SCHOOL DAYS
"I say, keeper," said he, meekly, "let me go for two bob?"
"Not for twenty, neither," grunts his persecutor.
And so they sat on till long past second calling-over, and the sun came slanting in through the willow branches, and telling of locking-up near at hand.
"I'm coming down, keeper," said Tom, at last, with a sigh, fairly tired out. "Now what are you going to do?"
"Walk 'ee up to school, and give 'ee over to the Doctor; them's my orders," says Velveteens, knocking the ashes out of his fourth pipe, and standing up and shaking himself.
"Very good," said Tom; "but hands off, you know. I'll go with you quietly, so no collaring or that sort of thing."
Keeper looked at him a minute—"Werry good," said he at last; and so Tom descended, and wended his way drearily by the side of the keeper up to the School-house, where they arrived just at locking-up. As they passed the school-gates, the Tadpole and several others who were standing there caught the state of things, and rushed out, crying "Rescue!" but Tom shook his head, so they only followed to the Doctor's gate, and went back sorely puzzled.
How changed and stern the Doctor seemed from the last time that Tom was up there, as the keeper told the story, not omitting to state how Tom had called him blackguard names. "Indeed, sir," broke in the culprit, "it was only Velveteens." The Doctor only asked one question.
"You know the rule about the banks, Brown?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then wait for me to-morrow, after first lesson."
"I thought so," muttered Tom.
"And about the rod, sir?" went on the keeper. "Master's told we as we might have all the rods—"
"Oh, please, sir," broke in Tom, "the rod isn't mine." The Doctor looked puzzled, but the keeper, who was a good-hearted fellow, and melted at Tom's evident distress, gave up his claim.
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