He was not pleased with the statement that he had rewarded the Topovers by receiving them, and he was willing to do something to remove such a mistaken impression in the community. The ranks of both classes were full now, and he had only to think of the actual work of the first term. Before the end of the last week, the instructors arrived; and they were not especially pleased when they learned the character of some of the new scholars.
The principal explained his new idea to them, and they were willing to co-operate with him in carrying out his purpose. Mr. Brookbine, the master carpenter, was a disciplinarian himself; and he did not object to the original Topovers, or to the hard boys from Whitehall, Plattsburgh, and Burlington. He was confident that he could make them work. If they did not take kindly to the use of tools, he would set them to lugging lumber, or something of that sort, till they got over their sulkiness.
"As we used to say in the navy, we must keep every thing 'all taut,' and we shall get along very well," said the principal.
CHAPTER XVII.
TOM TOPOVER FINDS HIMSELF IGNORED.
On the first day of the new term, Captain Gildrock made his usual speech of welcome and explanation. Just one-half of the school were new scholars, and it took a week to get them properly classified. Nearly one-third of the number were "hard boys;" though six of them had been disciplined for two weeks, on board of the steamer. But the new pupils had not learned their duties in the schoolroom.
Tom Topover had come to that part of the programme of the institution, where he expected to recover his lost prestige as a leader of his gang. Study had always been an abomination to him; and he supposed it was to his companions, the original Topovers. For himself, he refused to make any effort to apply himself; and, when called upon for a recitation, he was entirely unprepared. He thought he could get the better of his teachers and the principal in this department.
Mr. Darlingby sent him to his room to learn his lesson when he failed. Tom laughed in his sleeve, at this sort of discipline. He stretched himself on the bed, and went to sleep. At dinner-time his meal consisted of nothing but bread and butter, and cold water. Tom did not touch it; for he was disgusted with such food, after the good living he had so greatly enjoyed since he came to the school.
Kidd Digfield and the others did the best they could with their lessons, and were subjected to no discipline on account of them. They had been to the grammar school, and were fair scholars in the ordinary branches. No difficult tasks were assigned to them, and they passed the forenoon with infinitely better satisfaction to themselves than they had expected.
In the afternoon, when the students were assembled in the shops, they all felt more at home. They were provided with tools, all in good order, and required to make a box two feet long, a foot wide, and eight inches deep. This was the work of all the new boys; and the use of the tools was explained to them, precisely as it had been to all the classes who had preceded them.