to him that hath-第7章

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sullen　reluctance。

〃'Adn't　no　chance；　Samuel　'adn't。　　Been　a　delicate　child　ever　since
'is　mother　stopped　suckin'　'im；〃　explained　the　father　with　a
sympathetic　shake　of　his　head。

The　cold　blue　eye　appraised　the　boy's　hulking　mass。

〃'E　don't　look　it；〃　continued　Mr。　Wigglesworth；　noting　the　keen
glance；　〃but　'e's　never　been　（h）able　to　bide　steady　at　the　school。
（H）It's　'is　brain；　sir。〃

〃Hisahbrain？〃　　Again　the　blue　eyes　appraised　the　boy；　this　time
scanning　critically　his　face　for　indication　of　undue　brain
activity。

〃'Is　brain；　sir；〃　earnestly　reiterated　the　sympathetic　parent。
〃'Watch　that　（h）infant's　brain；'　sez　the　Doctor　to　the　missus　when
she　put　'im　on　the　bottle。　　And　you　know；　we　'ave　real　doctors　in
（H）England；　sir。　　'Watch　'is　brain；'　sez　'e；　and；　my　word；　the　care
'is　ma　'as　took　of　that　boy's　brain　is　wunnerful；　is　fair
beautiful；　sir。〃　　Mr。　Wigglesworth's　voice　grew　tremulous　at　the
remembrance　of　that　maternal　solicitude。

〃And　was　that　why　he　left　school？〃　enquired　the　boss。

〃Well；　sir；　not　（h）exackly；〃　said　Mr。　Wigglesworth；　momentarily
taken　aback；　〃though　w'en　I　comes　to　think　on　it　that　must　a　been
at　the　bottom　of　it。　　You　see；　w'en　Samuel　went　at　'is　books　of　a
night　'e'd　no　more　than　begin　at　a　sum　an'　'e'd　say　to　'is　ma；　'My
brain's　a…whirlin'；　ma'；　just　like　that；　and　'is　ma　would　'ave　to
pull　'is　book　away；　just　drag　it　away；　you　might　say。　　Oh；　'e's　'ad
a　'ard　time；　'as　Samuel。〃　　At　this　point　the　boss　received　a
distinct　shock；　for；　as　his　eyes　were　resting　upon　Samuel's　face
meditatively　while　he　listened　somewhat　apathetically；　it　must　be
confessed；　to　the　father's　moving　tale；　the　eye　of　the　boy　remote
from　the　father　closed　in　a　slow　but　significant　wink。

The　boss　sat　up；　galvanised　into　alert　attention。　　〃Eh？　　What？〃　he
exclaimed。

〃Yes；　sir；　'e's　caused　'is　ma　many　a　（h）anxious　hour；　'as　Samuel。〃
Again　the　eye　closed　in　a　slow　and　solemn　wink。　　〃And　we　thought；
'is　ma　and　me；　that　we　would　like　to　get　Samuel　into　some　easy
job〃

〃An　easy　job；　eh？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　Something　in　the　office；　'ere。〃

〃But　his　brain；　you　say；　would　not　let　him　study　his　books。〃

〃Oh；　it　was　them　sums；　sir；　an'　the　Jography　and　the　'Istory　an'
the　Composition；　an'；　an'wot　else；　Samuel？　　You　see；　these　'ere
schools　ain't　a　bit　like　the　schools　at　'ome；　sir。　　They're　so
confusing　with　their　subjecks。　　Wot　I　say　is；　why　not　stick　to　real
（h）eddication；　without　the　fiddle　faddles？〃

〃So　you　want　an　easy　job　for　your　son；　eh？〃　enquired　Mr。　Maitland。

〃Boy；〃　he　said　sharply　to　Samuel；　whose　eyes　had　again　become　fixed
upon　the　gay　and　daring　lumber…jack。　　Samuel　recalled　himself　with
visible　effort。　　〃Why　did　you　leave　school？　　The　truth；　mind。〃　　The
〃borin'〃　eyes　were　at　their　work。

