'Jack.' The story of a scapegrace

Front matter

"JACK." The Story of a Scapegrace THE FINAL TUG NEARLY SENT JACK SPINNING OFF THE ROOF." — /. 45. "JACK" The Story of a Scapegrace BY E. M. BRYANT FRONTISPIECE BY ARTHUR GREENHOW JCotti-on S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO. 8 & 9, Paternoster Row TO MY NEPHEW- BOB THIS BOOK IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE. I. THE DECISION ------ J II. THE SCAPEGRACE ARRIVES 12 III. WHEREIN GHOSTS ARE LAID l8 IV. SCRAPES ------- 28 V. KNIGHT-ERRANTRY ------ 37 VI.— THE SECOND TERM ------ 50 VII. A BAD WEEK ------ 57 VIII. CONSEQUENCES ------ 09 IX. A PEACEFUL SUNDAY ______ 86 X. KNIGHT-ERRANTRY AGAIN - - - .91 XI. CHANGES ------- IOO XII. ROMANCE - - - - - - - 106 XIII. IN WHICH CHIMNEYS ARE STUFFED - - - I l6 XIV. "THE HALCYON DAY " - - - - 1 26 XV. RIOTS - - - - - - - - 131 XVI. THE CLOUDS LOWER - - - - "137 XVII. RECKONING DAY - - - - - - 1 44 XVIII. '- BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS"- - - I48 XIX. — HOME-COMING - - - - - - 1 "JACK." ■s^%r

Chapter I. The Decision

Spogf] ELL ! what is your verdict ? Shall we ■ ■Il widen our circle and take in this young scapegrace ? " uiM The speaker was the Rector of Hil xS'Jvrr comhe, a man much respected and not a wf-sjfp little feared in his parish. The scapegrace .-gy^s alluded to was the young hero whose name appears at the top of the page, and who, it is to be feared, had no title either to respect or reverence. The circle at the Rectory was by no means small at the present time. It included the Rector him self, his wife, his two children, and four pupils, varying in age from sixteen to eighteen, whom he was preparing for college life. The question with which our story opens evidently required grave consideration, for there was a pause of some length before Mrs. Austen replied in her clear, pleasant voice, "JACK."

"It is certainly a great responsibility if he is as wild as you say, and his being so much younger than the others will give you extra trouble, I fear ; but I cannot help feeling sorry for the Captain — how dreadful to go to the war, leaving his boy in incompetent hands ! What made his father remove him from school ? Anything very dreadful ? " " Unconquerable idleness, perpetual mischief, insufferable impudence," was the somewhat grim reply. " At any rate, he is not a wicked boy, and our present lot are so steady, that I don't think he will find a companion in mischief, unless in Master George," with a glance at a small boy playing in a distant corner. "Captain Percy could never have a dishonourable son," . Mrs. Austen added, after a moment's silence. " I never saw such honest, straight forward eyes."

" It is quite evident the Captain has got round you," said the Rector, with a smile. " If the boy has inherited his father's eyes, his case will be won. But if he shows any of his impudence to you, off he goes that moment," he added sternly. " What do 'ou mean by impuddence farver ? " enquired the small boy who had left his corner, unnoticed by his parents. "Zane tails me himperent when I tell her her hair's velly wed; she doesn't say im-impudding." "It is the same thing, though, and remember that is what we don't allow here," said his father, with difficulty concealing a smile from the observant George. "But nobody would ever tell muvver her hair was wed ; 'tos it isn't, and it would be a bad wicked story, as well as impudding. It's not a story to tell Zane her hair is wed, 'tos it is as wed as — as wed THE DECISION. 9 as — " with a glance round for a similitude — " as wed as your sot, farver," and he triumphantly elevated his father's reverend leg.

" Well, the Captain is to bring his boy over to-morrow, and we shall have a better idea when we have seen him," said Mr. Austen, as he left the room. The Rector was a very important person in Hilcombe ; for one thing, he was the finest man for miles round — tall, broad, muscular, with a powerful voice and a decided manner, which made people see he would stand no interference. He was a hard working clergyman, but he had a passion for teaching, and it was more to gratify this passion than to add to his income that he had undertaken the training of the pupils before mentioned. His wife had a strong mind in a weak body. She was so gentle, wise, and good, that the boys said they learned as much from her as from the Rector, and it is certain that no one left her presence without a loving remembrance of her refining influence.

