"But?" said the Doctor; "well, what?"

"Please, sir, I couldn't help liking it."

"Humph!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the Doctor. "Well, you need not come this time. To resume, I do not know the names of the boys who were present, and I do not want to know. d.i.c.ksee was in too great a hurry. Now proceed with your dinner."

The meal went on, but my face felt more stiff, and my appet.i.te was decidedly worse.

I was longing to go and do as a dog would under the circ.u.mstances,--go and curl up somewhere out of sight till I got better, for my head ached, so did my heart; my face throbbed and felt stiff; and altogether I was, like Mercer, as "miserable as mizzer,"--so he put it,--when the Doctor tapped the table again, we all rose, grace was said, and the words of doom came rolling through the place:

"In a quarter of an hour's time, young gentlemen."

Then the Doctor marched sedately out of the room, the masters followed, and the boys trooped into the ground, and we had to go too, feeling doleful in the extreme, but that did give way to a sense of pride, for there was a rush made for us directly; and as I was surrounded by a crowd, all eagerly congratulating me on my conquest, there was poor Burr major almost alone on the other side of the ground, dejected, deposed.

Not quite alone, for Hodson and Wilson both went and stood by his side.

It may appear strange, but, of course excepting Mercer, I felt as if I liked those two boys at that moment better than any one in the school, for, young as I was, I could not help thinking that if ever Burr major and I had another encounter, and I were to be beaten, they would all turn from me as quickly as they came over to my side.

I was soon tired of hearing the same praise over and over again, and being asked to show this one and that one how I managed to hit out so well. But Mercer and I had a quiet understanding that we would keep our own counsel about the matter, and let any one who wanted to learn how to box think it out for himself.

I was not kept waiting long to muse over my position, and be stared at by all the boys, who took the greatest interest in my swellings, cuts, and marks, for Mr Rebble came to the door, and shouted,--

"Now, young gentlemen, the Doctor is waiting." I felt a curious shiver run through me, as I glanced round for Tom Mercer.

He was close at hand, ready to whisper,--

"It don't matter what he says, Frank; he can't undo what we have done, and old Eely will never dare to tackle you again."

"Or you."

"Oh, I didn't say that. Come on."

We went up to where Mr Rebble was standing, and found that Mr Hasnip was there too.

As we went in, Mr Hasnip came close to my side. "Nice object you look for a gentleman's son, sir! Going to be a soldier, eh?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Then keep your fighting for the enemy, not for your schoolfellows."

Then in a lower voice--"Gave him a thorough good thrashing, didn't you?"

he said.

"Yes, sir: I suppose so."

"Humph! serve him right. He wanted his comb cut. Getting insufferable with his conceit!--By the way, you needn't tell any of your schoolfellows I said that, for, of course, you had no business to fight."

"I didn't want to, sir, but Burr major made us fight. He sent a lot of the boys to bring us into the loft, 'to take the conceit out of us,' he said."

"And you took the conceit out of him instead, eh? Well, I daresay he wishes he had not sent for you now."

"I'm afraid he does."

"Yes. Well, here we are. I'm a terrible tartar to you over your lessons, but I'm not angry with you. Had some fights too, when I was your age. Now then, speak up like a man."

The door was thrown open, and we had to walk in, the two ushers standing on either side of the door, like policemen dealing with culprits, and then ranging us before the Doctor's table, behind which he sat, leaning back in his great leather-covered chair.

"Er--rum!" he coughed. "Sit down, Mr Rebble--take a chair, Mr Hasnip.

Let me see," he continued, adjusting his gold-rimmed eyegla.s.ses. "Burr major, Burr junior,--humph! ought to be Burr minor,--Natural History Mercer who loves poaching the General's rabbits, d.i.c.ksee, and Hodson."

The Doctor looked severe, but not very, as he inspected us all.

"Hah!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed at last; "four as disreputable-looking fellows as it would be possible to find in the lowest town in Suss.e.x. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"

"No answer, eh?" said the Doctor, after a pause. "Well, Hodson, you are not like these four. You did not fight, I suppose."

"No, sir. I was Burr major's second."

"That's almost as bad as the fighting. Come, you shall speak out. Who was in the wrong?"

"Please, sir, I'd rather not give an opinion."

"Please, sir, I know!" cried d.i.c.ksee.

"Thank you. I would rather take some other boy's opinion," cried the Doctor sarcastically. "Your eyes don't look as if you can see clearly.

There, it is plain enough to me that you were all in the wrong, and I feel greatly annoyed to find my young gentlemen conducting themselves like the disreputable low boys who frequent the fairs and racecourses of the county. Look at yourselves. Did you ever see such a ghastly sight?

Burr major, your face is horrible. As for you, d.i.c.ksee, I am ashamed of you. Suppose any of your relatives presented themselves at this moment, and wanted to see you. What could I say? There, actually, as I speak, I can hear wheels coming up the road, and, as they are light wheels, they must either be those of visitors, or of the butcher's cart--I--er--mean some trade-person's cart, which is not likely at this time of day. Fighting, young gentlemen, is a brutal practice, dating back to the very earliest ages of mankind, and no doubt imitated from the wild beasts whom they saw around them. Whereas you live in these later days, in the midst of civilisation in its highest, most cultivated forms, so that there is no excuse whatever for your acts."

The Doctor coughed, and the two ushers looked at each other and nodded their approval.

"Look at yourselves," continued the Doctor; and we all turned sharply to gaze in a small circular mirror at the end of the library.

"No, no," said the Doctor blandly, "I did not mean at your bodily disfigurations in the gla.s.s, but at the mental blurs in your natures.

I--There, boys!" he cried suddenly; "I am not in the vein to moralise in this way, so I must speak plainly. I am ashamed of you, and, occupying as I do toward you the temporary position of parent, I honestly declare that if I did my duty by you, I should get a cane or a rod, and flog you all severely, but--"

"May I come in?" said a pleasant voice, and the door was slightly opened.

"Yes, my dear. No! engaged. What is it?"

"That lady and gentleman have driven over from Rye about their sons,"

said Mrs Doctor, coming right in; "and--Oh, my dears! what have you been doing?"

"There, there, Matilda!" cried the Doctor hastily. "Go back! I'll come in a few minutes;" and he hurried the pleasant old lady out of the room, before turning to us.

"There! you see," he cried,--"you see the effect your appearance has upon one who always takes the greatest of interest in you, and, er--Mr Rebble, I feel disposed to be lenient this time, as the boys have pretty well punished themselves. I leave it to you. Moderate impositions.

There, go at once and shut yourselves up in your dormitories. No, more fighting, mind, or I shall be as severe as the sternest tyrant you read of in your cla.s.sic studies."

He hurried out of the library, and the ushers took us all into custody again, and led us out into the playground.

"There!" said Mr Rebble; "you heard the Doctor's orders. Go to your rooms. Not you, Hodson. Come to my desk, and I'll set your imposition at once. Nice and easily you have got off. You can come down to-morrow morning, I suppose."