United States or Switzerland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Where's that there rush basket, missus?" "Oh, we don't want the fish," said Mercer, with a shiver. "Come along, Burr." He hurried out of the cottage, and into a lane. "Keep listening," he said. "If you hear any one, we'll go across the fields." "There's some one coming now," I said. "Oh dear! it's old Rebble. He hasn't seen us. This way."
When I first went down, Mr Rebble was the only assistant the doctor had; but I soon learned that the French master came twice a week from Rye, that the other usher had left to go into partnership with a friend in a school at Lewes, and that another was coming in a few days.
But that was only a flying thought, succeeded by a mental pang that was most keen, as the rabbit was laid on the floor, and, acting on the Doctor's instructions, Mr Rebble went down on one knee, held the stuffed animal with one hand, and began to draw out the tow with the other.
I was just thinking this when there were steps in the passage, and soon after the key was rattled in the lock, Mr Rebble appeared, and with him one of the maids, with a tray on which was a mug and a plate of bread and butter. He did not look at me, only admitted the maid to set down the tray, saw her out, and I was locked in again.
I took a piece of bread and butter, and he another, eating away as he poured out two mugfuls of what proved to be delicious coffee. "Who says we haven't got any friends?" cried Mercer, with his mouth full. "What lots of butter. 'Tis good. I say, wonder what old Rebble would say if he knew! Have an egg." "No spoons." "Bet a penny they're hard ones."
Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip both coughed, the Doctor sighed, glanced at me, and then went on. "Burr major, you have already told me that you had a presentation silver watch from your father." I had been hoping that I was in error, and that we were called in for reproof about some trivial matter, but now my spirits sank. "Yes, sir."
He marched off in one direction, while our guard took us in the other, talking at us all the time. "Disgraceful!" Mr Rebble said. "The Doctor will be nearly heart-broken about such a stigma upon his establishment. I don't know what he'll say." "They will be expelled, I presume," said Mr Hasnip softly. "It is very sad to see such wickedness in those so young."
Oh, I see!" said the Doctor. "Burr major, you can sit down. You will come to my room directly after dinner, and er er what names did you say Mr Rebble?" "Oh dear! It's coming, Frank," whispered Mercer. "Exactly!" said the Doctor, after a conference in a low tone with Mr Rebble. "I see. Er rum! Dicksee, Hodson." "Please, sir, I wasn't fighting," cried Hodson excitedly.
I was trying to arrange my thoughts, so as to meet this painful case calmly. Pray sit down, Mr Rebble Mr Hasnip." The two ushers took chairs, and we boys alone remained standing, while the Doctor cleared his throat, and spoke in a way which drew me toward him as I had never felt drawn before, since, boy-like, I had been rather too apt to look upon my instructor as one of the enemies of my life.
Mr Rebble seemed to be always lying in wait to puzzle us with questions, and Mr Hasnip appeared to think that we never had enough to learn; while the German and French masters, who came over twice a week from Hastings, both seemed to have been born with the idea that there was nothing of the slightest consequence in the way of our studies but the tongues they taught.
Word Of The Day