sea-side? he wondered, and
+he resolved to ask Fred what he thought about it when he came.
+
+His brother came to sit with him for an hour every evening, and as
+soon as they were left to themselves that night Horace said, 'Have you
+heard that mother wants us to go to the sea-side--Leonard, and you and
+I? What does it mean, Fred? Has mother got money enough now to spend
+it like that?'
+
+'I suppose she has,' said Fred, with something like a sigh; 'but I am
+not sure that it is going to make us any happier, Horry,' he added.
+
+'Well, I suppose that will depend upon what we do with it, won't it?'
+said Horace simply.
+
+'Well, then I don't know that I shall let them spend any of it on me,'
+said Fred, in an angry tone.
+
+'Then you won't let mother be happy, though she may have more money,
+and not have to work for it now.'
+
+'Now, Horace, you know it is on mother's account that I feel as I do.
+It was unkind and cruel of father to go away and leave her as he did
+for years and years, though he was making a fortune for us. I tell you
+that money has been bought too dearly, and for mother's sake I don't
+feel as though I could touch a penny of it.'
+
+'Oh, Fred! think how unhappy she will be if you say that to her.'
+
+'I have said it,' replied Fred bitterly. 'I wrote and told her that I
+hoped she would leave me to be a carpenter, and live on in the little
+cottage where she had worked so hard.'
+
+'Oh, how could you--what did she say?' cried Horace, with the tears
+shining in his eyes.
+
+Fred covered his face for a moment. 'She begged me to forgive my
+father for her sake, as though it was not for her sake I feel as I
+do.'
+
+'Yes, yes, I know,' said Horace. 'But you will have to do as she says,
+or else we shall all be so unhappy. Oh, Fred, for mother's sake, for
+my sake, forgive father! for why should I lose my brother because my
+father has come home? I cannot help myself. I must let him help me,
+and if he did stay and work for this money just to prove that he was
+sorry for what he had done so long ago, I think we ought to forgive
+him, as mother has. He is ill, too, through the hardships he had to
+endure.'
+
+'Oh, Horry, if only he hadn't gone away like that! To have to forgive
+your father, instead of looking up to him as Len Morrison does, is so
+bitter; and it might all have been so different if only he had kept on
+doing his duty and asking God to help him when things were a bit
+harder than usual.'
+
+'Oh, Fred, ask God to help you now, to help you forgive him for
+mother's sake, and for Jesus Christ's sake!' cried Horace, in a
+passion of tears.
+
+'I have, dear, I have! and I think I shall be able to do it soon; but
+I think God wanted me to see that making a fortune can't make up for
+not doing the right thing at the right time; no, not even to the
+people you may make the fortune for. I shall have to let my father
+know this before I can fully forgive him.'
+
+It was a bitter lesson for the returned prodigals to learn, for
+Leonard Morrison took the same view concerning his uncle, having
+memories of days when his mother was too ill and too sad to be glad
+with them; and he heard now from his father that this was generally
+caused by some memory of the dearly loved brother who had fled from
+them under a cloud of disgrace.
+
+At length, however, Fred wrote and assured his mother that for her
+sake, and for his brother's, he would do as they wished, and join
+them at the sea-side, when Horace went for a holiday before returning
+to school. His hands were better, thanks to the kind attention he
+received from everyone at Dr. Morrison's. Indeed, he was such good
+friends now with Leonard, that he begged to be allowed to go to the
+sea-side with him, in order to make the acquaintance of his mother and
+his father as well as of his own uncle, who was still staying with
+them to help the invalid.
+
+Fred wrote this letter, and Mrs. Howard was greatly relieved to
+receive it. To her it had been easy enough to receive and pardon her
+husband for his long neglect, and she failed to understand why her
+elder son, who had always been so good to her, should assume such a
+hard, unforgiving demeanour towards his father.
+
+But when they met some weeks later she learned to understand the lad
+better; and when she told her husband he said, 'It is better. He is
+young, and has all his life before him, and he is right in thinking
+that no fortune can make up for wasted opportunities and neglected
+duties.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of That Scholarship Boy, by Emma Leslie
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