The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? 7 over the place, and introduce you to some of your schoolfellows who have already arrived.” Both boys then bowed, and were about to leave when the doctor again spoke. “ No doubt Fitzgerald will also take you through the town; while so doing I shall feel obliged if he will point out to you certain streets in which I do not allow my pupils to be seen. Any in- fringement of the rules in that respect will be very severely punished.” ‘¢'Well, what do you think of him ?” asked Fitzgerald, when they had left the study. “TI fancy that if he would grow a_ moustache, and wear spurs, he would make a first-rate officer of dragoons.” 6c Why ?” ‘“¢ Because he is so awfully straight- forward and determined. He would no more allow the enemy to infringe upon his rules than ourselves. Show me round, Fitz.” Fitzgerald conducted him over the central building and the right wing. ‘¢ Let us have a look over the other side,” said Frank, when he had seen his own sleeping apartment, the classrooms, and various other objects of interest. “You had better wait a day or two till all our fellows are here.” “For what reason?” “That is Nightingale Grove.” “What a queer name! Why is it galled so ?” | ‘“‘ That’s where thesinging-birds stay.” ‘“ Whatsinging-birds? Explain your- self.” ) “ The singing-birds are the choristers, There are always forty boys from the town boarded and educated free in that part of the building; twenty-four of them are choristers in the cathedral, and the others are training to take the vacancies that occur when some of the elder ones retire.” “ But is thatanyreason why we should not go there ?” “Yes. They are too many for us now. Our fellows hate the nightingales, and we very often have rows with them, Here comes a nightingale.” “¢ Where ?” “Coming from the cathedral door. That fellow with the snuff-coloured jacket, and the big white frill round his neck, making him look as if he carried his head in a dish.” Egerton saw a boyapproaching whose costume was as Fitzgerald had described it, with the addition of a mortar-board cap. As he came up, Egerton began to whistle a bad imitation of the notes of the nightingale. He of the snuff-coloured jacket flushed up, clenched his fist, and said, “ Wait till I get a few of our fellows together, you'll learn to whistle another tune.” “Can’t you teach me ?” responded Fitzgerald, you must be very bad musi- cians in your wing if it takes a dozen to teach a pupil.” The nightingale, however, saw that his natural enemies were too strong for him, so he walked on. ‘‘Let us take a stroll in the town,” suggested Fitzgerald. “Tll show you about the place. “With all my heart.” They had not walked twenty yards from the school, as it was generally called, when they became aware of a dashing-looking youth, on a more than half-bred horse, cantering up. The cavalier reined in his steed ag soon as he saw our two friends, exclaim- ing— “Ah, Fitzgerald; glad to see you, old boy. Who’s your friend ?” “One whom you will be pleased to know; a gentleman after your own heart. Spouts Greek like Porson, and mills like Tom Sayers. I have very great pleasure in being the means of introducing the Earl of Pembridge to my friend Francis Egerton, Tilsiecee Mount Grange, Suffolk,and Hill Strgét, Berkeley Square; and now, perhaps, your lordship will condescend to extend a fin to a poor commoner.” “With all the pleasure in life, Fitz; but where are you going?” asked the young earl, Go NOC EO mn