Louis School Days | Page 5

his brother
were immediately assailed with a number of questions, aimed with
such rapidity as to be unanswerable.
"When did you come?" "Who's that, Mortimer?" "Is that your brother?"
"What's his name?" "Shall you be in our class?" "Why didn't you stay
longer in Bristol?--If I had been you I would!"
Louis was amused though puzzled, and turned first one way, and then
another, in his futile attempts to see and reply to his interrogators.
"Make way!" at last exclaimed Frank Digby; "you are quite
embarrassing to her ladyship. Will the lady Louisa take my arm? Allow
me, madam, to interpose my powerful authority." And he offered his
arm to Louis with a smirk and low bow, which set all the spectators off
laughing; for Frank was one of those privileged persons, who, having
attained a celebrity for being very funny, can excite a laugh with very
little trouble.
"Don't, Frank!" said Reginald.
"Don't! really, Mr. Mortimer, if you have no respect for your sister's
feelings, it is time that I interposed. Here you allow this herd of I don't
know what to call them, to incommode her with their senseless clamor.
I protest, she is nearly fainting; she has been gasping for breath the last
five minutes. Be off, ye fussy, curious, prying, peeping, pressing-round
fellows; or, I promise you, you shall be visited with his majesty's
heaviest displeasure."
"How do you do, lady Louisa? I hope your ladyship's in good health!"
"Don't press on her!" was now echoed mischievously in various tones
around Louis, whose color was considerably heightened by this
unexpected attack.
"Now do allow me," persisted Frank, dragging Louis' hand in his arm,
in spite of all the victim's efforts to prevent it, and leading him forcibly
through the throng, which made way on every side, to Edward

Hamilton, the grave youth before mentioned:--"His majesty is anxious
to make the acquaintance of his fair subject. Permit me to present to
your majesty the lovely, gentle, blushing lady Louisa Mortimer, lately
arrived in your majesty's kingdom; your majesty will perceive that she
bears loyalty in her--hey! what! excited!--hysterics!"
The last exclamations were elicited by a violent effort of Louis to
extricate himself.
"Frank, leave him alone!"
"What is the will of royalty?" said Frank, struggling with his refractory
cousin.
"That you leave Louis Mortimer alone," said Hamilton. "You will like
us better presently, Louis," added he, shaking hands with him: "my
subjects appear to consider themselves privileged to be rude to a
new-comer; but my royal example will have its weight in due time."
"Your majesty's faithful trumpeter, grand vizier, and factotum is alive
and hearty," said Frank.
"But as he had a selfish fit upon him just now," returned Hamilton, "we
were under the necessity of doing our own business."
"I crave your majesty's pardon," said Frank, stroking his sovereign
tenderly on the shoulder; for which affectionate demonstration he was
rewarded by a violent push that laid him prostrate.
"I am a martyr to my own benevolence," said Frank, getting up and
approaching Louis, "still I am unchanged in devotion to your ladyship.
Tell me what I can do,"--and whichever way Louis turned, Frank with
his smirking face presented himself;--"Will you not give your poor
slave one command?"
"Only that you will stand out of my sunshine," said Louis
good-temperedly.

"Very good," exclaimed Hamilton.
"Out of your sunshine! What, behind you? that is cruel, but most
obsequiously I obey."
Louis underwent the ordeal of a new scholar's introduction with
unruffled temper, though his cousin took care there should be little
cessation until afternoon school, when Louis was liberated from his
tormentors to his great satisfaction--Frank's business carrying him to a
part of the school-room away from that where Louis was desired to
await further orders. In the course of the afternoon, he was summoned
to the presence of Dr. Wilkinson, who was holding a magisterial levee
in one of two class-rooms or studies adjoining the school-room. The
doctor appeared in one of his sternest humors. Besides the fourteen
members of the first class, whose names Louis knew already, there was
in this room a boy about Louis' age, who seemed in some little
trepidation. Doctor Wilkinson closed the book he held, and laying it
down, dismissed his pupils; then turning to the frightened-looking boy,
he took a new book off the table, saying, "Do you know this,
Harrison?"
"Yes, sir," faintly replied the boy.
"Where did you get it?"
"I bought it."
"To assist you in winning prizes from your more honorable
class-fellows, I suppose," said the doctor, with the most marked
contempt. "Since you find Kenrick too difficult for you, you may go
into the third class, where there may be, perhaps, something better
suited to your capacity; and beware a second offence: you may go, sir."