The Island School — page 151: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

126 to in a most uncomplimentary manner. A _ dark frown settled on his face as he strode up to the noisy eroup, Instantly seen, his presence brought about a temporary lull in the riot. “ Duffer or not,” he said, “I am master here. Please to remember that!” ‘¢ More’s the pity,” said a man’s voice in the thick of the crowd. ‘Who said that ?” denen the schoolmaster. “JT did,’ replied Martin, striding forward, “and I meantit. Thanks to you we are all here—boxed up on an island, and mixed up in all sorts of feuds with which we have nothing to do.” “Martin,” said Mr. Farrell, yourself under notice to leave.” “Certainly,” replied Martin, briskly. ‘‘ And I shall be glad to go, with many more, as soon as we can get away. You took the launch from the island. What have you done with her ?” ' “She is at the bottom of the sea.” “Where she might expect to go in your hands.” It was Changeling now having a shot, and the schoolmaster turned towards him like a goaded animal. “¢ You can have notice, too,” he said. “Give it to us all in a lump,” said Waffle, ‘“ and finish the job.” Mr. Farrell wheeled about and faced Jim, ‘“Where have you been since I landed you on the island P” he asked. “Tn the castle,” answered Jim, “where I was com- pelled to go by the tyranny of the man who usurped your place.” ‘All through,” returned the schoolmaster, “you have been supporting insubordination, for which you will be expelled.” “That's a change from giving notice,” said Martin. “You expelled yourself, sir; and why did you not stay away °” “Ahem,” coughed the schoolmaster. “That is a question you have no right to ask, and: one which I shall assuredly not answer.” ““T came down,” said Jim, prewus in and giving his friends a warning glance, “knowing you had re- turned, to make terms for the coming back of myself and others to the school. Also to arrange for the reception of a stranger.” “Vl have no strangers here,” said Mr. Farrell. Again there was an addition to the crowd in the person of Eveline. She came up to her father and touched him lightly on the arm. “Mamma,” she said, “ wishes to speak to you.” The face of the man was a study as he struggled with his rage and petty pride, and finally yielded to the exigencies of the postion. “TY will come in a minute,” “you will consider he said. i —-——— --— - ————$ EE oe Se Ne oe ee = mn THE ISLAND SCHOOL. “You must come now, or not at all,”- insisted Kveline, speaking in a low tone as before. “Very well,” he said, with a-stifled groan. “Tam but a shuttlecock here, knocked about by every battle- dore. Gordon, you had better wait.” | ‘“ He is to come, too,” said Eveline. ‘ Mamma saw him from the window, and she desires it.” Again there was a struggle in the breast of the schoolmaster, but he yielded, as he was bound by his weak nature to do, whether in the right or wrong. ‘So be it,” he said, and with a quick, jerky step, ex- pressive of his ined feelings, he led the way into the house. Jim and Eveline followed, exchanging a few words in au undertone. The rest looked dumbly on, not knowing what to make of it all. CHAPTER LXV. MR. FARRELL CAVES IN COMPLETELY. ay 2 a .c G : 5 <a Hier 7 “ - — SS iP? = is aN? 2 ef -, . S; Et PP. oy~ ~ DAE a + , -. a vy Pi ’ \RS. Farrell received them in Kveline’s boudoir, and on entering she gave Jim her hand. To her husband she said : ‘ “Sit down, Nap, and yh hear what I have to say, / & then decide on what course you will take.” The schoolmaster sat down and passed his hand across his brow. Mrs. Farrell motioned to Jim to take a seat also, and Kveline took up a position, standing by the side of her mother. “Nap,” said Mrs. Poel “Tt have a most extra- ordinary story to tell, and not the least extraordinary feature about it is that it’s absolutely true. You are aware that there was a plot, on the part of a man named Reonardo, to earry off Eveline ?” “T was aware of it, my dear,” was the humble repl y. “But you were not aware, perhaps, that it has been supplemented by another in which Mr. Groby shares?” ‘“Assuredly not. I had no idea of Groby plotting anything.” ‘¢ But he has done so,” said Mrs. Farrell. And then she proceeded to give him the particulars of many things already known to the reader.. The only thing withheld from him was the work done by Morse and the way it was done. Not a word was said about the trap-door in the laboratory of that investigating young gentleman. The part of the narrative relating to the ambush laid for the smugglers by the boys, with the result, (el @ ) o co mn fairly staggered the schoolmaster. | of @r@) mn cS