Of course a row was made, or attempted to be made, about the daring
exploit of the fags of Parrett's House narrated in the last chapter.
The matter was duly reported to the head monitor of Welch's by the
injured parties. But the result only proved how very cunning the
offenders had been in choosing this particular time for the execution of
their raid.
The head of Welch's reported the matter to Bloomfield, as the head of
Parrett's. But Bloomfield, who had plenty to do to punish offences
committed in his own House, replied that the head of Welch's had better
mention it to the captain of the school. _He_ couldn't do anything.
The head of Welch's pointed out that there was no captain of the school
at present. What was he to do?
Bloomfield suggested that he had better "find out," and there the matter
ended. Wherever the head Welcher took his complaint he got the same
answer; and it became perfectly clear that as long as Willoughby was
without a captain, law and order was at a discount.
However, such a state of things was not destined long to last. A notice
went round from the doctor to the monitors the next day asking them to
assemble directly after chapel the following morning in the library.
Every one knew what this meant; and when later on it was rumoured that
Riddell had gone to the doctor's that evening to tea, it became pretty
evident in which direction things were going.
"Tea at the doctor's" was always regarded as rather a terrible ordeal by
those who occasionally came in for the honour. Some would infinitely
have preferred a licking in the library, and others would have felt
decidedly more comfortable in the dock of a police-court. Even the
oldest boys, whose conduct was exemplary, and whose conscience had as
little to make it uneasy in the head master's presence as in the
presence of the youngest fag in Willoughby, were always glad when the
ceremony was over.
The reason of all this was not in the doctor. Dr Patrick was one of
the kindest and pleasantest of men. He could not, perhaps, throw off
the Dominie altogether on such occasions, but he always tried hard, and
if there had been no one more formidable than "Paddy" to deal with the
meal would have been comparatively pleasant and unalarming.
But there was a Mrs Patrick and a Mrs Patrick's sister, and before
these awful personages the boldest Willoughbite quailed and trembled.
From the moment the unhappy guest entered the parlour these two (who
were always there) fastened their eyes on him and withered him. They
spoke ceremoniously in the language in which the grand old ladies used
to speak in the old story-books. If he chanced to speak, they sat erect
in their chairs listening to him with all their ears, looking at him
with all their eyes, freezing him with all their faintest of smiles. No
one could sit there under their inspection without feeling that every
word and look and gesture was being observed, probably with a view to
recording it in a letter home; and the idea of being at one's ease with
them in the room was about as preposterous as the idea of sleeping
comfortably on a wasp's nest!
And yet, if truth were known, these good females meant well. They had
their own ideas of what boys should be (neither having any of their
own), and fondly imagined that during these occasional ceremonies in the
doctor's parlour they were rendering valuable assistance in the "dear
boy's" education by giving him some idea of the manners and charms of
polite society!
It was in such genial company that Riddell, the head classic of
Willoughby, was invited to bask for a short time on the evening of the
day before the appointment of the new captain. He had been there once
before when his father and mother had come over to visit him. And even
with their presence as a set-off, the evening had been one of the most
awful experiences of his life. But now that he was to go all alone to
partake of state tea with those two, this shy awkward boy felt about as
cheerful as if he had been walking helplessly into a lion's den.
"Well, Riddell," said the doctor, pleasantly, as after long hesitation
the guest at last ventured to arrive, "how are you? My dear, this is
Riddell, whom I believe you have seen before. Miss Stringer too I think
you met."
Riddell coloured deeply and shivered inwardly as he advanced first to
one lady then to the other and solemnly shook hands.
"I trust your parents are in good health, Mr Riddell," said Mrs
Patrick in her most precise tones.
"Very well indeed, thank you," replied Riddell; "that is," he added,
correcting himself suddenly, "my mother is very poorly, thank you."
"I regret to hear you say so," said Mrs Patrick, transfixing the
unhappy youth with her eyes. "I trust her indisposition is not of a
serious character."
