“Ah—this is our—ah—playground, Leigh,” explained the master, with a comprehensive wave of his arm; and, then, the chorus of yells, shouts, screams, and stray laughter that at first echoed through my ears, like the din of Pandemonium, having ceased as soon as the Doctor’s presence in their midst was perceived by the boys, that worthy very briefly introduced me.
“Here’s a new boy—ah—make friends with him; but, ah—no fighting!”
Having thus done as much as he thought necessary, the master withdrew, shutting the door that communicated with the house behind him; and I, going down the steps, with some little hesitation in the face of all the mass of boys who were now staring at me, with, it seemed to me, the concentrated look of one, found myself in a minute surrounded by them.
I was just like a solitary pigeon amongst a flock of rooks, for all, as if with a single voice, began eagerly shouting out a series of the most personal questions, without giving me time to answer them individually.
After a bit, the clamour somewhat ceased, and then a tall, slenderly-built chap, who appeared to be the cock of the school, came up to me, while the others formed a circle around us two, waiting for the upshot of their leader’s action. It was enough to make one feel nervous, for they all became suddenly silent, although I could see one or two nudging each other and grinning gleefully, as if some highly interesting episode was expected at my expense.
“What is your name?” said the tall one.
“Martin Leigh,” I replied, civilly, seeing no harm in the question.
“Oh, that’s a fine name,” observed my interlocutor, sneeringly; “I suppose you’re the son of a duke, and a nobleman in disguise?”
“No,” said I, calmly, put on my mettle by hearing the others sniggering at their leader’s wit, as they thought it—“my father was an officer.”
“That’s a good one!” said the tall chap, with a stagey laugh; “I think he must have belonged to the Horse Marines—didn’t he?”