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 O'Gallagher. 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, "Where's your manners, child?
why don't 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 can't play tricks there."
"Won't I?" cried I, "but I will; and not only there but here. I'll be
even with you all; yes, I'll be even with you, granny, if I die for it."
"Why, you audacious wretch, I've great a mind to--"
"I dare say you have, but recollect I can bite; you'd 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."
"I'm not ungrateful," replied I, throwing my arms round Milly's neck,
and kissing her with fervour; "I can love those who love me."
"Then you don't love me?" said my mother, reproachfully.
"I did yesterday, but I don't now; but it's time for me to go, aunt; is
my basket ready? I don't want father to take me to school, I can do
without him, and when I don't choose to go any more, I won't; 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 O'Gallagher's 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.
I arrived in good time, and took my seat near my master. I preferred
doing this, as I had had a long conversation with Captain Bridgeman who
told me that although Mr O'Gallagher had put the ruler down as
punishment Number 1, the ferrule Number 2, and the birch as Number 3,
and of course they were considered to be worse as the number rose, that
he considered it to be the very contrary, as he had had them all well
applied when he was at school; he ordered me, therefore, never to hold
out my hand to the ferrule, by which refusal I should, of course, be
flogged; but he assured me that the birch, especially when it is given
often, was a mere nothing. Now I considered that the surest way to
avoid the ruler was to sit close to my master, who could then have no
pretence for sending it at my head; the fact was I had determined to
save the more noble portions of my body, and leave Mr O'Gallagher to do
what he pleased with the other: to do him justice, he lost no time.
"Come here, Mr Keene," said he, "where's your manners? why don't you
say good morning to your preceptor? Can you read at all?"
"No, sir."
"D'ye know your letters?"
"Some of them--I think I do, sir."
"Some of them--I suppose about two out of six-and-twenty. It's
particular attention that's been paid to your education, I perceive;
you've nothing to unlearn anyhow, that's something. Now, sir, do you
think that a classical scholar and a gentleman born, like me, is to
demane myself by hearing you puzzle at the alphabet? You're quite
mistaken, Mr Keene, you must gain your first elements second-hand; so
where's Thimothy Ruddel? You, Timothy Ruddel, you'll just teach this
young Master Keene his whole alphabet, and take care, at the same time,
that you know your own lessons, or it will end in a blow-up; and you,
Master Keene, if you have not larnt your whole alphabet perfect by
dinner time, why you'll have a small taste of Number 2, just as a hint
to what's coming next. Go along, you little ignorant blackguard; and
you, Timothy Ruddel, look out for a taste of Number 3, if you don't larn
him and yourself all at once, and at the same time."
I was very well pleased with this arrangement; I had resolved to learn,
and I was doubly stimulated to learn now, to save poor Timothy Ruddel
from an unjust punishment.
In the three hours I was quite perfect, and Timothy Ruddel, who was
called up before me, was also able to say his lesson without a blunder
very much to the disappointment of Mr O'Gallagher, who observed, "So
you've slipped through my fingers, have you, this time, Master Timothy?
Never mind, I'll have you yet; and, moreover, there's Master Keene to go
through the fiery furnace." Just before dinner time I was called up;
with my memory of many of the letters, and the assistance I had received
from Timothy Ruddel, I felt very confident.
"What letter's that, sir?" said Mr O'Gallagher.
"A B C D E."
"You little blackguard, I'll dodge you; you think to escape, you?"
"V, X, P, O."
Much to Mr O'Gallagher's surprise I said them all without one mistake.
Instead of commendation I received abuse. "By all the powers,"
exclaimed my pedagogue, "but everything seems to go wrong to-day; my
hand has been completely idle; this will never do; didn't you tell me,
Mr Keene, that you didn't know your letters?"
"I said I knew some of them, sir."
"If my memory is correct, Mr Keene, you told me that you knew two out
of twenty-six."
"No, sir, you said that."
"That's just as much as to tell me, your preceptor, a classical scholar,
and a Milesian gentleman to boot, that I lie, for which I intend to have
satisfaction, Mr Keene, I assure you. You're guilty in two counts, as
they say at the Old Bailey, where you'll be called up to some of these
days, as sure as you stand there; one count is in telling me a lie, in
saying you did not know your alphabet, when it's quite clear that you
did; and, secondly, in giving me the lie, by stating that I said what
you said. You thought to escape me, but you're mistaken, Mr Keene; so
now, if you please, we will just have a taste of Number 2. Hould out
your hand, Mr Keene: d'ye hear me sir? hould out your hand."
But this I positively refused to do. "You won't, won't you? Well,
then, we must increase the punishment for our contempt of court, and at
once commence with Number 3, which we intended to reserve till
to-morrow. Come along, Phil Mooney, there's fresh mate for you to
carry, and come out Number 3, here's fresh ground for you to travel
over."
Phil Mooney and the birch soon made their appearance: I was hoisted by
the one and scourged by the other.
The first taste of the birch is anything but agreeable; I could only
compare it to the dropping of molten lead. I tried all I could to
prevent crying out, but it was impossible, and at last I roared like a
mad bull; and I was as mad as a bull, and as dangerous. Could I have
picked up any weapon at the moment that I was dropped from the shoulders
of Phil Mooney, it would have gone hard with Mr O'Gallagher. My rage
was greater than my agony. I stood when I had been landed, my chest
heaving, my teeth set fast, and my apparel still in disorder. The
school was dismissed, and I was left alone with the savage pedagogue,
who immediately took up my basket, and began to rummage the contents.
"Make yourself decent, Mr Keene, and don't be shocking my modesty, and
taking away my appetite. Did you mention the mustard, as I desired you?
Upon my faith, but you're a nice boy and do justice to the
representations of your grandmother, and when you see her you may tell
her that I did not forget the promise she exacted from me. You forgot
all about the mustard, you little blackguard. If Phil Mooney was here I
would give you another taste to freshen your memory for to-morrow;
however, to-morrow will do as well, if the mistake's not corrected.
Here, take your victuals, and good appetite to you, you little monster
of iniquity."
Mr O'Gallagher tossed me some bread but this time reserved the cheese
for his own eating. I had adjusted my dress, and I therefore left the
school-room. I could not sit down without pain, so I leant against a
post: the bread remained in my hand untouched; had it been the greatest
delicacy in the world I could not have tasted a morsel; I was giddy from
excess of feeling, my thoughts were rapidly chasing each other when I
heard a voice close to me; I looked round, it was Walter Puddock, who
had been flogged the day before.
"Never mind, Keene," said he, kindly; "it hurts at first, but the more
you get it the less you care for it; I don't mind it a bit now; I cries,
because he goes on flogging till you do, and it's no use having more
than you can help."
"I didn't deserve it," replied I.
"That's not necessary; you'll get it, as we all do, whether you deserve
it or not."
"Well, I'll try to deserve it in future," replied I, clenching my fist;
"I'll be even with him."
"Why, what can you do?"
"Wait a little, and you'll see," said I, walking away, for an idea had
come into my head which I wished to follow up.
Soon afterwards the bell rang, and we returned to the schoolroom. I was
put under the tuition of another boy, and took care to learn my lesson.
Whether it was that he was tired with the exercise, for he flogged and
ferruled a dozen during that afternoon, or that he thought that my
morning dose had been sufficient, I received no more punishment on that
day.