Glyn Severn's Schooldays

by George Manville Fenn

There was a low titter at this, and every eye was turned upon Glyn and Singh, the latter turning very red.

“By the way, Mr Singh,” continued the Doctor, “you have a colloquial term for the form of castle used in India, have you not?”

The word colloquial seemed to puzzle Singh, who remained silent, and Glyn spoke up.

“Howdah, sir!” he shouted.

“How dare you, sir!” cried the Doctor, with mock indignation; and then he looked smilingly round for appreciation of his pun, which was not seen till Morris expounded it.

Then there was a roar. While he waited patiently enough, the Doctor took off his gold-rimmed spectacles, drew a neatly folded white handkerchief from his pocket, shook it out, breathed upon the glasses, and polished them, kept on holding them to the light to make sure that there was not the symptom of a blur, and as soon as the laughter had died out he exclaimed, “Because—”

There was a dead silence, the boys large and small glancing at one another in a questioning way as if asking whether this was the beginning of another mild joke or a bit of facetiae that ought to be laughed at as it stood.

“Because—” said the Doctor again, more loudly than before, and he seemed, as he glanced round, to direct his words at every boy in turn.

“Because, gentlemen—” This time the Doctor looked hard at the masters, and then continued loudly, “it seems as if I am to be allowed to possess my boarders in peace, the quickset hedge is not to be torn-up any more, the split oak palings on the farther side are to remain untouched. To be brief, I am informed upon the best authority that the visit of Ramball’s menagerie is at an end. So now, Mr Singh, you may close up your repertoire of Hindustani words, and condescend to plain English with an occasional garnish from the classic writers of old. We will now resume our studies.”

All traces of excitement seemed to give way now to the humdrum routine of school-life. This, however, was diversified with plenty of cricket, Slegge posing in every match as the chief batsman and captain of the eleven.