〃Fired！〃　said　Sam　promptly。

Mr。　Wigglesworth　began　a　sputtering　explanation。

〃That　will　do；　Wigglesworth；〃　said　Mr。　Maitland；　holding　up　his
hand。　　〃Sam；　you　come　and　see　me　tomorrow　here　at　eight。　　Do　you
understand？〃

Sam　nodded。　　After　they　had　departed　there　came　through　the　closed
office　door　the　sound　of　Mr。　Wigglesworth's　voice　lifted　in　violent
declamation；　but　from　Sam　no　answering　sound　could　be　heard。

The　school　suffered　no　noticeable　loss　in　the　intellectual　quality
of　its　activities　by　the　removal　of　the　whirling　brain　and
incidentally　its　physical　integument　of　Samuel　Wigglesworth。　　To
the　smaller　boys　the　absence　of　Sam　brought　unbounded　joy；　more
especially　during　the　hours　of　recess　from　study　and　on　their
homeward　way　from　school　after　dismissal。

More　than　any　other；　little　Steve　Wickes　rejoiced　in　Sam's
departure　from　school。　　Owing　to　some　mysterious　arrangement　of
Sam's　brain　cells　he　seemed　to　possess　an　abnormal　interest　in
observing　the　sufferings　of　any　animal。　　The　squirming　of　an
unfortunate　fly　upon　a　pin　fascinated　him；　the　sight　of　a　wretched
dog　driven　mad　with　terror　rushing　frantically　down　a　street；　with
a　tin　can　dangling　to　its　tail；　convulsed　him　with　shrieking
delight。　　The　more　highly　organised　the　suffering　animal；　the
keener　was　Sam's　joy。　　A　child；　for　instance；　flying　in　a　paroxysm
of　fear　from　Sam's　hideously　contorted　face　furnished　acute
satisfaction。　　It　fell　naturally　enough　that　little　Steve　Wickes；
the　timid；　shrinking；　humpbacked　son　of　the　dead　soldier；　Stephen
Wickes；　afforded　Sam　many　opportunities　of　rare　pleasure。　　It　was
Sam　that　coined　and；　with　the　aid　of　his　sycophantic　following
never　wanting　to　a　bully；　fastened　to　the　child　the　nickname　of
〃Humpy　Wicksy；〃　working　thereby　writhing　agony　in　the　lad's　highly
sensitive　soul。　　But　Sam　did　not　stay　his　hand　at　the　infliction　of
merely　mental　anguish。　　It　was　one　of　his　favorite　forms　of　sport
to　seize　the　child　by　the　collar　and　breeches　and；　swinging　him
high　over　head；　hold　him　there　in　an　anguish　of　suspense；　awaiting
the　threatened　drop。　　It　is　to　be　confessed　that　Sam　was　not
entirely　without　provocation　at　the　hands　of　little　Steve；　for　the
lad　had　a　truly　uncanny　cunning　hidden　in　his　pencil；　by　means　of
which　Sam　was　held　up　in　caricature　to　the　surreptitious　joy　of　his
schoolmates。　　Sam's　departure　from　school　deprived　him　of　the　full
opportunity　he　formerly　enjoyed　of　indulging　himself　in　his
favourite　sport。　　On　this　account　he　took　the　more　eager　advantage
of　any　opportunity　that　offered　still　to　gratify　his　taste　in　this
direction。

Sauntering　sullenly　homeward　from　his　interview　with　the　boss　and
with　his　temper　rasped　to　a　raw　edge　by　his　father's　wrathful
comments　upon　his　〃dommed　waggin'　tongue；〃　he　welcomed　with　quite
unusual　eagerness　the　opportunity　for　indulging　himself　in　his
pastime　of　baiting　Humpy　Wicksy　whom　he　overtook　on　his　way　home
from　school　during　the　noon　intermission。

