Louis School Days | Page 4

Louis, you will now endeavor to give him the utmost satisfaction. With
such a father, and such a home, you have great privileges to account for;
and it is your place to show to your parents of what use their care and
instruction have been. In a large school you will find many things so
different from home, that, unless you are constantly on your guard, you
will often be likely to do things which may afterwards cause you hours
of pain. Remember that you are a responsible creature sent into the
world to act a part assigned to you by your Maker; and to Him must the
account of every talent be rendered, whether it be used, or buried in the
earth. As a Christian gentleman, see, Louis, that you strive to do your

part with all your might."
Dr. Wilkinson watched the attention and ready sympathy with his
admonition displayed by Louis; and in spite of the warning he had so
lately received, felt very kindly and favorably disposed towards his new
pupil.
"Come with me," he said, "I will introduce you to your school-fellows;
I have no doubt you will find your brother among them somewhere."
Louis followed Dr. Wilkinson through a door at the further end of the
hall, leading into a smaller hall which was tapestried with great-coats,
cloaks, and hats; and here an increasing murmur announced the fact of
his near approach to a party of noisy boys. As the doctor threw open the
folding-doors leading into the noble school-room, Louis felt almost
stupefied by the noise and novelty. A glass door leading into the
play-ground was wide open, and, as school was just over, there was a
great rush into the open air. Some were clambering in great haste over
desks and forms; and the shouting, singing, and whistling, together
with the occasional overthrow of a form, and the almost incessant
banging of desk-lids, from those who were putting away slates and
books, formed a scene perfectly new and bewildering to our hero.
The entrance of Dr. Wilkinson stilled the tumult in a slight degree, and
in half a minute after, the room was nearly cleared, and a passage was
left for the new-comers towards the upper end. Here was a knot of great
boys (or, rather, craving their pardon, I should say young men), all
engaged in eager and merry confabulation. So intent were they that
their master's approach was wholly unnoticed by them. One of these
young gentlemen was sitting tailor fashion on the top of a desk,
apparently holding forth for the edification of his more discreet
companions, to whom he seemed to afford considerable amusement, if
the peals of laughter with which his sallies were received might be
considered any proof. A little aloof from this party, but within hearing,
stood a youth of about seventeen, of whom nothing was remarkable,
but that his countenance wore a very sedate and determined expression.
He seemed struggling with a determination not to indulge a strong
propensity to laugh; but, though pretending to be occupied with a book,

his features at length gave way at some irresistible sally, and throwing
his volume at the orator, he exclaimed--
"How can you be such an ass, Frank!"
"There now," said Frank, perfectly unmoved, "the centre of gravity is
disturbed,--well, as I was saying,--Here's the doctor!" and the young
gentleman, who was no other than Frank Digby, brother of Louis'
cousin Vernon, dismounted from his rostrum in the same instant that
his auditors turned round, thereby acknowledging the presence of their
master.
"I have brought you a new school-fellow, gentlemen," said the doctor;
"where is Mortimer?"
"Here, sir," cried Reginald, popping up from behind a desk, where he
had been pinned down by a short thick-set boy, who rose as if by magic
with him.
"Here is your brother."
Louis and Reginald scrambled over all obstacles, and stood before the
doctor, in two or three seconds.
In spite of Louis' valiant protestations the preceding mid-summer at
Heronhurst, he did not dare, in the presence of only a quarter of the
hundred and twenty eyes, to embrace his brother, but contented himself
with a most energetic squeeze, and a look that said volumes; and,
indeed, it must be confessed, that Reginald was not an inviting figure
for an embrace; for, independently of a rough head, and dust-bedecked
garments, his malicious adversary had decorated his face with
multitudinous ink-spots, a spectacle which greatly provoked the mirth
of his laughter-loving school-fellows.
Dr. Wilkinson made some remark on the singularity of his pupil's
appearance, and then, commending Louis to the kind offices of the
assembled party, left the room.

He had scarcely closed the door behind him, when several loiterers
from the lower part of the room came up; and Reginald and