The Fifth Form at Saint Dominic's: A School Story

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

  A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

  It is now time to return to Loman, whom we left two chapters ago, withhis usual luck, standing in Greenfield's study with the 8 pounds in hishand which was finally to clear him of all his troubles, set him oncefor all on his feet again, and take such a weight off his mind as oughtto leave him the lightest-hearted boy in all Saint Dominic's.

  He stood there for a minute or two after Oliver and Wraysford had leftthe room, too bewildered to collect his thoughts or realise one-half ofhis good fortune, for he had come to Oliver in his extremity as adesperate chance, fully expecting an angry rebuff--or, at best, achilling snub. But to get through the interview like this, and find themoney in his hand within three minutes of his entering the room--why, itquite took his breath away.

  Oliver Greenfield _was_ a queer, unaccountable fellow, and no mistake!

  Yet, strange to say, when Loman did come to himself he did not burst outinto a rapture of delight and gratitude. On the contrary, he suddenlyfelt himself growing to such a pitch of misery and low spirits as evenin the worst of his troubles he had never experienced. He repentedbitterly of ever bringing himself to come and ask such a favour of hisworst enemy, and, stranger than all, he felt his dislike for Greenfieldincreased rather than swept away by this abrupt, startling piece ofgenerosity. Strange the whims that seize us! Loman would almost havebeen happier in his old suspense about Cripps than to feel he owed sucha debt to such a creditor.

  However, the thought of Cripps, his other creditor, flashed suddenlythrough his mind at that moment, so, closing his hand over the money, heturned moodily and left the room.

  At any rate, he would get clear of Cripps now he had the chance.

  As soon as ever morning school was over he took his hat and traversedonce more the familiar road between Saint Dominic's and the Cockchafer."Is Cripps at home?" he inquired of the potboy.

  "Yas," said the boy. "Who wants him?"

  "I do, you young blockhead!"

  "You do? Oh, all right! I'll tell him, mister. Don't you collar nomugs while I'm gone, mind!"

  The very potboys despised and ridiculed him!

  Loman waited patiently for a quarter of an hour, when the boy returned.

  "Oh!" said he, "the governor can't see you, he says. He's a-smoking hispipe, he says, and he ain't a-goin' to put himself about, he says, forthe likes of you. That's what he says! Ti ridde tol rol ro!" and herethe youth indulged in a spitefully cheerful carol as he resumed thepolishing of the mugs.

  "Look here!" said Loman, miserable and half frightened, "tell him I_must_ see him; I've got some money for him, tell him."

  "No! have you?" said the boy. "Well, wait till I've done this herejob--I'm dead on this here job, I am! You can keep, you can."

  This was too much even for the dispirited and cowed Loman. He caughtthe impudent boy a box on the ear, which resounded all over theCockchafer, and sent him howling and yelling to his master.

  Cripps appeared at last in a fury. What, he demanded, with half a dozenoaths, did Loman mean by coming there and assaulting him and hisassistants? "What do you mean, you thieving jackanapes, you! Get outof my shop, do you hear? or I'll get some one in who will help you out!_I'll_ teach you to come here and make yourself at home, you lying--"

  "Now, Cripps," began Loman.

  "Hold your noise! do you hear?" said Cripps, savagely.

  "I'm very sorry, Cripps," said the wretched boy; "I didn't mean to hurthim, but he--"

  "Oh! you won't go, won't you? Very good! we'll see if we can make you;"and Cripps departed from the bar, leaving his young "patron" in anythingbut a comfortable frame of mind.

  For once in a way, however, Loman was roused, and would not go. Theboy--miserable specimen as he was--had some courage in him, and whenonce goaded up to the proper pitch it came out. If he went, he arguedto himself, Cripps would certainly come up to Saint Dominic's after him.If he waited till the police or some of the roughs came and ejected himhe could not be much worse off; and there was a chance that, byremaining, he might still be able to pacify his evil genius.

  So he stayed. Another quarter of an hour passed; no one came to turnhim out. A few customers came into the bar and were served by the sulkypotboy, but there was no sign of Cripps.

  "Go and tell your master I'm here still, and want to see himparticularly," said Loman, presently, to the boy.

  The boy looked up and scowled and rubbed his ear, but somehow thattimely blow of Loman's had wrought wonders with his spirit, for hequietly went off and did as he was bid.

  In a few minutes he came back and delivered the laconic message, "You'regot to wait."

  This was satisfactory as far as it went. Loman did wait, simmeringinwardly all the time, and not wholly losing his desperation before onceagain Cripps appeared and beckoned him inside.

  "Here's the rest of the money," said Loman, hurriedly. "You can give meback the bill now, Cripps."

