AN EXPULSION FROM COLLEGE
After the excursion to Sof, Archag became the hero of the college. The
boys tried in kind ways to make him forget how unfriendly they had
been to him, and, naturally enough, vented their ill-humor upon
Nejib. But Archag and Garabed took his part; they made him join in
their walks and games, and the other boys, seeing the attitude of
these two toward the one who had wronged them, gradually withdrew
the ban of ostracism which they had laid upon him.
As for Aram, he was beginning to tire of his Urfali, and was only
too glad to resume his friendship with Archag.
Archag and Garabed had taken their duties as "fédai" very seriously,
and were trying to win converts to the new ideas, and now Nejib and
Aram seemed to them the best fitted to join the "Dachnaktzoutioun"
(revolutionary federation). It must be acknowledged that Aram
had changed very much of late; though he still loved to laugh and
joke, he also took an interest in the serious conversations of his
friends. They, of course, exercised extreme caution; they talked
to Nejib and Aram about the misfortunes of Armenia, then they
lent them copies of the "Droshak" (Standard), "Pro-Armenia," and
other newspapers which gave descriptions, terrible but true, of the
condition of Christians in Turkey; and, at last, one evening, they
had the happiness of admitting their two friends into their Society.
They also won an unexpected recruit in the person of Monsieur
Bernier. The young teacher often felt lonely among all the Americans
so much older than he, and had become especially attached to Ghevont,
Archag and Garabed. In their company he learned to love and to
pity Armenia, and got rid of certain false conceptions about it;
for he saw, instead of the Nihilists who had been portrayed to him,
generous men struggling not only for their liberty, but for their very
existence. He came to understand the tribulations of the Armenians,
and to feel a warm sympathy for them.
The young students understood his feeling for them, and used to lend
him their newspapers, or translate for him passages from the romances
of Raffi and Baronian, [25] thus introducing him to the literature of
their country. Monsieur Bernier offered to give them private lessons
in German, and they were with him constantly.
Dr. Mills suspected the presence of "fédai" in the college, and was
especially mistrustful of Ghevont and some of the other Juniors;
but he could not bring accusation against them without proofs, and,
so far, he had been unable to procure any. The boys were usually very
cautious, but one bit of carelessness nearly brought disaster to their
Society. While playing football one afternoon, Aram dropped a "Droshak"
which he was carrying hidden under his zouboun. He did not notice its
loss until after supper, and then he ran immediately to the campus,
but his paper had disappeared. It was a serious matter, for if the
"Droshak" were taken to Dr. Mills, the fédai would be in great danger.
Aram went up to the schoolroom, and taking Archag aside, whispered
in his ear what had happened, and Ghevont and Garabed were soon made
acquainted with the story. Ghevont turned pale; he had received a
packet of patriotic songs the evening before, and had not yet been
able to convey them to the central committee in town. The others, too,
had some compromising literature in their trunks, some of Raffi's
novels, and the rules of their Society. For a moment they looked at
one another in great perplexity.
"I have it," said Archag at last, under his breath. "Let us take all
these books to Monsieur Bernier, and ask him to take care of them
for us."
Aram breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's a fine idea! Do you think he will consent?"
"We can try, anyway," said Garabed.
The four boys went up to their dormitory on tiptoe. They hastily
tossed to one side their articles of clothing, and pulled out books
and newspapers helter-skelter, covering them over with a cloth. The
most important publications they hid under their zoubouns, which made
them look like some sort of grotesque creatures with strange humps
and deformities on back and chest.
Monsieur Bernier gazed at them in astonishment, as they entered
his room.
"What is all this?" he asked.
Ghevont explained the situation briefly, and asked if he would be
willing to take care of their books until all danger was past.
Monsieur Bernier consented without hesitation; he was heartily glad
to render this service to his young friends, and they appreciated
his kindness.
The next morning before the boys had finished dressing, the president
entered the Sophomores' dormitory.
"Open your trunks," he said; "some of you are in possession of books
forbidden by the government, and it is necessary for me to find out
which boys are guilty."
The boys obeyed, trembling. Aram and Archag exchanged significant
glances behind the president's back; they were congratulating
themselves on their foresight in taking the books to Monsieur Bernier
at once, for if they had waited till morning, it would have been all
over with them.
Needless to say, the search proved fruitless. Dr. Mills made a thorough
investigation in all the dormitories, but the only contraband article
he could find was a pot of jam which Soghomon was keeping concealed
under a pile of socks. He then went back to his house. The evening
before, Soghomon had brought him the "Droshak" which had been found
on the campus, and he suspected Ghevont of being the guilty person.
A few days later, he called a meeting of the faculty to obtain a
vote on the question of the expulsion of Ghevont and several other
members of the Junior class. Professor Pagratian opposed the measure,
but in vain; in the inmost recesses of their hearts the other masters
revolted against the idea of sending away intelligent and studious boys
whose only fault had been a loyal love of their country and a little
imprudence, quite excusable at their age; but they dared not say so.
To repeat: centuries of tyranny and oppression have rendered the
Armenians timorous and distrustful to an extreme degree; in Europe,
this lack of courage has often given them a reputation for cowardice
which they do not really deserve.
The boys suspected nothing; they had been working hard for their
final examinations at the close of the college year. Our friends
had all done very well; Ghevont stood second among the Juniors,
Garabed was at the head of his class, Dikran second, Archag third,
Nejib fourth and Aram fifth. Soghomon was lowest, with five marks
which had been given him as a favor.
On Commencement Day, Professor Piralian preached the baccalaureate
sermon, and Mrs. Mills presented the diplomas and the prizes. Then
the president went into the pulpit to make a farewell address to the
students, and to wish them a pleasant vacation.
"I hope," said he in closing, "that you will return in the autumn with
fresh vigor, and ready to take up your work with renewed energy and
purpose. The members of the faculty regret the necessity of informing
Ghevont, Bedros, Avedis, Hamparzoum (Ascension), Panos and Jakoub,
all of the Junior class, and Levon of the Sophomore class, that the
college cannot receive them next year."
And that was all!
President Mills came down from the pulpit in the midst of a deathlike
silence, the precursor of a tempest. As soon as the professors had
withdrawn, an indescribable uproar arose; the Juniors gesticulating
and shouting that if their classmates were to be sent away so unjustly,
they would all leave too; the other fédai giving the signal for revolt
by climbing on the benches and waving their handkerchiefs for flags.
That afternoon, Ghevont, Bedros and Avedis went to the president to ask
for an explanation. Dr. Mills received them with a pleasant smile. Yes,
he said, he had always been quite satisfied with their diligence,
and counted them among his best students. But he could not keep them;
he had good reasons for this, which he should not tell them.
"But Dr. Mills," said Ghevont, "do you not know that no other college
will receive us? We shall be accused of misconduct, and this stigma
of bad character will follow us all through our student life."
"If that is all," replied the president, "I will give each of you a
certificate of good character."
He sat down at his desk, and quickly wrote a few lines; then he gave
to each boy an excellent testimonial. The boys were so astonished
that they did not know what to say. Dr. Mills had to help them out
with a gentle push, after shaking hands once more.