"I hope she will, thank you, ma'am," replied Riddell, who somehow
fancied his hostess had said, or had been going to say, she hoped his
mother would soon recover.
"Er, I beg your pardon?" said Mrs Patrick, leaning slightly forward and
inclining her head a little on one side.
"I mean, I beg your pardon," said Riddell, suddenly perceiving his
mistake and losing his head at the same time, "I mean, quite so, thank
you."
"You mean," interposed Miss Stringer at this point, in a voice a note
deeper than her sister's, "that your mother's indisposition _is_ of a
serious character?"
"Oh no, not at all, I'm sure," ejaculated the hapless Riddell.
"I am glad to hear you say so, very," said Miss Stringer.
"Very," said Mrs Patrick.
At this point Riddell had serious thoughts of bolting altogether, and
might have done so had not the servant just then created a diversion by
bringing in the kettle.
"Sit down, Riddell," said the doctor, "and make yourself at home. What
are the prospects for the regatta this year? Is the schoolhouse boat to
win?"
"I'm sorry I can't say," replied Riddell. "I believe Parrett's is the
favourite."
"Mr Riddell means Mr Parrett's, I presume?" asked Mrs Patrick in her
sweetest tones, looking hard at the speaker, and emphasising the "Mr"
"I beg your pardon," he said, "I'm sorry."
"We shall miss Wyndham," said the doctor.
"Yes, thank you," replied Riddell, who at that moment was dodging
vaguely in front of Miss Stringer as she stood solemnly waiting to get
past him to the tea-table.
It was a relief when tea was at last ready, and when some other
occupation was possible than that of looking at and being looked at by
these two ladies.
"You're not very fond of athletics, Riddell?" asked the doctor.
"No, sir," answered Riddell, steadily avoiding the eyes of the females.
"I often think you'd be better if you took more exercise," said the
doctor.
"Judging by Mr Riddell's looks," said Mrs Patrick, "it would certainly
seem as if he hardly did himself justice physically."
This enigmatical sentence, which might have been a compliment or might
have been a rebuke or might have meant neither, Riddell found himself
quite unable to reply to appropriately, and therefore, like a sensible
man, took a drink of tea instead. It was the first dawn of reviving
presence of mind.
"Apart from your own health altogether," continued the doctor, "I fancy
your position with the other boys would be better if you entered rather
more into their sports."
"I often feel that, sir," said Riddell, with a touch of seriousness in
his tones, "and I wish I could do it."
"I hope that there is no consideration as to health which debars you
from this very desirable exercise, Mr Riddell," said Mrs Patrick. "I
beg your pardon," said Riddell, who did not quite take it in. Mrs
Patrick never liked being asked to repeat her speeches. She flattered
herself they were lucid enough to need no second delivery. She
therefore repeated her remark slowly and in precisely the same words and
tone--
"I hope that there is no consideration as to health which debars you
from this very desirable exercise, Mr Riddell?"
Riddell took half a moment to consider, and then replied, triumphantly,
"I'm quite well, thank you, ma'am."
"I am pleased to hear that," said Mrs Patrick, rather icily, for this
last observation had seemed to her a little rude. "Very," chimed in
Miss Stringer.
After this there was a silence, which Riddell devoutly hoped might last
till it was time to go. Had the ladies not been there he would have
liked very much to speak to the doctor about school matters, and the
doctor, but for the same cause, would have wished to talk to his head
boy. But it was evident this tea-table was not the place for such
conversation.
"I hear," said the doctor, after the pause had continued some time,
addressing his sister-in-law, "there is likely to be an election in
Shellport before long; Sir Abraham is retiring."
"Indeed, you surprise me," said Miss Stringer. "It is unexpected," said
the doctor, "but it is thought there will be a sharp contest for the
seat."
"And are you a Liberal or a Conservative, Mr Riddell?" asked Mrs
Patrick, thinking it time that unfortunate youth was again tempted into
the conversation.