  Cripps took up the money, counted it and pocketed it, and then turned onhis victim with an impudent smile.

  "Give me the bill," repeated Loman, suddenly turning pale with thedreadful misgiving that after all he had not got rid of the blackguard.

  "What do you want the bill for?" asked Cripps, laughing.

  "Want it for? Why, Cripps--" and here Loman stopped short.

  "Fire away," said Cripps.

  "I've paid you all I owe," said Loman, trembling.

  "What if you have?"

  "Then give me back that bill!"

  Cripps only laughed--a laugh which drove the boy frantic. The villainwas going to play him false after all. He had got the money, everyfarthing of it, and now he was going to retain the bill which containedLoman's promise to pay the whole amount! Poor Loman, he was no match incunning for this rogue. Who would believe him that he had paid, whenCripps was still able to produce the promise signed with his own name todo so?

  Bitterly did the boy repent the day when first, by a yielding to deceit,he had put himself in the power of such a villain!

  He was too confounded and panic-struck to attempt either argument orpersuasion. He felt himself ruined, and muttering, in a voice whichtrembled with misery, "I must tell father all about it," he turned togo.

  Oh, Loman! Why have you left such a resolve till now? Why, like thatother prodigal, have you waited till everything else has failed, tillyour own resources and cunning have been exhausted to the last dregs,before you turn and say this!

  The boy uttered the words involuntarily, not intending that they shouldbe heard. Little he thought Cripps or any one would heed them. ButCripps did heed them. His quick ear caught the words, and they _had_ ameaning for him; for he might be able to cheat and browbeat and swindlea boy, but when it came to dealing no longer with the boy, but with theboy's father, Cripps was sharp enough to know that was a very differentmatter. He had relied on the boy's fears of exposure and his dread ofhis father's anger to carry his extortions to the utmost limit withconfidence. But now he had gone a step too far. When, in hisdesperation, the boy naturally turned to the very being he had all alongmost carefully kept ignorant of his proceedings, it was time for Crippsto pull up.

  He stopped Loman as he was going away, with a laugh, as he said, in hisold tones, "Steady there, young gentleman, what a hurry you are in! Aman can't have a little bit of fun, just to see how you like it, butthere you go, and give it all up, and go and get yourself into a regularperspiration! Tell the governor, indeed! You don't suppose I'd let youget yourself into such a mess as all that, do you? No, no. You shallhave the bill, my man, never fear."

  "Oh, thank you, Cripps, thank you!" cried Loman, in a sudden convulsionof gratitude and relief.

  "'Pon my word, I might take offence, that I might, at your wanting thepaper. As if _I'd_ ever take advantage of a young gentleman like you!No, no; honesty's the best policy for us poor folks as well as for younobs. No one can say I defrauded any one."

  "Oh, no, of cours
e not," cried Loman, enthusiastically. "I should liketo see any one who did!"

  Mr Cripps, smiling sweetly and modestly, went to his cupboard, andafter a good deal of fumbling and search, produced the little slip ofblue paper he was looking for.

  "Is that it?" cried the excited Loman.

  "Looks like it," said Cripps, unfolding it and reading out, with hisback to the boy, "`Three months after date I promise to pay GeorgeCripps thirty-five pounds, value received. Signed, E. Loman.' That'sabout it, eh, young gentleman? Well, blessed if I ain't a soft-heartedchap after the doing you've given me over this here business. Lookhere; here goes."

  And so saying, Mr Cripps first tore the paper up into little bits, andthen threw the whole into the fire before the eyes of the delightedLoman.

  "Thanks, Cripps, thanks," said the boy. "I am so glad everything'ssettled now, and I am so sorry to have kept you waiting so long."

  "Oh, well, as long as it's been an obligement to you, I don't so muchcare," said the virtuous Cripps. "And now you've done with me I supposeyou'll cut me dead, eh, young gentleman? Just the way. You stick to usas long as you can get anything out of us, and then we're nobodies."

  And here Mr Cripps looked very dejected.

  "Oh, no," said Loman, "I don't mean to cut you, Cripps. I shall comedown now and then--really I will--when I can manage it. Good-bye now."

  And he held out his hand.

  Foolish and wicked as Loman was, there was still left in him some ofthat boyish generosity which makes one ready to forget injuries andquick to acknowledge a good turn. Loman forgot for a moment all thehideous past, with its suspense and humiliations and miseries, andremembered only that Cripps had torn up the bill and allowed him toclear off accounts once for all at the hated Cockchafer. Alas! he hadforgotten, too, about telling all to his father!

  "Good-day, young gentleman," said Cripps, with a pensive face which madethe boy quite sorry to see.

