"Oh, I say, it's rank favouritism!" came from the middle of a group. "I shall speak to the Doctor about it."

Some one answered this, but I did not hear the words, and I hobbled to the door, and went up to my room, wondering how any one could be envious of the sensations I was experiencing then.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

"How are your sore knees?" said Mercer one morning soon after my long first lesson in riding.

"Oh, dreadful!" I cried. "They get a little better, and then the riding makes them bad again."

"But why don't he let you have a saddle?"

"He does now," I said--"that is, he did yesterday; but it's worse riding on a saddle, it's so slippery, and he will not let me have any stirrups."

"When are you going again?"

"To-day, I suppose. The Doctor says I'm to get on as fast as possible, and make up with my other studies afterwards."

"Wish I was going to learn to ride."

"You wouldn't much like it if you had to," I replied. "Oh, I don't know. It looks very nice to see you going along. But, I say, it does make Burr major so wild. I heard him tell d.i.c.ksee he should make his father send him a horse, and d.i.c.ksee said he ought to, and I laughed."

"Did he hear you?"

"Yes, and gave me such a clip on the head with a cricket stump. Feel here."

I placed my hand where he suggested, and there was a good-sized lump.

"What a shame!" I cried indignantly. "Didn't you hit him again?"

"No; I only put it down. We're going to pay it all back some day."

"Yes; but when?" I cried.

Mercer shook his head.

"I say," he continued, "I saw old Magglin this morning before breakfast."

"What was he doing here?"

"Dunno. Wanted to see me, I suppose, and borrow a shilling."

"Did you lend him one?"

"Yes; I felt obliged to."

Just then Burr major came by us, and looked us both over sharply.

"Haven't you two got any lessons to get ready?" he said.

"Yes," I replied.

"Then go in and get them ready before I report you both to Mr Hasnip.

Do you hear?"

"Yes," I said; "but I'm going to have my riding lesson."

"Your riding lesson!" he sneered; "you're always going to have your riding lesson. I never saw such a school as it's getting to be. It's shameful! I shall go and ask Mr Hasnip if we boys are to be kept always at work, while you and Tom Mercer are idling about and enjoying yourselves."

"All right," said Mercer oracularly, in a whisper to me, as Burr major walked off importantly for a few yards, attended by his satellites, and then stopped, drew out his watch with a flourish, looked at it, and put it back with an air that he intended to be graceful.

"Look here, you, Tom Mercer--do you hear, Jollop? You're not going to have riding lessons. I give you five minutes to get back to your work, and if you are not there then--you'll see."

"All right," said Mercer again; and then, as Burr major was out of hearing, "Any one would think he was the Doctor. Oh, I should like to--" he continued, grinding his teeth. "Think we could, Frank?"

"I don't know," I said hesitatingly; "but when he talks like that, it makes me feel horribly mad, and as if I should like to try."

"Never mind. Wait a bit; the revolution isn't ripe yet," said Mercer darkly. "Wish I'd got a watch like that."

I was very angry, but my companion's sudden change from thoughts of revenge to covetousness seemed exceedingly droll.

"What are you laughing at?" he said.

"At you about the watch."

"Well, I can't help it, Frank. That watch seems always staring at me with its round white face, and holding out its hands to me. I dream of it of a night, and I'm always longing for it of a day. You can't tell how bad it makes me feel sometimes."

"You shouldn't think about it, Tom."

"I can't help it. I don't want to, but the thoughts will come, dreadfully. I say," he whispered darkly, "I don't wonder at chaps stealing sometimes, if they feel like I do."

"What nonsense!" I cried: "I say, here's Eely coming back."

"Is he?" said Mercer sharply. "Then I'm off in."

"Why, you're never going to be such a coward as to be bullied into obeying his orders."

"Oh yes, I am," replied my companion. "Time isn't ripe yet. But when it is--oh!"

He gave vent to that exclamation with peculiar force, though it was only a low hiss, and I followed him with my eyes, half disposed to think that Tom Mercer would prove a rotten reed to lean upon if I wanted his support in a struggle against our tyrant; though, truth to tell, as Burr came rolling along with half a dozen boys about, all ready at a word from him to rush at me, I did not feel at all confident of being able to resist his authority, and I began to move off.

"Hullo!" he cried. "Here's the gallant horseman, boys. Let's go and see him ride."

"Yah! he can't ride," cried d.i.c.ksee; "he'll tumble off."

"Not he," said Burr major. "Old Lom ties his ankles together under the horse. But he does look an awful fool when he's on board. I say, Burr junior, you don't think you can ride, do you?"