Chapter 21

           Vacationwasapproaching. Theschoolmaster,alwayssevere,grewsevererandmoreexactingthanever,forhewantedtheschooltomakeagoodshowingon"Examination"day. Hisrodandhisferulewereseldomidlenow—atleastamongthesmallerpupils. Onlythebiggestboys,andyoungladiesofeighteenandtwenty,escapedlashing. Mr.Dobbins’lashingswereveryvigorousones,too; foralthoughhecarried,underhiswig,aperfectlybaldandshinyhead,hehadonlyreachedmiddleage,andtherewasnosignoffeeblenessinhismuscle. Asthegreatdayapproached,allthetyrannythatwasinhimcametothesurface;heseemedtotakeavindictivepleasureinpunishingtheleastshortcomings. Theconsequencewas,thatthesmallerboysspenttheirdaysinterrorandsufferingandtheirnightsinplottingrevenge. Theythrewawaynoopportunitytodothemasteramischief. Buthekeptaheadallthetime. Theretributionthatfollowedeveryvengefulsuccesswassosweepingandmajesticthattheboysalwaysretiredfromthefieldbadlyworsted. Atlasttheyconspiredtogetherandhituponaplanthatpromisedadazzlingvictory. Theysworeinthesign-painter’sboy,toldhimthescheme,andaskedhishelp. Hehadhisownreasonsforbeingdelighted,forthemasterboardedinhisfather’sfamilyandhadgiventheboyamplecausetohatehim. Themaster’swifewouldgoonavisittothecountryinafewdays,andtherewouldbenothingtointerferewiththeplan; themasteralwayspreparedhimselfforgreatoccasionsbygettingprettywellfuddled,andthesign-painter’sboysaidthatwhenthedominiehadreachedtheproperconditiononExaminationEveninghewould"managethething"whilehenappedinhischair; thenhewouldhavehimawakenedattherighttimeandhurriedawaytoschool. 

           Inthefulnessoftimetheinterestingoccasionarrived. Ateightintheeveningtheschoolhousewasbrilliantlylighted,andadornedwithwreathsandfestoonsoffoliageandflowers.