My School Day. 55

 

going without one’s dinner is so unpleasant,
especially if somebody else has got it. Even if
there had been time for me to go home and back
again, it was very doubtful whether Nance would
give me another dinner, and I felt as if I had not
spirit enough left to ask for it. So I lay down
under a bank and was sad, till school-time came
again.

What with the morning’s hubbub, and the going
without mydinner,and the effort to keep from crying,
my head was aching so that all I recollect of the
afternoon’s school is a confused shouting, droning,
shoving, and moving to and fro; above all which
rose from time to time loud orders from the master,
accompanied not unfrequently by a cuff or a rap
on the knuckles. At last the welcome order came
to stand up for prayers. Mr. Tombs had his hand
on the book, and was settling his spectacles, when
a woman’s head was thrust in at the door with,
“ Master, you’re wanting out here, at oncst.” And
Mr. Tombs disappeared, leaving us all standing
there with folded hands.

We waited with very tolerable patience until the
clock struck four, but then the murmurs and com-
plaints grew louder and louder.

“Let us go, not let’s wait no more for’n,” said
Simon at last.