Part 37 (1/2)
After prayers Dr Graham stood up in his desk, looking very grave.
”I had wished,” he said, ”to abolish flogging in the school; but while any of the boys are guilty not only of ungentlemanly but dishonest conduct, I must retain the custom, as I fear that it is the only punishment which they are likely to dread. I regret to say that seven boys, of different ages, were guilty, last night, of going out of the house, and of robbing the orchard of a neighbour. He saw them, counted their numbers, traced them back here. He believes that he will be able to identify some of them. Instead of severely punis.h.i.+ng them on the spot, as they deserved, he came here this morning and told me of the circ.u.mstance, that I may deal with them as I judge right. Those who were engaged in this notable exploit come forward and let me know what you have to say for yourselves.”
The Doctor ceased. There was a pause, then a slight shuffling of feet, and six boys left their desks, and slowly, and with evident reluctance, walked up to the Doctor.
”I understood that there were seven. I hope the seventh will soon make his appearance.”
The seventh, however, did not come up. The Doctor then asked the six who pleaded guilty what induced them to commit the crime.
One said, because he liked apples; another replied, because he had been asked by others; but four of them confessed that they did it simply because they liked the excitement and danger of the exploit.
”I believe that you have all told me the truth,” answered the Doctor.
”One I shall flog, to teach him that he must not allow his appet.i.te to tempt him to commit a crime; the next, that he must not consent to do what is wrong because another asks him; and the other four, because they evidently require to have it impressed on their minds that taking that which does not belong to them is a crime both in the sight of G.o.d and man. After breakfast, you six come into my room. And now I wish the seventh culprit to come forward. I have given him time to consider what he will do.”
No one moved.
”Julian Langley, why do you not come forward?” said the Doctor, in a stern voice.
”Sir, I know nothing about it,” answered Julian, in a sharp, quick voice.
”Whose shoe is this?” asked the Doctor. ”Come here, sir, and tell me.”
Julian was now compelled to come forward. He walked with an unabashed air up to the Doctor's desk, casting a look either of triumph or scorn at the boys who had confessed their crime.
”If that is my shoe, somebody may have dropped it, wherever it was found,” he observed, coolly.
”Did anybody carry away this knife, with your name engraved on it?”
asked the Doctor; ”and how was it that you had only one shoe by your bedside this morning, the fellow of this one, covered with mud of the same colour?”
”Really, sir, those are difficult questions to answer just at present,”
replied Julian; ”all I can say is, that I cannot account for the circ.u.mstances you speak of.”
”I would fain not believe you guilty of a direct falsehood, and I must, therefore, conclude that the seventh thief who stole Mr Ladgrove's apples is yet to be found,” said the Doctor, gravely. ”But mark me, Julian Langley, I especially charge these six boys, if they have any respect for truth and honesty, and I also charge the rest of the school, not to speak to you, not to hold any communication with you, for at least a month to come, if they know you to be guilty of the crime which you now deny. I fix a month, because I hope during that time, if you are guilty, and are so punished, you will repent of the crime of stealing, as also of that of falsehood. Now, sir, go back to your seat.”
The six boys who were to be flogged sat by themselves, and did not approach, or even look at, Julian Langley. Digby greatly feared that Julian was guilty. He watched them anxiously. Hanson was one of them.
How grateful he felt that Gusty was not, and he resolved to watch over him with greater care than he had before done.
After breakfast, the boys went to the Doctor's room to be flogged. They came back into school looking very unhappy, as boys are apt to do who have been thus castigated. The play hours came round, not one of them went near Julian. He approached one of them after the other, but they all, even little Hanson, walked away from him. Others besides Digby were watching what would take place.
At length Arthur Haviland, Digby, Ranger, Newland and others called a council, and agreed to inquire into the matter. Although the guilty boys considered themselves in honour bound not to confess to any of the masters, yet when questioned directly by their own companions, they at once owned that Julian Langley had not only been with them, but was actually the very instigator of the expedition. The consequence was, that Julian was sent strictly to Coventry by the whole school.
During that whole month not a boy spoke to him. Every one knew him to be guilty. He tried to get them to speak to him, and constantly spoke to fellows, but no one would answer him. The Doctor considered that he was sufficiently punished, and those who had been flogged said that they would a hundred times rather be flogged and get it over, than undergo the punishment he had endured. He did not, however, appear to feel the disgrace, or the complete loss of his character. As soon as the month was over, he spoke to every one, and tried to enter into conversation with all who would talk to him. The Doctor, of course, knew all that had occurred, and though he hoped that Julian would have been sufficiently punished, he kept a very watchful eye over him.
At last the holidays again came round, and the Squire asked his boys if they would like to invite Julian Langley to spend some of the time with them.
”Oh, no, no,” answered Digby, ”on no account. I am sure Kate does not like him; nor do I as I used to do, and he is not a good companion for Gusty.”
Digby was quite surprised how rapidly the holidays came round and round.
Home was very pleasant, but so was school, and it was difficult to say at which the time pa.s.sed the quickest. It had been intended that Digby should be sent to Eton, but Squire Heathcote was so pleased with Dr Graham's system, and the progress his boys made in every way, that he resolved to let them remain on at Grangewood.
”People say that boys ought to be sent to public schools to get their pride knocked out of them, to be taught manners, and to make acquaintances who are likely to be useful to them in their future life,”