"Perhaps I have. I advise you to cool off, and take things calmly," continued the captain, as he took the papers which had been signed that evening from his pocket. "I might prosecute you, and you would be condemned to pay a heavy fine."
"My father would pay it: I would make him pay it."
"On the contrary, he will pay no more fines on your account."
"Yes, he will!"
"More than that, he will not be called upon to pay any," replied Captain Gildrock, selecting the agreement with Mr. Topover from the bundle. "You are now a member of the Beech-Hill Industrial School, and you will be as well used as your conduct will allow; but you will learn to obey orders."
"I am not a member of the school, and I would not be!" replied Tom. "I never joined, and I shall not join!"
"Perhaps you would like to read this paper," added the captain, handing it to him.
The ruffian was scholar enough to make out the meaning of the document at once. He had cooled off to some extent, and the contents of the paper seemed to be a great surprise to him. He read it a second time, before he raised his eyes from the writing.
"Did my father and mother sign that paper?" asked he, as the principal took the document from his hand before he had thought of tearing it up.
"You can see for yourself that they did," replied Captain Gildrock. "You won't obey them, and you are of no use to them, and have made them no end of trouble."