F. Anstey

“ He set himself to pitch them all out as soon as possible with feverish haste, but Tipping was too quick for him. 'Hallo!' he cried: 'oh, I say, you fellows, come here! Just look at this! Here's this impudent young beggar, who sneaked of poor old Coggs for sucking jujubes, and very nearly got us all into a jolly good row, with his own box full all the time; butterscotch, if you please, and jam, and ginger wine! You'll just put 'em all back again, will you, you young humbug!'
'Do you use those words to me, sir?' said Paul angrily, for he did not like to be called a humbug. ”

“ The child evidently takes me for that little scoundrel Dick.' 'Tut-tut,' he said aloud, 'little girls like you are too young for such nonsense. You ought to think about—about your dolls, and—ah, your needlework—not sweethearts!'
'You say that now!' cried Dulcie indignantly. 'You know I'm not a little girl, and I've left off playing with dolls—almost. Oh, Dick, don't be unkind! You haven't changed your mind, have you?'
'No,' said Paul dismally, 'I've changed my body. But there—you wouldn't understand. Run away and play somewhere, like a good little girl!'
'I know what it is!' said Dulcie. ”

“ At this point the other boys began to straggle down and cluster round the fire, and Paul withdrew from the aggrieved Tipping, and looked drearily out of the window on the hard road and bare black trees outside.
'I must tell the Doctor how I'm situated!' he thought; 'and yet directly I open my mouth, he threatens to flog me. If I stay here, that little girl will be always trying to speak to me, and I shall be thrashed by the red-haired boy. ”

“ Paul stood shaking by the mantelpiece in a very bad temper for some minutes. If the Doctor had come in then, he might have been spurred by indignation to utter his woes, and even claim and obtain his freedom. But that was not to be.
The door did open presently, however, and a little girl appeared; a very charming little maiden indeed, in a neat dark costume relieved by a fresh white pinafore. ”

“ Bultitude up, and sat firmly on him, while Tipping carefully replaced the good things in Dick's box, after which he locked it, and courteously returned the key. 'As the box is heavy,' he said, with a wicked wink, 'I'll carry it up for you myself,' which he did, Paul following, more dead than alive, and too shaken even to expostulate. ”

“ The traitor shall have his reward!'
All of which simply meant that the Doctor, having once had a small boy taken seriously ill from the effects of overeating himself, was naturally anxious to avoid such an inconvenience for the future. 'Thanks to the fearless honesty of a youth,' continued the Doctor, 'who, in an eccentric manner, certainly, but with, I do not doubt, the best of motives, opened my eyes to the fell evil, I am enabled to cope with it at its birth. Richard Bultitude, I take this occasion of publicly thanking and commending you ”

“ Football and cricket were of course reserved for half-holidays, and played in a neighbouring field rented by the Doctor, and in the playground he restricted them to 'chevy,' which he considered, rightly enough, both gave them abundant exercise and kept them out of mischief. Accordingly, if any adventurous spirit started a rival game, it was usually abandoned sooner or later in deference to suggestions from headquarters which were not intended to be disregarded. ”

“ Well, one night about nine, I was strolling down Petty Cury with two other men, smoking (Bosher of "Pothouse," and Peebles of "Cats," both pretty well known up there for general rowdiness, you know—great pals of mine!) and, just as we turned the corner, who should we see coming straight down on us but a Proctor with his bull-dogs (not dogs, you know, but the strongest "gyps" in college) . ”

“ Grimstone; 'Cornelius Coggs—stand up!'
Coggs half rose in a limp manner, whimpering feebly, 'Me, sir? Oh, please sir—no, not me, sir!'
'Yes, you, sir, and let your companions regard you with the contempt and abhorrence you so richly merit!' Here, needless to say, the whole school glared at poor Coggs with as much virtuous indignation as they could summon up at such short notice; for contempt is very infectious when communicated from high quarters.
'So, Coggs,' said the Doctor, with a slow and withering scorn, 'so you thought to defy me ”

“ Tinkler, who had joined one of the groups, had not particularly distinguished himself at breakfast, he made ample amends now, and by the grandeur and manliness of his conversation succeeded in producing a decided impression upon some of the smaller boys.
'The bore of a place like this, you know,' he was saying with magnificent disdain, 'is that a fellow can't have his pipe of a morning. I've been used to it, and so, of course, I miss it. If I chose to insist on it Grimstone couldn't say anything ”