"Old beast," I said in a low tone.
"I thought so," said the lady. "Batchelor has called me a beast twice
since he came here, Mr Ladislaw."
"Batchelor must be punished," said Mr Ladislaw, who, I could not help
privately thinking, was a little afraid of Miss Henniker himself. "Come
to my study, sir."
I came, followed of course by the Henniker; and in Mr Ladislaw's study
I was caned on both hands. Miss Henniker would, I fancy, have laid it
on a little harder than the master did. Still, it was enough to make me
smart.
But the smart within was far worse than that without.
"Return to the class-room now, and write at once to your uncle, Mr
Jakeman," said Miss Henniker, "and to no one else."
I returned to the room, where I found an eager whispered discussion
going on. When a boy was taken off for punishment by the Henniker,
those who were left always had a brief opportunity for conversation.
The subject of discussion, I found, was Smith, who sat apart, with no
paper before him, apparently exempt from the general task. As usual, he
was looking solemnly round him, but in no way to explain the mystery.
At last Hawkesbury, the "pet" of the school--in other words, the only
boy who seemed to get on with Miss Henniker and Mr Ladislaw--had walked
up to Mr Hashford's desk, where the usher sat in temporary authority,
and had said, "Oh, Smith, the new boy, hasn't any paper, Mr Hashford."
"No, I was told not to give him any," said the usher, terrified lest the
Henniker should return.
"I wonder why?" said Hawkesbury.
"Yes, it is strange," replied Mr Hashford; "but please go to your
place, Hawkesbury; Miss Henniker will return."
Hawkesbury had reported this brief conversation to his fellows, and this
was what had given rise to the discussion I found going on when I
returned from my caning. It was soon cut short by the Henniker's
reappearance; but the mystery became all the greater when it was seen
that no notice was taken of the new boy's idleness, and that at the
close of the exercise, when we were all called upon to bring up our
letters, his name was distinctly omitted.
My effusion to my uncle was brief and to the point.
Dear Uncle Jakeman,--Miss Henniker wishes me to say that I have had five
bad marks to-day. I have also been caned hard on both hands for writing
to dear Mrs Hudson, and for calling Miss Henniker bad names. I hope
you are very well. Believe me, dear uncle, your affectionate nephew,--
Fred. Batchelor.
With the exception of striking out the "dear" before Mrs Hudson this
letter was allowed to pass.
In due time and to my great relief the bell rang for bed, and glad of
any chance of forgetting the hateful place, I went up stairs to the
dormitory.
The new boy, I found, was to occupy the bed next mine, at which I was
rather pleased than otherwise. I could not make out why I should take a
fancy to Smith, but somehow I did; and when once during the night I
happened to wake, and heard what sounded very much like a smothered sob
in the bed next mine, I at least had the consolation of being sure I was
not the only miserable boy at Stonebridge House.