"A Liberal, ma'am," replied Riddell. "Oh! boys are generally
Conservatives, are they not?" She asked this question in a tone as if
she expected him to try to deceive her in his answer. However, he
evaded it by replying bashfully, "I hope not."
"And pray," said Miss Stringer, putting down her cup, and turning full
on her victim, "will you favour us with your reasons for such a hope,
Mr Riddell?"
Poor Riddell! he little thought what he had let himself in for. If
there was one subject the two ladies were rabid on it was politics.
They proceeded to pounce upon, devour, and annihilate the unlucky head
classic without mercy. They made him contradict himself twice or thrice
in every sentence; they proved to him clearly that he knew nothing at
all of what he was talking about, and generally gave him to understand
that he was an impertinent, conceited puppy for presuming to have an
opinion of his own on such matters!
Riddell came out of the ordeal very much as a duck comes out of the
hands of the poulterer. Luckily, by the time the discussion was over it
was time for him to go. He certainly could not have held out much
longer. As it was, he was good for nothing after it, and went to bed
early that night with a very bad headache.
Before he left, however, the doctor had accompanied him into the hall,
and said, "There are a few things, Riddell, I want to speak to you
about. Will you come to my study a quarter of an hour before morning
chapel to-morrow?"
Had the invitation been to breakfast in that horrible parlour Riddell
would flatly have declined it. As it was he cheerfully accepted it, and
only wished the doctor had thought of it before, and spared him the
misery of that evening with the two Willoughby griffins!
He could hardly help guessing what it was the doctor had to say to him,
or why it was he had been asked to tea that evening. And he felt very
dejected as he thought about it. Like most of the other Willoughbites,
the idea of a new captain having to be appointed had never occurred to
him till Wyndham had finally left the school. And when it did occur,
and when moreover it began to dawn upon him that he himself was the
probable successor, horror filled his mind. He couldn't do it. He was
not cut out for it. He would sooner leave Willoughby altogether. The
boys either knew nothing about him, or they laughed at him for his
clumsiness, or they suspected him as a coward, or they despised him as a
prig. He had wit enough to know what Willoughby thought of him, and
that being so, how could he ever be its captain?
"I would much rather you named some one else," said he to the doctor at
their interview next morning. "I know quite well I couldn't get on."
"You have not tried yet," said the doctor.
"But I've not the strength, and the boys don't like me," pleaded
Riddell.
"You must make them like you, Riddell," said the doctor.
"How can I? They will dislike me all the more if I am made captain. I
have no influence with them, indeed I have not."
"How do you know?" said the doctor again. "Have you tried yet?"
"I could never do what Wyndham did. He was such a splendid captain."
"Why?" asked the doctor.
"I suppose because he was a splendid athlete, and threw himself into all
their pursuits, and--and set a good example himself."
"I think you are partly right and partly wrong," said the doctor.
"There are several fine athletes in Willoughby who would make poor
captains; and as for throwing oneself into school pursuits and setting a
good example, I don't think either is beyond your reach."
Riddell felt very uncomfortable. He began to feel that after all he
might be shirking a duty he ought to undertake. But he made one more
effort.
"There are so many others would do it better, sir, whom the boys look up
to already," he said. "Bloomfield, for instance, or--"
The doctor held up his hand.
"We will not go into that, Riddell," he said. "You must not suppose I
and others have not considered the good of Willoughby in this matter.
It remains for you to consider it also. As you grow older you will
constantly find duties confronting you which may be sorely against your
inclination, but which as an honest man you will know are not to be
shirked. You have a chance of beginning now. I don't pretend to say
you will find it easy or pleasant work, or that you are likely to
succeed, at first at any rate, as well as others have done. But unless
I am mistaken you will not give in on that account. Of course you will
need to exert yourself. You know what boys look for in a captain; it's
not mere muscle, or agility. Get them by all means if you can; but what
will be worth far more than these will be sympathy. If they discover
you are one with them, and that in your efforts to keep order you have
the welfare of the school chiefly at heart, they will come out, depend
upon it, and meet you half-way. It's worth trying, Riddell."
