The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

138 THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL Win ? had to present a list of any who happened to be absent, | The doctor scowled as hesaw Crawley’s name; but at that moment the door- bell rang, and the servant who answered meet | eat easa ye it, returning, announced “ Master Crawley.” “Bring him in,” said Dr. Whackley; | and in another minute the hapless urchin stood before all the school. - me RES De ew CHAPTER XXXV, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE appearance Crawley presented when brought before the assembled masters and scholars of Lexicon Col- lege, was certainly not a very pleasing one. As before stated, the youth had “come to grief” in various ways. His elothes were torn and soiled, and his face had on it a look betokening that he apprehended serious consequences. What excuse should he make? was the question that puzzled his mind. “You are late, Crawley,” observed Doctor Whackley, after severely. look- ing at the youth for a few seconds. “ Bunt I could not help it, please, sir.” “ How is that ?” : “ T joined the hare-and-hounds chase this afternoon, sir.” ‘That is no excuse. Several boys younger than you were out, but man- aged to get back in proper time. You know the rules.” ‘“< Yes, sir: but please I could’nt-——” “Silence! unless youcan make some better excuse.” : After a minute’s pause, as it seemed that Crawley could offer no better ex- planation, the doctor continued— ‘¢ You will remain in the school-room after all the others have gone to bed. I shall flog you for being out of school after the appointed hours.” ‘¢ Please, sir ‘i “Once more I say silence!” exclaimed the doctor, who was evidently very angry, and then strode out of the room. ‘““He’s gone to tell Thomas to pre- pare a bran new bundle of twigs,” said Freddy, in a low voice, but quite loud enough to, be overheard by the unfor- tunate culprit, who stood trembling in the middle of the room till Professor Moeritz told him to sit down. The King of the School, Lascelles, and one or.two others, though they joined in the laugh caused by Webber’s comforting remark, inwardly resolved to make an effort to obtain a remission or mitigation of the sentence Doctor Whackley had pronounced. : Crawley was not liked by them, but then his offence was simply.the result of a mischance that might have befallen any of them. So, after a little consultation, Frank and Lascelles proceeded to the doctor’s study. | “Well, my boys, what is it you want?” he asked, kindly, as they en- tered, looking up from the book he was reading. “We want to speak to you about Crawley,” replied Frank, plunging boldly into the business on hand; and explaining the circumstances umdler which they supposed the unhappy youth had lost his way. “It appears to me that he did not play the game fairly,” observed, the CONNIClo©e A) EO mn