The Squire was milch amused, and encouraged old Spankie to continue his narrations.
Well, sir, if it wasnt you sold Mr Fowler so cleverly, it surely was you who got up the great donkey race on the Slough road, just outside Eton.
Suppose it was me, or suppose it was not, just do you tell my boy here all about it. I like to hear you speak of old times, answered the Squire.
Well, sir, the young gentlemen got hold of two fine donkeys, and turned out in regular jockey costume, caps, silk jackets, top boots, and all. Great swells they looked, and there was no end of boys went out to see them. The whole road was full for a mile or more. A course was formed, and off they set; but donkeys never will run when you want them, or, rather, they always will run when you dont want them. As ill-luck would have it, who should come by but the Doctor. He wasnt a man a bit less than the present to play a joke with. What should one of the racers do but run right against his carriage, and make the horses kick and rear, and, in spite of all the unhappy jockey could do, he couldnt get him away. The Doctor just saw who they were, and though it may be supposed he was in a towering rage, says he quietly enough, Go to your tutors and report yourselves, and come to me this evening. Of course they knew that they would get flogged, and so one of them provided himself with a pair of wicket-keeping gloves, and went in quite boldly. Its my duty to flog you, says the Doctor strip. Its my duty to save my skin, says the young gentleman, putting on his gloves quite deliberately; and when the Doctor began, he
if he had ordered toast-and-water and small beer for dinner.
In very good humour with themselves, with the world in general, and with Eton in particular, which Reginald thought a first-rate place indeed, they sallied forth into the playing-fields, where several cricket matches were going on. One, Oppidans against Collegers, excited most interest, because there always is, though there ought not to be, a good deal of party-feeling between the collegers, the boys on the foundation, and those who are not; the latter, who are more frequently sons of men of wealth and influence, looking down upon those who have gained their position by their talents and industry. The broad smooth green meadows, with the fine grey school buildings, and their magnificent trees rising up behind them, presented a very gay and animated appearance. Numbers of boys in their picturesque cricketing costumes were lying about in all directions Englands nerve and spirit, and head and heart those who were hereafter to head her armies and guide her councils. Little wotted they then of the destinies in store for some of them. A stranger might have said, as he saw their active forms bounding here and there There is Englands bone and muscle. So there was, but that is to be found rather in her wide fields, in her mines, her coal-pits, on her broad quays, in her manufactories, in her towns, and on her railroads. The different games were sufficiently apart, so as not to interfere with each other. Round each of the scorers knots of amateurs were collected, watching the game with intense interest, and applauding or condemning, as each hit was well or ill made or fielded. At a respectful distance from the wide-flying balls, a number of ladies, and children, and nurses, and other spectators, wandered about admiring the play or the cricketers.
Come along here, said Power to the Squire and Reginald, as he led them up to one of the best spots for witnessing the sport; its a hard-run game well hit, Hawkins beautifully run! hes my tutors pupil the others will have hard work to get him out Ive known him score twice as many as any other fellow in the eleven bravo, Langdale! a first-rate hit well fielded, too hell get caught out though he often does he hits too wildly.
So Power ran on. The Squire at once entered into the spirit of the game. He clapped his hands as enthusiastically as any boy. Capitally hit! Smartly run! he shouted. Reggie, my boy, I wish that you were playing. Well done! Who is that tall fellow with the light hair? He caught out Langdale in fine style. You said he would be caught out.
Oh, thats Gull, an Oppidan, answered Power; hes one of their best fielders. Who is going in next, I wonder? Beaumont, I see. Ah, hes one of our crack players.
Beautiful! beautiful! shouted the Squire, as other hits were made. Capital first-rate bravo bravo well run a superb hit!
His animated remarks soon drew the attention of the boys towards him. When they heard from Anson that he was an old Etonian, they regarded him with a respect he might not otherwise have obtained, and all were eager to show him any attention in their power. They went on end had a look at the other games, and at last the hour came when it was necessary for the Squire to turn his steps towards the station. He had also on his way there to introduce Reginald to his tutor, Mr Lindsay. Old Spankie had been looking out for them. He had seen Power with him, and thus learned his name and all about him.