〃Hello；　Humpy；〃　he　roared　at　the　lad。

Like　a　frightened　rabbit　Steve　scurried　down　a　lane；　Sam　whooping
after　him。

〃Come　back；　you　little　beast。　　Do　you　hear　me？　　I'll　learn　you　to
come　when　you're　called；〃　he　shouted；　catching　the　terrified　lad
and　heaving　him　aloft　in　his　usual　double…handed　grip。

〃Let　me　down；　you！　　Leave　me　alone　now；〃　shrieked　the　boy；
squirming；　scratching；　biting　like　an　infuriated　cat。

〃Bite；　would　you？〃　said　Sam；　flinging　the　boy　down。　　〃Now　then；〃
catching　him　by　the　legs　and　turning　him　over　on　his　stomach；
〃we'll　make　a　wheelbarrow　of　you。　　Gee　up；　Buck！　　Want　a　ride；
boys？〃　he　shouted　to　his　admiring　gallery　of　toadies。　　〃All
aboard！〃

While　the　unhappy　Steve；　shrieking　prayers　and　curses；　was
struggling　vainly　to　extricate　himself　from　the　hands　gripping　his
ankles；　Annette　Perrotte；　stepping　smartly　along　the　street　on　her
way　from　the　box　factory；　came　past　the　entrance　to　the　lane。　　By
her　side　strode　a　broad…shouldered；　upstanding　youth。　　Arrested　by
Steve's　outcries　and　curses　she　paused。

〃What　are　those　boys　at；　I　wonder？〃　she　said。　　〃There's　that　big
lout　of　a　Wigglesworth　boy。　　He's　up　to　no　good；　I　bet　you。〃

〃Oh；　a　kids'　row　of　some　kind　or　ither；　a　doot；〃　said　the　youth。
〃Come　along。〃

〃He's　hurting　someone；〃　said　Annette；　starting　down　the　lane。
〃What？　　I　believe　it's　that　poor　child；　Steve　Wickes。〃　　Like　a
wrathful　fury　she　dashed　in　upon　Sam　and　his　company　of　tormentors
and；　knocking　the　little　ones　right　and　left；　she　sprang　upon　Sam
with　a　fierce　cry。

〃You　great　brute！〃　　She　seized　him　by　his　thatch　of　thick　red　hair
and　with　one　mighty　swing　she　hurled　him　clear　of　Steve　and　dashed
him　head　on　against　the　lane　fence。　　Sheer　surprise　held　Sam　silent
for　a　few　seconds；　but　as　he　felt　the　trickle　of　warm　blood　run
down　his　face　and　saw　it　red　upon　his　hand；　his　surprise　gave　place
to　terror。

〃Ouw！　　Ouw！〃　he　bellowed。　　〃I'm　killed；　I'm　dying。　　Ouw！　　Ouw！〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Annette；　holding　Steve　in　her　arms　and　seeking　to
quiet　his　sobbing。　　But　as　she　saw　the　streaming　blood　her　face
paled。

〃For　the　love　of　Mike；　Mack；　see　if　he's　hurt；〃　she　said　in　a　low
voice　to　her　companion。

〃Not　he！　　He's　makin'　too　much　noise；〃　said　the　young　man。　　〃Here；
you　young　bull；　wait　till　I　see　what's　wrang　wi'　ye；〃　he　continued；
stooping　over　Sam。

〃Get　away　from　me；　I　tell　you。　　Ouw！　　Ouw！　　I'm　dying；　and　they'll
hang　her。　　Ouw！　　Ouw！　　I'm　killed；　and　I'm　just　glad　I　am；　for
she'll　be　hung　to　death。〃　　Here　Sam　broke　into　a　vigorous　stream　of
profanity。

〃Ay；　he's　improvin'　A　doot；〃　said　Mack。　　〃Let　us　be　going。〃

〃'Ello！　　Wot's　（h）up？〃　cried　a　voice。　　It　was　Mr。　Wigglesworth　on
his　way　home　from　the　mill。　　〃Why；　bless　my　living　lights；　if　it
bean't　Samuel。　　Who's　been　a　beatin'　of　you；　Sammy？〃　　His　eye　swept
the　crowd。　　〃'Ave　you　been　at　my　lad？〃　he　asked；　stepping　toward
the　young　man；　whom　Annette　named　Mack。

