“Horse sneak,” said Burr major scornfully. “A soldier! Ho, ho, ho! Ha, ha, ha! I say, boys—a soldier!”
He burst into a yell of laughter, all forced, of course, and his satellites roared too, some of them, to curry favour, beginning to dance about him, and look eagerly in his face, as if for orders.
Of course it was very absurd to mind, but I could not help it, and tingled all over.
“Oh, I wish Mercer was here!” I thought to myself.
“The time must be ripe;” and I suppose my face showed something of what I felt, for Burr major cried,—
“Look at the puppy, boys; he looks as if he wanted to bite. Did you ever see such an impudent beggar? I don’t believe his name’s Burr at all. It’s only a bit of a show-off.”
At that moment there was a hail from the paddock, and the school bell rang for the first lesson.
“There, groom, you’re wanted,” said Burr major sneeringly. “Go on and learn to ride, and mind you don’t hurt yourself.”
“Yah! Go on, ugly!” cried Dicksee, and the boys roared.
“Do you hear, sham sodger? Be off, and don’t stand staring like that,” cried Burr major again. “I told you to go.”