Frank Fairlegh | Page 5

characterised
by an indefinite expression, long ringlets of an almost impossible shade
of whity-brown, and a complexion and general appearance only to be
described by the term "washed out".
"Yes, all the way, ma'am."
"Did you not dislike it very much? it creases one's gown so, unless it is
a merino or mousseline-de-laine; but one can't always wear them, you
know."
Not being in the least prepared with a suitable answer, I merely made
what I intended to be an affirmative ahem, in doing which a crumb of
bread chose to go the wrong way, producing a violent fit of coughing,
in the agonies of which I seized and drank off Dr. Mildman's tumbler of
ale, mistaking it for my own small beer. The effect of this, my
crowning gaucherie, was to call forth a languid smile on the
countenance of the senior pupil, a tall young man, with dark hair, and a
rather forbidding expression of face, which struggled only too
successfully with an attempt to look exceedingly amiable; which smile
was repeated with variations by all the others.
"I'm afraid you do not distinctly perceive the difference between those
important pronouns, meum and tuum, Fairlegh? Thomas, a clean glass!"
said Dr. Mildman, with a forced attempt at drollery; but Thomas had
evaporated suddenly, leaving no clue to his whereabouts, unless sundry
faint sounds of suppressed laughter outside the door, indicating, as I
fancied, his extreme appreciation of my unfortunate mistake, proceeded
from him.
It is, I believe, a generally received axiom that all mortal affairs must
sooner or later come to an end; at all events, the dinner I have been
describing did not form an exception to the rule. In due time Mrs.
Mildman disappeared, after which Dr. Mildman addressed a remark or
two about Greek tragedy to the tall pupil, which led to a
~8~~dissertation on the merits of a gentleman named Prometheus, who,
it seemed, was bound in some peculiar way, but whether this referred to
his apprenticeship to any trade, or to the cover of the book containing

his history, did not appear. This conversation lasted about ten minutes,
at the expiration of which the senior pupil "grinned horribly a ghastly
smile" at the others, who instantly rose, and conveyed themselves out
of the room with such rapidity that I, being quite unprepared for such a
proceeding, sat for a moment in silent amazement, and then, becoming
suddenly alive to a sense of my situation, rushed frantically after them.
My speed was checked somewhat abruptly by a door at the end of the
passage being violently slammed in my face, for which polite attention
I was indebted to the philanthropy of the hindmost pupil, who thereby
imposed upon me the agreeable task of feeling in the dark for a
door-handle in an unknown locality. After fumbling for some time, in a
state of the greatest bewilderment I at length opened the door, and
beheld the interior of the "pupils' room," which, for the benefit of such
of my readers as may never have seen the like, I will now endeavour
shortly to describe.
The parlour devoted to the pupils' use was of a good size, nearly square,
and, like the cabin of a certain "ould Irish gentleman," appeared to be
fitted up with "nothing at all for show". In three of the corners stood
small tables covered with books and writing materials for the use of Dr.
Mildman and the two senior pupils; in the fourth was a book-case. The
centre of the room was occupied by a large square table, the common
property of the other pupils; while a carpet, "a little the worse for
wear," and sundry veteran chairs, rather crazy from the treatment to
which many generations of pupils had subjected them (a chair being the
favourite projectile in the event of a shindy), completed the catalogue.
Mr. Richard Cumberland, the senior pupil, was lounging in an easy
attitude on one side of the fireplace; on the other stood, bolt upright, a
lad rather older than myself, with a long unmeaning face, and a set of
arms and legs which appeared not to belong to one another. This
worthy, as I soon learned, responded to the name of Nathaniel Mullins,
and usually served as the butt of the party in the absence of newer or
worthier game. Exactly in front of the fire, with his coat-tails under his
arms, and his legs extended like a pair of compasses, was stationed Mr.
George Lawless, who, having been expelled from one of the upper
forms at Eton for some heroic exploit which the head master could not
be persuaded to ~9~~view in its proper light, was sent to vegetate for a

year or two at Dr. Mildman's ere he proceeded to one of the universities.