at the top of the first form-the post of honour in the school- was the vacant place of the little sick scholar, and at the head of the row of pegs on which those who came in hats or caps werewont to hang them up, one was left empty. no boy attempted to violate the sanctity of seat or peg1, but many a one looked from the empty spaces to the schoolmaster, and whispered his idle neighbour behind his hand.
then began the hum of conning over lessons and getting them by heart, the whispered jest and stealthy game, and all the noise and drawl of school; and in the midst of the din sat the poor schoolmaster, vainly attempting to fix his mind upon the duties of the day, and to forget his little friend. but the tedium of his office2 reminded him more strongly of the willing scholar, and his thoughts were rambling from his pupils-it was plain.
charles dickens in 1865
none knew this better than the idlest boys, who, growing1no boy attempted…peg: tried to take the seat or peg commonly used by the sick scholar.
2tedium of his office: weariness of his daily work.
bolder with impunity1, waxed2 louder and more daring; playing odd-or-even under the master"s eye, eating apples openly and without rebuke, pinching each other in sport or malice without the least reserve, and cutting their names in the very legs of his desk. the puzzled dunce, who stood beside it to say his lesson out of book, looked no longer at the ceiling for forgotten words, but drew closer to the master"s elbow and boldly east his eye upon the page; the wag3 of the little troop squinted and made grimaces (at the smallest boy, of course), holding no book before his face, and his companions openly showed their delight. if the master did chance to rouse himself and seem alive to what was going on, the noise stopped for a moment, and no eyes met his but wore a studious4 and a deeply humble look; but the instant he relapsed again, it broke out afresh, and ten times louder than before.
oh, how some of those idle fellows longed to be outside, and how they looked at the open door and window, as if they half thought of rushing out, plunging into the woods, and being wild boys and savages from that time forth. what rebellious5 thoughts of the cool river, and some shady bathing-place beneath willow trees with branches dipping in the water, kept tempting and urging that sturdy boy, who, with his shirt-collar unbuttoned and flung back as far as it could go, sat fanning his flushed face1 with impunity: unchecked;without punishment. 2 waxed: became; grew.
3wag: the "funny" boy.
4studious: thoughtful; intent on work. 5 rebellious: unruly.
with a spelling-book, wishing himself a whale, or a tittlebat1, or a fly, or anything but a boy at school on that hot broiling day! heat! ask that other boy, whose seat being nearest to the door gave him chances of gliding out into the garden and driving his companions to madness by dipping his face into the bucket of the well and then rolling on the grass-ask him if there were ever such a day as that, when even the bees were diving deep down into the cups of flowers and stopping there, as if they had made up their minds to retire from business and be makers of honey no more. the day was made for laziness, and lying on one"s back in green places, and staring at the sky till its brightness forced the gazer to shut his eyes and go to sleep; and was this a time to be poring over musty books in a dark room, slighted by the very sun itself? monstrous!
the lesson over, writing time began; and there being but one desk and that the master"s, each boy sat at it in turn and worked at his crooked copy, while the master walked about. this was a quieter time ; for he would come and look over the writer"s shoulder, and tell him mildly to observe how such a letter was turned in such a copy on the wall, praise such an up- stroke here and such a down-stroke there, and bid him take it for his model. then he would stop and tell them what the sick child had said last night, and how he longed to be among them once again; and such was the poor school master"s gentle and affectionate manner, that the boys seemed quite sorry that they had worried him so much, and were absolutely quiet2-eating1tittlebat: a very small fish with sharp spines on its back.
2absolutely quiet: quite still.
no apples, cutting no names, inflicting no pinches, and makingno grimaces- for full two minutes afterwards.
"i think, boys," said the schoolmaster, when the clock struck twelve, "that i shall give an extra half-holiday this afternoon."at this intelligence the boys, led on and headed by the tall boy, raised a great shout, in the midst of which the master was seen to speak, but could not be heard. as he held up his hand, however, in token of his wish that they should be silent, they were considerate enough to leave off as soon as the longest- winded among them were quite out of breath.
"you must promise me first," said the schoolmaster, "that you"ll not be noisy, or at least, if you are, that you"ll go away and be so- away out of the village, i mean. i"m sure you wouldn"t disturb your old playmate and companion."there was a general murmur (and perhaps a very sincere one, for they were but boys) in the negative1; and the tall boy, perhaps as sincerely as any of them, called those about him to witness that he had only shouted in a whisper.
"then pray don"t forget, there"s my dear scholars," said the schoolmaster, "what i have asked you, and do it as a favour to me. be as happy as you can, and don"t be unmindful that you are blessed with health. good-bye all!""thank"ee, sir," and "good-bye, sir," were said a great many times in a variety of voices, and the boys went out very slowly and softly. but there was the sun shining, and there were the birds singing, as the sun only shines and the birds only sing on holidays and half-holidays; there were the trees waving to all1 in the negative: i.e., they would not make a noise to disturb their sick playmate.
free boys to climb and nestle among their leafy branches; the hay calling them to come and scatter it to the pure air; the green corn, gently beckoning towards wood and stream; the smooth ground, rendered smoother still by blending lights and shadows1, inviting to runs and leaps, and long walks. it was more than boy could bear, and with a joyous whoop the whole cluster took to their heels and spread themselves about, shouting and laughing as they went.
"it"s natural, thank heaven!" said the poor schoolmaster, looking after them. "i"m very glad they didn"t mind me !"1 rendered smoother still by blending lights and shadows:the ground looked smoother than it really was, owing to the mingling of sunlight and shade.
