"You needn"t be so crusty about it," said Richard, who was wholly unused to this style of remark.
"We tolerate no impudence here. If you use an expression of that kind again, you will be put under arrest, and spend the night in the guard house."
Richard"s blood was beginning to boil, and he was tempted to pitch into the insolent instructor who dared to use language of that kind to the only son of the proprietor of Woodville. But he did not want to get into trouble the first day; besides, the words "arrest" and "guard house" had a very ominous sound to him.
"Can"t I have my books? They are not cake," asked Richard.
"No, sir; you cannot. Such trash as that is not fit for boys to read.
Your property will be kept safely for you, and when you leave the school, you can have it again."
"The cake will not be very good then."
"You can do any thing you please with it, except eat it. You can sell it, or give it away."
"You can do what you like with it."
"Very well. Have you any money about you?"
"I have."
"You will hand it to me, and a receipt for the amount will be forwarded to your father."
"Do you mean to rob me?" demanded Richard, his face flushing at this new indignity.
"I refer you to the regulations of the Inst.i.tute. We provide every thing the boys require, and they have no more use for money than they have for wings."
"I won"t give up my money."
"Very well, sir. I will refer the matter to Colonel Brockridge, and you may settle it with him. Follow me, if you please," said Mr. Gault, after Richard had locked the trunk containing the contraband articles.
The new scholar followed the teacher to the office of the princ.i.p.al on the first floor. He was very uneasy and nervous, and almost wished he had given up his money. But he felt that the tutor was carrying things altogether too far. It was subjecting him to a needless indignity.
"This young man refuses to give up his money," said Mr. Gault to the colonel, who was writing at his desk.
Without waiting to ascertain the result of the interview, the a.s.sistant departed, leaving the obdurate youth alone with the owner of those terribly sharp eyes.
"Have you read our regulations, Grant?" said Colonel Brockridge, turning round and looking the recruit full in the face.
But there was a pleasant smile upon his face, and his words were gentle, and even respectful.
"Yes, sir," replied Richard.
"Then you are aware that pupils are not allowed to have money--are you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"Boys are tempted to purchase various articles which injure them, such as cakes and candy, and improper books. Therefore we think it is better that they should not be provided with money. Is this a satisfactory explanation?"
"I don"t know but it is, sir," replied Richard, doubtfully.
"It satisfies me, at any rate. How much money have you?"
"About five dollars."
"Now, Grant, if you will hand it to me, I will give you a receipt for it, or send it to your father. I will keep it, subject to your order, if you desire it."
"I don"t like the rule, sir."
"I think it is an excellent rule. But you waste my time. Your decision, Grant."
"I should like to think of the matter, sir."
"Your decision at once," said the colonel; and Richard saw the sharp eyes grow a shade sharper, and heard the deep voice grow a shade sterner.
The recruit winced under the necessity thus laid upon him. The princ.i.p.al could not be trifled with, and he must either submit, or take the consequences, which were so indefinite to him that they seemed sufficiently terrible.
"I will give up the money," said he, with a struggle, as he handed his wallet to the colonel.
"I am glad to find you are a discreet and sensible youth," added the colonel, as he wrote the receipt, and handed it, with the wallet, from which he had taken the money, back to the owner. "If you wish to use money for any proper purpose, you can draw on me, and your paper shall be honored to the extent of the funds in my hands."
"I don"t think I am likely to want money here," answered Richard, gloomily.
"Every needed article will be furnished. Now, Grant, I am afraid you have come here with an intention to resist our wholesome regulations.
If so, you must learn the meaning of "right about, face"--in its moral application, I mean. Your father has told me all about you, and given me explicit instructions to make a man of you. I understand your case perfectly. If you are disposed to observe the rules of the Inst.i.tute, we shall treat you like a gentleman. The future is before you, young man, and you must choose for yourself."
"I intend to obey the rules, sir," said Richard, rather crest-fallen after what had happened.
"I am very glad to hear you say so. In a few days you will be provided with the uniform worn by the pupils of the Inst.i.tute. Here is a time card for the fall term. Look it over carefully, for you will be required to conform to it very strictly. To-morrow morning you will take your place with the boys, and go through with the programme just as though you had been here all your lifetime. We make no allowances for beginners; they will have seasonable warning, and they must be on the ground promptly at the moment. There will be a dress parade in a few moments, and you can go out and witness it, if you choose," said Colonel Brockridge, as he handed Richard the card. "After supper, Mr.
Gault will introduce you to the boys of your barrack."
Richard took the card, and left the room. As he pa.s.sed out of the building he descried the boys at play on the lawn. They were all dressed in a uniform of gray cloth, though some wore a loose blouse, and some, in the heat of play, had thrown off their jackets. The new scholar walked over to the flagstaff, where the stars and stripes were flying, and seated himself on a bench. The boys seemed to be having a good time, in spite of the strictness of the discipline. As he listened to the tremendous noise they made, and saw the rough-and-tumble games in which they were engaged, he became convinced that the Inst.i.tute was not of the Blember style, and he began to have some hope that he should survive the shock.
While he was waiting for the dress parade, he examined the time card given him by the princ.i.p.al. To him it had a decidedly strait-jacket odor, and he read it with a feeling of repugnance, not to say disgust.
It was as follows:--
"TUNBROOK MILITARY INSt.i.tUTE.
FALL TERM.
_From Sept. 1 to Dec. 1._
6 A. M. Reveille.
6.30 " Study.
7.30 " Breakfast.
8 " Squad Drill.
9 " Study and Recitation.
11 " Battalion Drill.
1 P. M. Dinner.