Riddell said nothing, but his face was rather more hopeful as he looked
up at the doctor.
"Come," said the latter, "there's the bell for chapel. It's time we
went in."
Riddell entered chapel that morning in a strangely conflicting frame of
mind. The hope was still in his face, but the misgivings were still in
his heart, and the whole prospect before him seemed to be a dream.
As the slight shy boy walked slowly up the floor to his place among the
Sixth, the boys on either side eyed him curiously and eagerly, and a
half-titter, half-sneer greeted his appearance.
Some regarded him with a disfavour which amounted to positive dislike,
others with disdain and even contempt, and others thought of Wyndham and
wondered what Willoughby was coming to. Even among the Sixth many an
unfriendly glance was darted at him as he took his seat, and many a
whispered foreboding passed from boy to boy. Only a few watched him
with looks of sympathy, and of these scarcely one was hopeful.
Happily for Riddell, he could not see half of all this; and when in a
moment the doctor entered and prayers began, he saw none of it. For he
was one of a few at Willoughby to whom this early-morning service was
something more than a mere routine, and who felt, especially at times
like this, that in those beautiful familiar words was to be found the
best of all preparations for the day's duties.
Telson, as he stood down by the door, with his hands in his pockets,
beside his friend Parson, was void of all such reflections. What was
chiefly occupying his lordly mind at that moment was the discovery
suddenly made, that if Riddell was the new captain, he of course would
be captain's fag. And he was not quite sure whether to be pleased or
the reverse at his new dignity.
"You see," said he to his ally, in a whisper, "it's good larks marking
the fellows off every morning as they come into chapel, but then, don't
you twig that means I've got to be here the moment the bell begins
ringing? and that's no joke."
"No, unless you got leave to ring the bell, too," said Parson. "Then of
course they couldn't troop in till you were there. I'd come down and
help with the bell, you know."
"Wouldn't do, I fancy," said Telson. "Then, of course, it's swell
enough work to have to go about and tell the monitors what they've got
to do, but I'm not so sure if it's a good thing to mix altogether with
monitors--likely to spoil a chap, eh?"
"Rather," said Parson. "Look out, Porter's looking."
Whereupon this brief but edifying dialogue broke off for the present.
The monitors duly assembled in the doctor's library after chapel. They
all of them knew what was coming, and their general attitude did not
seem promising for the new _regime_. Each one possibly fancied he had
the interests of Willoughby at heart, and all but one or two felt
convinced that in putting Riddell into the position of captain the
doctor was committing a serious mistake. Every one could have given
good reasons for thinking so, and would have asserted that they had no
personal ill-feeling towards the new captain, but for the sake of the
school they were sure he was not the fit person. Whether each one felt
equally sure that he himself would have filled the post better is a
question it is not necessary to ask here.
The doctor was brief and to the point.
"I dare say you know why I have called you together," he said.
"Wyndham--whom every one here liked and respected, and who did a great
deal for the school"--("Hear, hear," from one or two voices)--"has left,
and we shall all miss him. The captain of the school has always for a
long time past been the head classical boy. It is not a law of the
Medes and Persians that it should be so, and if there seemed any special
reason why the rule should be broken through there is nothing to prevent
that being done."
At this point one or two breathed rather more freely and the attention
generally was intensified. After all, this seemed like the preface to a
more favourable announcement. But those who thought so found their
mistake when the doctor proceeded.
"In the present case there is no such reason, and Riddell here is fully
aware of the duties expected of him, and is prepared to perform them. I
look to you to support him, and am confident if all work heartily
together no one need be afraid for the continued success of Willoughby."
The doctor ended his speech amid the silence of his audience, which was
not broken as he turned and left the room. At the same moment, to the
relief of no one more than of Riddell, the bell sounded for breakfast
and the assembly forthwith broke up.