〃Aw；　steady　up；　man。　　There's　naethin'　much　wrang　wi'　the　lada
wee　scratch　on　the　heid　frae　fa'in'　against　the　fence　yonder。〃

〃Who　'it　'im；　I　say？〃　shouted　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　〃Was　it　you？〃　he
added；　squaring　up　to　the　young　man。

〃No；　it　wasn't；　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　It　was　me。〃　　Mr。　Wigglesworth
turned　on　Annette　who；　now　that　Sam's　bellowing　had　much　abated
with　the　appearance　of　his　father　upon　the　scene；　had　somewhat
regained　her　nerve。

〃You？〃　gasped　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　〃You？　　My　Samuel？　　It's　a　lie；〃　he
cried。

〃Hey；　mon；　guairrd　y're　tongue　a　bit；〃　said　Mack。　　〃Mind　ye're
speakin'　to　a　leddy。〃

〃A　lidy！　　A　lidy！〃　　Mr。　Wigglesworth's　voice　was　eloquent　of　scorn。

〃Aye；　a　leddy！〃　said　Mack。　　〃An'　mind　what　ye　say　aboot　her　tae。
Mind　y're　manners；　man。〃

〃My　manners；　hey？　　An'　'oo　may　you　be；　to　learn　me　manners；　you
bloomin'　（h）ignorant　Scotch　（h）ass。　　You　give　me　（h）any　of　your
（h）imperance　an'　I'll　knock　y're　bloomin'　block　（h）off；　I　will。〃
And　Mr。　Wigglesworth；　throwing　himself　into　the　approved　pugilistic
attitude；　began　dancing　about　the　young　Scot。

〃Hoot；　mon；　awa'　hame　wi'　ye。　　Tak'　yon　young　tyke　wi'　ye　an'　gie
him　a　bit　wash；　he's　needin'　it；〃　said　Mack；　smiling　pleasantly　at
the　excited　and　belligerent　Mr。　Wigglesworth。

At　this　point　Captain　Jack；　slowly　motoring　by　the　lane　mouth；
turned　his　machine　to　the　curb　and　leaped　out。

〃What's　the　row　here？〃　he　asked；　making　his　way　through　the
considerable　crowd　that　had　gathered。　　〃What's　the　trouble；
Wigglesworth？〃

〃They're　knockin'　my　boy　abaht；　so　they　be；〃　exclaimed　Mr。
Wigglesworth。　　〃But；〃　with　growing　and　righteous　wrath；　〃they'll
find　（h）out　that；　wotsomever　they　do　to　a　kid；　w'en　they　come　（h）up
agin　Joe　Wigglesworth　they've　struck　somethin'　'ard'ard；　d'ye
'ear？　　'Ard！〃　　And　Mr。　Wigglesworth　made　a　pass　at　the　young　Scot。

〃Hold　on；　Wigglesworth；〃　said　Captain　Jack　quietly；　catching　his
arm。　　〃Were　you　beating　up　this　kid？〃　he　asked；　turning　to　the
young　man。

〃Nae　buddie's　beatin'　up　the　lad；〃　said　Mack　quietly。

〃It　was　me；〃　said　the　girl；　turning　a　defiant　face　to　Captain　Jack。

〃You？　　Why！　great　Scot！　　Blest　if　it　isn't　Annette。〃

〃Yes；　it's　me；〃　said　the　girl；　her　face　a　flame　of　colour。

〃By　Jove；　you've　grown　up；　haven't　you？　　And　it　was　you　that〃

〃Yes；　that　big　brute　was　abusing　Steve　here。〃

〃What？　　Little　Steve　Wickes？〃

〃He　was；　and　I　pitched　him　into　the　fence。　　He　hit　his　head　and　cut
it；　I　guess。　　I　didn't　mean〃

〃Served　him　right　enough；　too；　I　fancy；〃　said　Captain　Jack