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"Oh, I don't think much of going there" said Wildney, carelessly; "we go every-week almost." "We! who?" "Oh, Brigson and a lot of us. We have a club there which we call the 'Anti-muffs, and that's our smoking-room." "And is that horrid beast the landlord?" "Yes; he was an old school-servant, and there's no harm in him that I know of."
But this did not content him; his blood was up, and he determined to attack the evil at its source. He strode through his discomfited enemies straight into Brigson's room, struck a match, and said, "Brigson, get out of bed this instant." "Hullo!" grunted Brigson, pretending to be only just awake. "None of that, you blackguard! Will you take a thrashing?"
He simply kept aloof, holding his own way, and retiring into his own tastes and pursuits, and the society of one or two congenial spirits in the school, so as in no way to come in contact with the spreading corruption. Montagu, now Owen's chief friend, was also in the sixth, and fearlessly expressed at once his contempt for Brigson, and his dread of the evil he was effecting.
Instantly the four candles went out, and there was a hurried movement towards the door, and a murmur of voices. "Now then," said Brigson, in a loud whisper, "what a funky set you are! Here goes?" The master, surprised at the sudden gloom and confusion, had just looked up, unable to conjecture what was the matter. Brigson's crust caught him a sharp rap on the forehead as he moved.
In the evening Brigson went up to Eric and hissed in his ear, "You cut me, curse you; but, never fear, I'll be revenged on you yet." "Do your worst," answered Eric, contemptuously, "and never speak to me again." "Our echoes roll from soul to soul, And live for ever and for ever." Owen and Montagu were walking by Silverburn, and talking over the affairs of the school.
"Hear! hear!" said half a dozen; and Eric, rather against his will, found himself ensconced at the end of the table, with Brigson and Bull on either hand. There was immense uproar during the dinner, every one eating as fast, and talking as loud, as he could. The birds soon vanished, and were succeeded by long rolly-polly puddings, which the boys called Goliahs; and they, too, rapidly disappeared.
But Montagu shook him off, and at once recovered himself. "Wretched boys! let me see what you have been doing to-night. Oh, as usual," he said, glancing at the complete disorder which they had been effecting. "Ha! but what is this? So Brigson has introduced another vile secret among you.
Rose knew all the harm which Brigson had been doing, though he had discovered, almost from the first, what sort of character he had. So Brigson stood out in the room, and as they looked at him, many a boy cursed him in their hearts for evil taught them, such as a lifetime's struggle could not unteach.
It purported to be a bill for various items of drink, all of which Eric knew to have been paid for, and among other things, a charge of £6 for the dinner at the "Jolly Herring." "Why, you villain, these have all been paid. What! six pounds for the dinner! Why Brigson collected the subscriptions to pay for it before it took place." "That's now't to me, sir.
He dared not come across him openly, since Montagu was so high in the school; and besides, though much the bigger of the two, Brigson was decidedly afraid of him. But he chose sly methods of perpetual annoyance.
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