  He shook hands cordially and gratefully, and departed lighter in heartthan he had felt for some time.

  But as he returned to Saint Dominic's the thought of Oliver, and of hisdebt to him, returned, and turned again all his satisfaction intovexation. He wished he had the money that moment to fling back into thefellow's face!

  I don't pretend to explain this whim of Loman's. It may have been hisconscience which prompted it. For a mean person nearly always detestsan honest one, and the more open and generous the one is, the meaner theother feels in his own heart by contrast.

  However, for some days Loman had not the painful reminder of his debtoften before his eyes; for as long as the Doctor was absent Oliverremained in the Fifth.

  At length, however, the head master returned, restored and well, andimmediately the "removes" were put into force, and Oliver and Wraysfordfound themselves duly installed on the lowest bench of the Sixth--theonly other occupant of which was Loman. The two friends, however, heldvery little intercourse with their new class-fellow, and Oliver neveronce referred to the eight pounds; and, like every one and everythingelse, Loman grew accustomed to the idea of being his rival's debtor,and, as the days went on, ceased to be greatly troubled by the fact atall.

  But an event happened one day, shortly after the Doctor's return, whichgave every one something else to think about besides loans and debtors.

  It was the morning of the day fixed for the great football match againstthe County, and every one, even the Sixth and Fifth, chafed somewhat atthe two hours appointed on such a day for so mundane an occupation aslessons.

  Who could think of lessons when any minute the County men might turn up?Who could be bothered with dactyls and spondees when goal-posts andtouch-lines were far more to the point? And who could be expected tofix his mind on hexameters and elegiacs when the height of humanperfection lay in a straight drop-kick or a fast double past the enemy'shalf-backs? However, the Doctor had made up his mind Latin versesshould get their share of attention that morning, and the two head formswere compelled to submit as best they could.

  Now, on this occasion, the Doctor was specially interested in thesubject in hand, and waxed more than usually eloquent over thecomparative beauties of Horace and Virgil and Ovid, and went into theminutest details about their metres. Over one line which contained whatseemed to be a false quantity he really became excited.

  "It is a most remarkable thing, and I am really pleased we have fallenon the passage," said he, "that this identical mistake, if it is amistake, occurs in a line of Juvenal; it is in the--dear me, I haveforgotten how it begins! Has any one here a Juvenal?"

  "I have one in my study, sir," said Loman. (Juvenal had been one of theLatin subjects for the Nightingale.)

  "Ah! Would you fetch it, Loman, please? I think I know precisely wherethe line occurs."

  Loman rose and went for the book, which he found upon his bookcase,enjoying a dignified and dusty repose on the top shelf. Carefullybrushing off the dust, so as to give the volume a rather less unusedlook, he returned with it to the class-room, and handed it to theDoctor.

  "Thank you, Loman. Now, it is in the Fourth--no, the Fifth Satire,"said he, turning over the pages. "Let me see--yes, not far from--ah!"

  This last exclamation was uttered in a voice which made every boy in theroom look suddenly up and fix his eyes on the Doctor. It was evidentlysomething more than an exclamation of recognition on finding the desiredpassage. There was too much surprise and too much pain in the word forthat.

  Was the Doctor ill? He closed the book and sat back in his chair in asort of bewilderment. Then suddenly, and with an evident effort,recovering himself, he let his eyes once more rest on the closedJuvenal.

  "Loman," he said, "will you come and find the passage for me? Turn tothe Fifth Satire."

  Loman obeyed, much wondering, notwithstanding, why the Doctor should askhim, of all people, to come up and turn to the passage.

  He advanced to the head master's desk and took up the Juvenal.

  "The Fifth Satire," repeated the Doctor, keeping his eyes on the book.

  Certainly the Doctor was very queer this morning. One would suppose hislife depended on the discovery of that unlucky line, so keenly hewatched Loman as he turned over the pages.

  Was the book bewitched? Loman, as he held it, suddenly turned deadlywhite, and closed it quickly, as if between the leaves there lay ascorpion! Then again, seeing the Doctor's eye fixed on him, he openedit, and, with faltering voice, began to read the line.

  "That will do. Hand me the book, Loman."

  The Doctor's voice, as he uttered these words, was strangely solemn.

  Loman hurriedly took a paper from between the leaves and handed the bookto the Doctor.

  "Hand me that paper, Loman!"

  Loman hesitated.

  "Obey me, Loman!"

  Loman looked once at the Doctor, and once at the Juvenal; then, with agroan, he flung the paper down on to the desk.

  The Doctor took it up.

  "This paper," said he, slowly, and in an agitated voice--"this paper isthe missing paper of questions for the Nightingale Scholarship lastterm. Loman, remain here, please. The other boys may go."