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Glyn Severn's Schooldays, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 17. The Professor Makes A Request |
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_ CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. THE PROFESSOR MAKES A REQUEST Morris, being off duty, as he termed it, walked down the road to clear his head a little of mathematical calculations, as well as to devise an examination paper intended for the improvement of his pupils; not that he looked upon it in that light, for as soon as he had mentally got it into shape, ready for committing to paper, he laughed to himself and rubbed his white hands over and over again in his intense satisfaction. "That will puzzle their brains," he said maliciously. "That will give some of them a headache;" and as he spoke, on his way back, he suddenly awakened to the fact that he was just coming to the damaged hedge, where a couple of men were for the second time, by Ramball's orders, restaking, half-cutting through, and bending down for interlacing purposes sturdy old growths of hawthorn. The next moment he was conscious of the fact that Professor Barclay, who looked particularly neat, refined, and clean, was coming up to him with a most friendly smile and with extended hand. The Professor was clean-shaven, wore his hair cut very short, and from his hat to his boots he was spotless; but somehow or other there was a suggestion that the profession of Sanskrit did not result in the possession of wealth, for the Professor's hat was not so new as it had been once, one of his well-polished boots had a smile in its upper leather just where the little toe pressed outwards, there was a suggestion about his very stiff shirt-collar of the growth of saw-like teeth that might be very unpleasant if they came in contact with his ears, while his tightly buttoned-up frock-coat, which looked very nice in front, had grown extremely shiny in two places at the back where the wearer's blade-bones were prominent. Morris took the extended hand and shook it, but not half so affectionately as the Professor shook his, while agreeing very simply that the day was remarkably fine; and then, oddly enough, Morris, though the Professor gave him no reason for his thoughts in words, began thinking of a quiet little place in the town where modest dinners were provided, one of which Morris did not require in the least, inasmuch as a repast would be provided for him gratuitously in the Doctor's establishment. Item, he began thinking, too, of half-crowns. But his thoughts were turned in another direction by the Professor. "So this is the spot," he said, "where the elephant broke through?" "Yes," said Morris eagerly; "great mischievous beast! It will be a good thing when it's out of the town." "Exactly," said the Professor, "unless the proprietor had some one to manage it who understood its ways. Is it true, as I have heard, that the young Prince and his friend and fellow-pupil controlled the huge beast by giving it orders in Hindustani?" "Oh yes," said Morris, smiling now, as he ridded himself of thoughts of cheap dinners and half-crowns. "Well, I am not surprised," continued the Professor; "but it was a pity I was not there." "Pity you were not there?" said Morris, making a suggestion with his hand preparatory to saying "good-bye--can't stop," and then telling something very much like a fib; for it was in his mind to say, "So glad to have met you." "Yes," said the Professor nonchalantly, "you see, I know Hindustani thoroughly; and though I suppose my pronunciation would be faulty in the ears of a native, I could very well make myself understood." "Ah, yes," said Morris hastily; "so I should suppose; but--er--you will excuse me?" And he glanced at his watch. "I am afraid I must be back at the college. It is close upon dinner-time." The Professor sighed and inadvertently sniffed as poor boys sniff who are passing cookshops. "In a moment, my dear friend. I will not detain you; but I will walk with you as far as the college. It will be in my way. You see, just when one wants them most, important letters--important pecuniary letters--have such a bad habit of being delayed." Morris coughed. "Now, nothing could have happened better for me than that I should have met you, a brother-student; though we follow divergent lines, you for the attainment of mathematical precision, I for the diffusion of Eastern lore, you of all men seem to have extended towards me a kindly interest." "Oh, well, that was perfectly natural," said Morris feebly, as, inadvertently he thrust his right hand into his pocket, started, coloured, and withdrew it quickly. "Now," continued the Professor, "I want you to give me your advice about seeing the Doctor again." Morris shook his head. "Ah, I see what you are thinking; but that was for a permanent post. Now, don't you think he might accept my services, say, for a non-resident and three days a week?" "No," said