Лавка древностей

Chapter 25

           Thelessonsover,writingtimebegan;andtherebeingbutonedeskandthatthemaster’s,eachboysatatitinturnandlabouredathiscrookedcopy,whilethemasterwalkedabout.Thiswasaquietertime;forhewouldcomeandlookoverthewriter’sshoulder,andtellhimmildlytoobservehowsuchaletterwasturnedinsuchacopyonthewall,praisesuchanup-strokehereandsuchadown-strokethere,andbidhimtakeitforhismodel.Thenhewouldstopandtellthemwhatthesickchildhadsaidlastnight,andhowhehadlongedtobeamongthemonceagain;andsuchwasthepoorschoolmaster’sgentleandaffectionatemanner,thattheboysseemedquiteremorsefulthattheyhadworriedhimsomuch,andwereabsolutelyquiet;eatingnoapples,cuttingnonames,inflictingnopinches,andmakingnogrimaces,forfulltwominutesafterwards.

           ‘Ithink,boys,’saidtheschoolmasterwhentheclockstrucktwelve,‘thatIshallgiveanextrahalf-holidaythisafternoon.’

           Atthisintelligence,theboys,ledonandheadedbythetallboy,raisedagreatshout,inthemidstofwhichthemasterwasseentospeak,butcouldnotbeheard.Ashehelduphishand,however,intokenofhiswishthattheyshouldbesilent,theywereconsiderateenoughtoleaveoff,assoonasthelongest-windedamongthemwerequiteoutofbreath.

           ‘Youmustpromisemefirst,’saidtheschoolmaster,‘thatyou’llnotbenoisy,oratleast,ifyouare,thatyou’llgoawayandbesoawayoutofthevillageImean.I’msureyouwouldn’tdisturbyouroldplaymateandcompanion.

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