Quicksilver | Page 8

indeed, sir, I'm sorry to say," said the schoolmaster.
"Yes, sir; regular young imp; so full of mischief that he corrupts the other boys. Can't say a word in his favour; and, besides, he's too young."
"How old?"
"About eleven, sir."
"Humph! Trot him out."
"Obed Coleby," said the master in a severe voice.
"Coleby, eh?"
"Yes, sir. Son of a miserable tramp who died some years ago in the House. No name with him, so we called him after the town."
"Humph!" said the doctor, as the little fellow came, full of eagerness and excitement, after kicking at Pillett, who put out a leg to hinder his advance.
The doctor frowned, and gazed sternly at the boy, taking in carefully his handsome, animated face, large blue eyes, curly yellow hair, and open forehead: not that his hair had much opportunity for curling--the workhouse barber stopped that.
The boy's face was as white as those of his companions, but it did not seem depressed and inanimate, for, though it was thin and white, his mouth was rosy and well-curved, and the slightly parted lips showed his pearly white teeth.
"Humph!" said the doctor, as the bright eyes gazed boldly into his.
"Where's your bow, sir?" said the master sternly.
"Oh! I forgot," said the boy quickly; and he made up for his lapse by bowing first with one and then the other hand.
"A sad young pickle," said the master. "Most hopeless case, sir. Constantly being punished."
"Humph! You young rascal!" said the doctor sternly. "How dare you be a naughty boy!"
The little fellow wrinkled his white forehead, and glanced at the schoolmaster, and then at Mr Hippetts, before looking back at the doctor.
"I d'know," he said, in a puzzled way.
"You don't know, sir!"
"No. I'm allus cotching it."
"Say sir, boy," cried the master.
"Allus cotching of it, sir, and it don't do me no good."
"Really, Dr Grayson--"
"Wait a bit, Mr Hippetts," said the doctor more graciously. "Let me question the boy."
"Certainly, sir. But he has a very bad record."
"Humph! Tells the truth, though," said the doctor. "Here, sir, what's your name?"
"Obed Coleby."
"Sir!" cried the master.
"Obed Coleby, sir," said the boy quickly, correcting himself.
"What a name!" ejaculated the doctor.
"Yes, ain't it? I hates it, sir."
"Oh! you do?"
"Yes; the boys all make fun of it, and call me Bed, and Go-to-bed, and Old Bedstead, and when they don't do that, they always call me Old Coal bag or Coaly."
"That will do, sir. Don't chatter so," said Mr Sibery reprovingly.
"Please, sir, he asked me," said the boy in protest; and there was a frank, bluff manner in his speech which took with the doctor.
"Humph!" he said. "Would you like to leave this place, and come and live with me!"
The boy puckered up his face, took a step forward, and the master made a movement as if to send him back; but the doctor laid his hand upon his arm, while the boy gazed into his eyes for some moments with wonderfully searching intentness.
"Well?" said the doctor. "Will you?"
The boy's face smoothed; a bright light danced in his eyes; and, as if full of confidence in his own judgment, he said eagerly--
"Yes; come along;" and he held out his hand.
"And leave all your schoolfellows!" said the doctor.
The boy's bright face clouded directly, and he turned to gaze back at the crowd of closely cropped heads.
"He'll be glad enough to go," said the schoolmaster.
"Yes," said Mr Hippetts; "a most ungrateful boy."
The little fellow--stunted of his age--swung sharply round; and they saw that his eyes were brimming over as he looked reproachfully from one to the other.
"I didn't want to be a bad un, sir," he said. "I did try, and--and-- and--I'll stop here, please, and--"
He could say no more, for his face was working, and, at last, in shame and agony of spirit, he covered his face with his hands, and let himself drop in a heap on the stone floor, sobbing hysterically.
"Coleby! Stand up, sir!" cried the master sternly.
"Let him be, Mr Hippetts, if you please," said the doctor, with dignity; and he drew in a long breath, and remained for some moments silent, while the whole school stared with wondering eyes, and the two masters exchanged glances.
"Strange boy," said Mr Hippetts.
Then the doctor bent down slowly, and laid his hand upon the lad's shoulder.
The little fellow started up, flinching as if from a blow, but as soon as he saw who had touched him, he rose to his knees, and caught quickly at the doctor's extended hand, while the look in the visitor's eyes had so strange an influence upon him that he continued to gaze wonderingly in the stern but benevolent face.
"I think you'll come with me?" said the doctor.
"Yes, I'd come. But may I?"
"Yes; I think he may, Mr Hippetts?" said the doctor.
"Yes, sir; of course, sir, if you wish it," said the master, with rather an