by which refusal I should, of course, be
flogged; but he assured me that the birch, especially when it is given
often, was a mere nothing. Now I considered that the surest way to
avoid the ruler was to sit close to my master, who could then have no
pretence for sending it at my head; the fact was I had determined to
save the more noble portions of my body, and leave Mr O'Gallagher to do
what he pleased with the other: to do him justice, he lost no time.

"Come here, Mr Keene," said he, "where's your manners? why don't you
say good morning to your preceptor? Can you read at all?"

"No, sir."

"D'ye know your letters?"

"Some of them--I think I do, sir."

"Some of them--I suppose about two out of six-and-twenty. It's
particular attention that's been paid to your education, I perceive;
you've nothing to unlearn anyhow, that's something. Now, sir, do you
think that a classical scholar and a gentleman born, like me, is to
demane myself by hearing you puzzle at the alphabet? You're quite
mistaken, Mr Keene, you must gain your first elements second-hand; so
where's Thimothy Ruddel? You, Timothy Ruddel, you'll just teach this
young Master Keene his whole alphabet, and take care, at the same time,
that you know your own lessons, or it will end in a blow-up; and you,
Master Keene, if you have not larnt your whole alphabet perfect by
dinner time, why you'll have a small taste of Number 2, just as a hint
to what's coming next. Go along, you little ignorant blackguard; and
you, Timothy Ruddel, look out for a taste of Number 3, if you don't larn
him and yourself all at once, and at the same time."

I was very well pleased with this arrangement; I had resolved to learn,
and I was doubly stimulated to learn now, to save poor Timothy Ruddel
from an unjust punishment.

In the three hours I was quite perfect, and Timothy Ruddel, who was
called up before me, was also able to say his lesson without a blunder
very much to the disappointment of Mr O'Gallagher, who observed, "So
you've slipped through my fingers, have you, this time, Master Timothy?
Never mind, I'll have you yet; and, moreover, there's Master Keene to go
through the fiery furnace." Just before dinner time I was called up;
with my memory of many of the letters, and the assistance I had received
from Timothy Ruddel, I felt very confident.

"What letter's that, sir?" said Mr O'Gallagher.

"A B C D E."

"You little blackguard, I'll dodge you; you think to escap