Morris, "I am sure he wouldn't. Your coming made Rampson dreadfully jealous, and he told me afterwards that the Doctor assured him that he should make no change." "Well, say one day a week." Morris shook his head again and looked down the road, as if hoping that some one would come and rescue him from his position. "Don't speak in haste," said the Professor, taking him with finger and thumb by the plaited guard of silk, as if he had intentions upon the watch--not to know the time. "I am obliged to speak in haste," replied Morris. "You see, it is so near--" "Exactly--dinner-time. But for Sanskrit, a lesson a week--" "The Doctor declared he should not introduce Sanskrit in the curriculum of study." "Dear, dear! And with that young Eastern Prince in the establishment, and his companion the son of that magnificent old Colonel with the wondrous moustache!" And as he spoke the Professor passed his hand over his closely shaven upper lip. "Well, well, the Doctor knows his own business best; but I must confess that I am disappointed, my dear friend." "I am very, very sorry," said Morris, drawing back a little; and as the guard tightened, and the watch began to rise out of his pocket, he gave way again and the watch sank down. So did its owner's spirits, for the Professor continued: "Don't you think I might go back with you to the college and call upon the Doctor once more?" "No, that I don't," said Morris hastily; "for almost directly he will be going into the dining-hall." "Well, what would that matter? Country hospitality and--you understand. But there, if you think the time adverse, I certainly would not presume. But, by the way, would you believe it, that letter has not come this morning?" "Yes," said Morris faintly. "You said so just now." "And it puts me to the greatest inconvenience. I am almost ashamed to ask you." "Would that you were quite!" thought Morris. "But would you mind--say a couple of half-crowns--a mere trifle, and the moment the letter comes--really, I think it must be stuck in the post-office somewhere from wrong direction. Is there another Plymborough in England?" "Oh no; this is the only one." "Yes, two half-crowns, and the moment the letter arrives I shall hurry to you to repay you with many thanks, your kindly interest in my welfare." "And the other two?" "Oh, of course," said the Professor. "The-ank you. Some day, my dear Morris, I hope and believe--But, by the way, that young Prince: I could not help taking the greatest interest in what he told me. It came naturally as the result of questions and in conversation upon the beauty of Eastern costume. I remember saying to him, 'Why are not you, a young Eastern potentate, robed in the resplendent garments of your country, wearing a picturesque helmet, plumed, and decked with gorgeous jewels? I remember,' I said, 'a visit paid by the Nawab of Puttyputty when I was one of the masters at the college at Longbourne. He was magnificently dressed, a most picturesque figure amongst the gentlemen, who in their sombre black looked like so many waiters. I remember he wore a resplendent belt, the clasps of which were formed of gigantic emeralds engraved with Eastern characters--Sanskrit, I believe, though I never had them in my hand.' And the boy proudly told me that he possessed just such a one, though he never wore it, because it would not be suitable with modern English costume. All a boy's romance, I suppose-- recollections of the _Arabian Nights_." "Oh no," said Morris; "it is quite true." "Dear me," said the Professor, "what an opportunity! Why, I would give worlds to see it," he added with a laugh. "It has been one of the regrets of my life that I did not ask the Nawab's permission to inspect those clasps. To my thinking, the inscriptions must have been of that so-called talismanic kind in which these weak heathen believe. Now, do you think it possible that you could prevail upon your young friend--" "Oh no, I am sure I couldn't," said Morris, trying hard to read the distant church clock. "But say you convey to him my invitation, and ask him to bring the belt to my rooms one afternoon." "Oh, really I--" "Oh, such a simple thing--educational, and--I beg your pardon, you must go? Of course. I am afraid I have been prolix; but my dear Morris, bear that in mind. A little discussion upon those inscriptions would be beneficial to the boy--I could tell him things he would be proud to know--and it would enable me to send a profitable description to the newspapers.--Yes, good-bye till we meet again." They separated, and the Professor walked slowly away, with his attention equally balanced between recollections of the Nawab's clasps and the last little dinner he had eaten at the country refreshment-house at Morris's expense, what time he played a pleasant little game of raising one half-crown from where it lay upon its fellow at the bottom of his pocket and letting it fall again with an agreeable chink. _ |
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