You Tommy Goskin, come here, sir.
Tommy Goskin put down his book, and came up to his master with a good deal of doubt in his countenance.
Tommy Goskin, you didnt say your lesson well to-day.
Yes I did, Mr OGallagher, replied Tommy, you said I did yourself.
Well then, sir, you didnt say it well yesterday, continued Mr OGallagher.
Yes I did, sir, replied the boy, whimpering.
And is it you who dares to contradict me? cried Mr OGallagher; at all events, you wont say it well to-morrow, so hold out your right hand.
Poor Tommy held it out, and roared lustily at the first blow, wringing his fingers with the smart.
Now your left hand, sir; fair play is a jewel; always carry the dish even.
Tommy received a blow on his left hand, which was followed up with similar demonstrations of suffering.
There sir you may go now, said Mr OGallagher, and mind you dont do it again; or else therell be a blow-up. And now Master Keene, we come to the third and last, which is the birch for the tailhere it ishave you ever had a taste?
No, sir, replied I.
Well, then, you have that pleasure to come, and come it will, I dont doubt, if you and I are a few days longer acquainted. Let me see
Here Mr OGallagher looked round the school, as if to find a culprit; but the boys, aware of what was going on, kept their eyes so attentively to their books, that he could not discover one; at last he singled out a fat chubby lad.
Walter Puddock, come here, sir.
Walter Puddock came accordingly; evidently he gave himself up for lost.
Walter Puddock, I just have been telling Master Keene that youre the best Latin scholar in the whole school. Now, sir, dont make me out to be a liardo me credit,or, by the blood of the OGallaghers, Ill flog ye till youre as thin as a herring. Whats the Latin for a cocked hat, as the Roman gentlemen wore with their togeys?
Walter Puddock hesitated a few seconds, and then, without venturing a word of remonstrance, let down his trousers.
See now the guilty tief, he knows whats coming. Shame upon you, Walter Puddock, to disgrace your preceptor so, and make him tell a lie to young Master Keene. Wheres Phil Mooney? Come along, sir, and hoist Walter Puddock: its no larning that I can drive into you, Phil, but its sartain sure that by your manes I drive a little into the other boys.
Walter Puddock, as soon as he was on the back of Phil Mooney, received a dozen cuts with the rod, well laid on. He bore it without flinching, although the tears rolled down his cheeks.
There, Walter Puddock, I told you it would end in a blow-up; go to your dictionary, you dirty blackguard, and do more credit to your education and superior instruction from a certain person who shall be nameless.
Mr OGallagher laid the rod on one side, and then continued
Now, Master Keene, Ive just shown you the three roads to larning, and also the three implements to persuade little boys to larn; if you dont travel very fast by the three first, why you will be followed up very smartly by the three lasta nods as good as a wink to a blind horse, any day; and one thing more, you little spalpeen, mind that theres more mustard to the sandwiches to-morrow, or else it will end in a blow-up. Now youve got the whole theory of the art of tuition, Master Keene; please the pigs, well commence with the practice to-morrow.
My worthy pedagogue did not address me any more during that day; the school broke up at five, and I made haste home, thinking over all that had passed in the school-room.
My granny and mother were both anxious to know what had passed; the first hoped that I had been flogged, the second that I had not, but I refused to communicate. I assumed a haughty, indifferent air, for I was angry with my mother, and as for my grandmother, I hated her. Aunt Milly, however, when we were alone, did not question me in vain. I told her all that had passed; she bade me be of good heart, and that I should not be ill-treated if she could help it.
I replied, that if I were ill-treated, I would have my revenge somehow or another. I then went down to the barracks, to the rooms of Captain Bridgeman, and told him what had occurred. He advised me to laugh at the ruler, the ferrule, and the rod. He pointed out to me the necessity of my going to school and learning to read and write, at the same time was very indignant at the conduct of Mr OGallagher, and told me to resist in every way any injustice or tyranny, and that I should be sure of his support and assistance, provided that I did pay attention to my studies.
Fortified by the advice and protection of my two great friends, I made up my mind that I would learn as fast as I could, but if treated ill, that I would die a martyr, rather than yield to oppression; at all events, I would, if possible, play Mr OGallagher a trick for every flogging or punishment I received; and with this laudable resolution I was soon fast asleep, too fast even to dream.
Chapter Six
When my aunt Milly called me in the morning, that I might be up and have my breakfast in time for school, I felt as if two years had passed over my head during the last twenty-four hours. I had never witnessed tyranny until the day before, and my blood was heated with indignation: I felt myself capable of anything and everything.
My anger was about as great towards my mother and grandmother for having sent me to such a place, as it was against Mr OGallagher. Instead of going up and kissing my mother, I paid no attention to either her or my grandmother, much to the mortification of the former and surprise of the latter, who said, in a very cross manner, Wheres your manners, child? why dont you say good morning?
Because I have not been long enough at school to learn manners, granny.
Come and kiss me before you go, my child, said my mother.
No, mother; you have sent me to school to be beat, and I never will kiss you again.
Naughty, good-for-nothing boy! exclaimed my granny; what a bad heart you must have.
No, that he has not, cried my aunt Milly. Sister should have inquired what sort of a school it was before she sent him.
I made every inquiry, replied my granny; he cant play tricks there.
Wont I? cried I, but I will; and not only there but here. Ill be even with you all; yes, Ill be even with you, granny, if I die for it.
Why, you audacious wretch, Ive great a mind to
I dare say you have, but recollect I can bite; youd better be quiet, granny, or, as the master says, it will end in a blow-up.
Only hear the little wretch, said my granny, lifting up her hands; I shall see you hanged yet, you ungrateful child.
Im not ungrateful, replied I, throwing my arms round Millys neck, and kissing her with fervour; I can love those who love me.
Then you dont love me? said my mother, reproachfully.
I did yesterday, but I dont now; but its time for me to go, aunt; is my basket ready? I dont want father to take me to school, I can do without him, and when I dont choose to go any more, I wont; recollect that, mother. So saying, I seized my basket and quitted the room. There was a long consultation, I found, after my departure: my mother, when my aunt had informed her of Mr OGallaghers conduct, wished to remove me instantly; my grandmother insisted upon it that there was not a word of truth in what I had said, and threatened that if I did not remain at that very school, she would leave Chatham, and take my aunt with her. As my mother could not part with aunt Milly, the consequence was, that my grandmother gained the day.