My School Day. 61

“Oh, Tommy!” said I, “how could you?”

“Couldn't help it ; it was such fun!” and Tommy
began laughing again. “ There’s well you done it
too. Warn’t master savage, that’s all!”

“What do you think he'll do to me?”

“Bless you, nothink!” returned Tommy. “Not
but he might ha’ walloped you then, if hed a
cotched you. My, you've been a crying! Be you
frightened, Reuben? Tell you what; mitch you
to-morrow, and [ll mitch too, and we'll go out
nutting, you and me—there ’ll be fun!”

He had no time for more, for the approaching
clank of Nance’s wooden-soled shoes was the
signal for him to decamp. He called for me the
next morning, true to his word ; but I was far more
fit to stay in bed than to go nutting. I had made
mysclf almost ill with fright, and could not close my
eyes without terrible dreams of being pursued by
Mr. Tombs in the shape of a big dog, or else Mr.
Prickard jumped upon me with glaring eyes, or
they both lay waiting for me at the bottom of some
pit, while Simon lowered me down to them hanging
helpless by the collar of my jacket. Again and
again did I wake terrified and screaming—or worse,
unable to scream—until I dreaded the night and its
terrors of darkness, although day only brought a
change of fears. Then I sat weak and weary by