The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

42 THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? three weeks, copying each day one of the odes of Horace. You will also take place below all the other boys in your form. Away with you; I consider you have disgraced the college.” “ But, sir ” “No excuses will avail now. To your rooms and never go near that house again. Our three friends marched off to the schoolroom, looking rather crest- fallen. Knowing very well that it would be useless to attempt to conceal the disgrace into which they had fallen, Frank Egerton, after brief consultation with his companions in tribulation, deemed it best that they should relate their own story before any garbled statements were set afloat. Most of the boys were sincerely sorry to hear it, though about half-a- dozen of the Baynes and Crawley stamp did not attempt to conceal their joy and exultation. — As they were retiring to bed that night, the Earl of Pembridge whispered to Frank— “Come into my room presently, Egerton; I want to have a long chat with you.” As invited, Frank went. After some little preliminary talk, the young earl plunged boldly into the subject. . “What do you think of those giris, Frank?” he asked. “They are both charming creatures, and far better educated than most people in their position.” “They are lovely—divine! Do you know, Frank, I have fallen over-head- and-ears in love with that delicious little Lizzie.” ‘“‘ That's wrong, old fellow.” “Wrong! Why?” “‘ Because you cannot think of marry- ing her.” “ But I do think of doing so—in a year a two, of course. Ill try and wait till I’ve been down to Oxford.” “You will not be allowed to marry her till you are twenty-one, at any - Peers, rate. Do you forget that you are a ward in chancery?” Karl Pembridge sat in silence for some few minutes, then he said— ‘Frank, when you hear, in a few years’ time, that I am married, come and see me, and you will find that Lizzie will be my wife, I love her; and the Court of Chancery, the House of both spiritual and temporal, backed up by a few committees of the House of Commons, won’t induce me to alter my resolution.” ‘“¢] wish you success and happiness.” “Of course, I know,” continued the earl, “there will be some tremendous difficulties with my mother, who, though she is the jolliest, nicest woman out, is awfully stuck up about family dignity, maintaining the honour of an ancient house, and all that kind of stuff; but TU find some means of ‘ quieting her.” “ We will hope so.” “ But tell me, Egerton, how do you stand with the fair-haired Kate?” The question made the KING OF THE ScHOOL start and change colour; he was not prepared for such a direct thrust. After a few moments’ hesitation and ‘ confusion, Frank commenced his reply. 99 “Well, you see ** T saw, certainly.” “ What did you see ?” “I saw you kiss her just as old Whackley looked through the win- dow. That’s what put him in such a rage.” “She’s a nice girl—very nice,” ob- served Frank, contemplatively. “And the truth is, you are about as fond of her as I am of Lizzie.” “I suppose that is about the case, old fellow.” “Now what will your mamma say, you naughty boy? Of course you old country families are quite as particular about anything that lowers your dignity as any wearer of 2 coronet could be.” “‘ Of course there will be difficulties; but I should like to know who wrote that letisz,” EO DOC EO mn