"Tom Topover and the rest of them have been rewarded for their part in the affair by being admitted as pupils of the Beech-Hill Industrial School," continued Ash. "If we had been caught in the boat, and stuck to the lies Tom told, we might have been admitted also."
"Rewarded?" exclaimed Captain Gildrock. "They have been close prisoners since they were admitted. They are locked into their rooms at night, and the windows are protected with iron bars. Do you call that rewarding them?"
"I shouldn't care any thing about the barred windows if I could only be admitted," said Sam Spottwood. "I don't say that if stealing a boat is the way to get in, we shall try to get in that way; but some other fellows might say so."
"But all four of the original Topovers fought with all their might against the discipline, till we brought them to terms; and I am sure they do not consider their admission as a reward, but as a severe punishment, even worse than being brought up before a court."
"They have been in the school over a week, sir: do they still keep up the fight?" asked Ash.
"No: they have had enough of it, and are behaving very well," replied the principal thoughtfully.
"We have talked the matter over among ourselves, and with our parents. We all agree that the Topovers were lucky to get into the school, and we all wish we were in their shoes."
"Then I will admit you all," replied Captain Gildrock.
"Will you indeed, sir? We will not give you any trouble, and we won't run away if you don't lock us up nights!" exclaimed Sam.
The boys went home to inform their parents of the good news. They were all the children of parents who could not afford to pay their tuition in any school, whatever they might learn there; and, in this respect, they were within the rule the principal had laid down for his guidance. He had been thinking over this question of admission that day. He had already decided to receive ten refractory boys, and he thought this would be enough to enable him to try the question of reform.