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But he had now to look about him for employment in the vacation; and for a while, in spite of the successes of the past session, he was unable to find it, and was glad to take some poorly paid elementary teaching. But at length, by the good offices of one of the masters in the Edinburgh Academy, backed by the strong recommendation of Professor Pillans, he became tutor in the family of Mr.
Cairns," and was included in his appeal to "any gentleman in the bench" to elucidate a difficult passage in the lesson of the day. He attended two classes this winter that of "Humanity" or Latin taught by Professor Pillans, and that of Greek under the care of Professor George Dunbar. Pillans had been a master at Eton, and at a later period Rector of the Edinburgh High School.
The gentleman introduced as Mr Shanklin stared curiously at Reginald for a few seconds, and then shook hands. Had the boy known as much of that gentleman as the reader does, he would probably have displayed considerably more interest in his new acquaintance than he did. As it was, he would have been glad of an excuse to avoid shaking hands with either him or his empty-headed companion, Mr Pillans.
And he proceeded to stroll across the room to look at a picture. Blandford and Pillans exchanged glances. Wrath was in the face of the one, bewilderment in the face of the other. "Who's your friend?" whispered the latter. "An old schoolfellow who " "Nice lot of fellows you seem to have been brought up with, upon my word," said Mr Pillans. "I suppose he'll be up for Christmas," pursued Horace.
High old times you're having up here among you! Who's the kid?" "Stop him!" gasped Pillans, picking himself up; "don't let him go! hold him fast!" The wine-merchant obligingly took possession of Horace by the collar, and the company returned in solemn procession to the room. "Now, then," said Horace's captor, "what's the row? Let's hear all about it.
"Excuse me, Cruden," began Blandford, in a severe tone; "my friend and I are just expecting company." "Are you? Well, I couldn't have stayed if you'd asked me. Are any of the old school lot coming?" "The fact is, we can do without you, young fellow," said Mr Pillans. Horace stared.
The wine-merchant said he would go double that on Pillans, whereupon the sporting man offered a five-pound note against a half-sovereign on his man, and called out to have the room cleared and a sponge brought in. How far his scientific enthusiasm would have been rewarded it is hard to say, for Blandford at this juncture most inconsiderately interposed.
When Reg and Harker are up this Christmas, we must all get a day together. Good-night." And he made for the door, brushing up against the outraged Mr Pillans on his way. "Take that for an impudent young beggar!" said the latter as he passed, suiting the action to the word with a smart cuff directed at the visitor's head. Horace, however, was quick enough to ward it off.
"Look here," said the unwholesome Pillans, looking very warm, "what do you say that for? Do you want to cheek me?" "Don't be a fool, Pillans. It doesn't matter to you where he lives," said Blandford. "Thank goodness it don't or whether he pays his rent either."
I know Cruden of old." "You won't see much more of him now," sneered Pillans, "now he owes you for his dinner." "It strikes me, Bland was never safer of a six-and-six in his life than he is of the one he lent to-night," said Mr Shanklin. "Unless I'm mistaken, the fellow would walk across England on his bare feet to pay it back."
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