That Scholarship Boy

k of th

school; Taylor and Curtis are like raging bulls over th

this story opened. Several weeks, however, had elapsed since that time, and Florence, having her own cares

ng which she had been muttering over a French verb, with her hand

e told you more than once or twice about that new boy at

that you had sent him to Coventry and settled him, and so of course I thought it was all o

led, what are you to do? I wan

. 'Tell us all about it, Len,

hat Torrington's would soon go to the dogs if we let that sort of cattle stay there, and so we said he must go. Well, we thought the Coventry game had done the trick for us just at first, for you never saw such an awful ass as he made of himself one morning at all the classes. "Howar

like plucky boys,' s

pared him a bit, as he did not take the excuse that had been offered him, and he blundered and floundered worse

!' said Flore

n, and yet he seemed to have lost his wits. "That's done the trick," Taylor whispered to me, when Skea

e. 'But I thought you said

put him through the usual mill. Not a word did he say about French and Latin, and so Taylor thought he would have him for a fag, as he was a junior; but we soon found out that we should have to swat over our lessons, and

essons better than the re

his mother couldn't be a lady, and his brother is only a common carpenter, they say; and so for a fellow like

expression was not very elegant or ladylike; but she had learned it from her brother, and knew

wrath. 'What do girls know about boys'

en, but a set of mean cads.' She was careful not to include Leonard in this scathing de

to know everything; but I did tell Taylor to-day that I thought

you there, and see how you liked it.

about. The fellows say it is all the pater's doing

daddy!' she said. 'He knew what Torr

to tell you what the fellows are saying; and now if I

en't we always been fair and square to each other?' expostu

don't know anything, but just tell the pater to ask me about it. I don't want you to go and give your opinion about the school and the fellows, though Curtis and one or tw

you tell him,' said Florence, her e

o know that it would be no good going to him with the fellows' complaint

be the proper way, and I should like to se

u to laugh,' he said. 'You don't know what it is to be mixed

hey want y

ne of the fellows told me as I came home that he overheard Taylor and Curtis say that, if it wasn'

t care if

sant, I can tell you, to have this fellow turn his back, and begin to whistle if you attempt to speak to him. Why, they make it so strict at Torrington's that i

ll you what you could do if they send you to Coventry-chum

at games,' he said. 'I don't think he ever saw a fives court un

yself then,' s

d walk out of the court as soon as you appeared. Yo

ry brave, she feared. Still, big lads like Taylor and Curtis could make

lo,' said the boy, after another pause. 'I told the fe

ated his sister, 'wh

u see the others have set their faces against it, and they say I must either make the pater remove hi

I'll never own you for a brother again!' His sister spoke calmly, but with the utmost scorn and contempt in her tone

or a minute or two, and then said slowly, '

urse I don't,' she said, a

be ashamed to cry for a fellow I'

she exclaimed, 'It is not for this strange boy I am crying, but for you-that you are as much a cad as Taylor

rted; and he broke into a whistle, but it soon ended in

e come in here to lessons. I'll give her a taste of Coventry, and see how she likes it.' And Leonard set himself to master a Latin verb. But before he had conned it three minutes his thoughts had wandered to h

next morning he met half a

a breath. 'You know, of course, Taylor expects you to b

, for they shall never be disappointe

That fellow's got to go. We don't mean to have any board school boys here. Torrington's was founded for gentlemen, and we don't mean

Morrison sneeringly, 'How long have you been

comes.' And, as if in verification of his words, Ta

the school, for he had not quite made up his mind yet what he should tell Taylor, by w

rest attempted to join him, but waited at the corner o

ed off,' he said, as s

ed to get out of y

eting out things a bit, and I know now that it was Dr. Morrison that persuaded the County Council to send that fellow

going to do i

ere isn't much spunk about him, and he'll s

o-how will you d

as we did the other,

e worried with two there at once.

ough for little Morrison. He'll give in

er chance it he hasn't

e's the last bell, and we shall all get an imposition instead of a p

bell two minutes, and that's the regulation time.' They propped their backs against the wall and rested after their run, for the gate would not be opened ag

on,' said Taylor. 'I sha'n't be able to nail him in the dinner hour

ship boy to Torrington's!' said another lad, as t

the lads filed in. Nearly a dozen were late from the whole school; and each as he passed was asked if he had brought a note to

n did not improve Taylor's temper, and when he met Leonard

has your father sent to the school for his abomi

f this question, and he answered very quietly, 'My father w

the school don't mean to wait any longer, and if that fellow isn't soon removed, you shall

up for yourself and your father, if he comes any more of that bullying. What right has he to say who shall come to Torrington's

ell as I do,' he said. 'He isn't a bad sort

ed not think we are all going to cackle to him like a set of hens. I mean to take that fellow out of Coventry after this.

ainst the County Council for sending one of their scholarship boys to Torrington's. So Leonard felt afraid to join this unpopular scholar, and