“There are hundreds of stars,” Mr. Clegg went on, “that are known to vary in brightness. In a few cases the causes of this variability are known. There are, for instance, the Algol Variables. In their case, the variability is readily accounted for by the theory of a dark, eclipsing body, smaller than the primary, and traveling round it in an orbit lying nearly edgewise to us. The two bodies revolve round their common center of gravity. In the case of other types of variables we are still uncertain, or quite in the dark, regarding what is really happening to cause the change in brightness.”
Clegg did not see his listener now. His near-blue eyes were darkening to velvet-purple again, and his vision took in worlds far off in space. Joshua listened in a sort of breathless rapture, though he had small idea of what it was all about.
“Observations of these perplexing bodies, continuing over a long period of time,” Clegg went on dreamily, forgetting that his audience was only a fourteen-year-old boy, “will eventually afford a sufficiently large collection of facts on which to base a satisfactory theory of what causes the observed variation. Out of the hundreds studied by the nearly two hundred members—mostly amateurs like myself—of the International Society of Variable Star Observers, of which I am one, who have contributed a startling number of observations during the past few years, certain stars may be discovered whose peculiar behavior will lead to a true understanding of these interesting bodies. I myself, if you will pardon me once more, have added my share of discoveries to this great work.
“So that is really my business in life, Joshua. It is a work of love, as the society pays nothing in money to any of its members. And, as I told you, I occupy my position here to gain a livelihood while pursuing my hobby, as my critics term my work. My fellow-instructors are out of tune with me, and even go so far as to ridicule me at times. But as the superintendent considers me harmless, and as I try to perform my school duties faithfully, he does not interfere with my astronomical work, which I never allow to conflict with the regular routine. But mine is a lonesome existence. I have longed for some one close to me who is moved by the inspiring grandeur of the heavenly bodies. I have been told that I am a born teacher, but I prefer to teach the things that interest me. You wanted to study science and they refused you. So you see, Joshua, that you and I have a great deal in common. And it will be my delight to make an effort to ground you in the science of astronomy, if you are willing to learn and will help me by observing the rules and regulations of the school, and attempting to master what the directors have prescribed as a course for the institution. I am not altogether unselfish in this offer. I want to teach somebody what I have learned, for I love it and find boundless pleasure in telling others what I know. But there has been no one to tell. And how it will refresh my own fund of knowledge! How does my offer appeal to you, Joshua?”
“It’d be mighty nice,” replied Fifty-six thirty-five, almost unable to believe that here was an opportunity that he had not expected to present itself until he had become a man and master of his destiny.
“I’ll do anything you say, Mr. Clegg,” he promised. “I’m sure much obliged.”
Clegg’s whimsical smile rested upon him in a fatherly way. “You’ll never have occasion to regret it,” he said.
Then the great gong sounded, and the hour of play was at an end.
CHAPTER IX
TRUTH AND HONOR
FROM one o’clock till four in the afternoon that first day Number Fifty-six thirty-five gave heed to the mechanism of a sewing machine, and mended the rent clothes of the inmates. A large, rather kindly woman was matron over him. By four o’clock he was doing fairly well, and in a week’s time was accomplishing his simple machine sewing with speed and neatness. And this became his allotted task. From four to six o’clock the boys were allowed to play in the great yard, and here they were as uproarious and irrepressible as Old Madmallet’s flock at home. They marched to the washroom at six again, and thence once more to the dining room, where they ate tea, bread and apple-sauce. From seven to nine they studied the common branches of learning in the schoolroom, presided over by that ugliest of men, the Lincoln-like Beaver Clegg. At nine they went to bed, each in his clean little iron cot, with its crackling straw mattress. Almost immediately Mr. Clegg came in, listened to the monitors’ reports of the boys’ behavior during the day, and extinguished the lights.