Hannah, the only daughter, was a pretty child of twelve, her mother's special companion ; Master George has already introduced himself. He was the curious mixture of babyishness and precocity so often seen in the only little boy of a family. Easter vacation was almost over, and Mrs. Austen was looking forward a little sadly to the end of the peaceful time, though she was always glad to see the boys again. The following day brought Captain Percy and his son to the Rectory. The latter, after shaking hands somewhat sheepishly with his future guardian, was shown into the dining room, where Master George was amusing himself in solitary splendour. "Fetch your mother, George," said his father, and then the two gentlemen shut themselves into the study and the boys were left alone. "JACK.' 10 Georgie stood with his hands deep in his pockets — he had only j'ust been promoted to knickerbockers, and was immensely proud of them — and stared at the new-comer with round, childish eyes.

At last he remarked with charming directness : " I Dzorge — who you ?" "I Jack," was the prompt reply; then the elder lad broke into a merry laugh. " Can't make me out, old fellow, can you ?" he said good-naturedly. But light had dawned upon Georgie. "I know," he cried gleefully, "you are the boy farver and muvver was tauting 'bout, and farver said if you wass impudding to my muvver, you'd have to go — it means you mustn't say her hair is wed." Jack laughed again ; he found Georgie very enter taining. The two became fast friends, and in a short time, Georgie had mounted a fiery steed, which plunged and reared in a truly alarming manner. Mrs. Austen, as she opened the door, was not a little surprised to see a figure fly over a chair and alight at her very feet, while over the figure's shoulder she beheld her small son, with sparkling eyes and round red cheeks, thumping and pounding his horse with all his small might, and shouting lustily, "Gee up, Jack, gee up !

" But the gallop ended abruptly, and Jack uncere moniously dragged his rider from his back, blushing as he did so to the roots of his bright hair. " A good beginning certainly," thought Mrs. Austen, and she looked rather curiously at the boy as she shook hands with him. What she saw was a slim, straight figure, surmounted by a brown, boyish face, flushed just now partly with violent exercise and partly from embarrassment. It was a freckled face too, with a combative chin, a determined mouth, a THE DECISION. 11 saucy little nose, and two honest, mischievous blue eyes. " I suppose you are Master Jack Percy ; I see you have made friends with my little son already," said the lady kindly. " Yes," said the boy, raising his eyes bravely, " and I'm awfully — that is, very sorry to have made such a row — I mean noise.

It was beastly — I mean bad of me to forget so soon. But," he added, with a glance at his late rider, " he's such a jolly little chap, I felt as if I had known him always." Whether it was this last little appeal to her motherly pride which won Mrs. Austen's heart, or the ingenuousness of the whole speech, I cannot say, but she certainly said to herself: " Mischief or no mischief, I hope Henry will let him stay." She sat down and chatted pleasantly to him till the gentlemen came out from their consultation, and then it was luncheon time. By the time the meal was over, Mrs. Austen scarcely knew which she liked better, the tall, soldierly father with his courteous manners, or the ne'er-do-well of a son with his winning ways. " You see," the Captain said to her, as they afterwards strolled in the garden, "he cannot remember his mother, poor laddie ! it would have been so different for him if she had lived," and there was a break in the manly voice.

" I have had to leave him so much, and no one else has much control over him. I cannot help thinking that home-life and the influence of a lady will be the making of him." There were tears in Mrs. Austen's eyes as she replied, " You may trust us all to do our best for him, Captain, and he has such a good heart, that I am quite hopeful." So it was arranged that when the Captain sailed, Jack should take up his abode at the Rectory.

Chapter II. The Scapegrace Arrives

IT was rather a subdued young gentleman who arrived a week later at the Rectory door. Mrs. Austen received him, and very much admired his manly efforts to conceal his home-sickness. The other boys were not yet back, and, fearing that he would be lonely, the Rector's wife kept him with her all the evening. He was a little difficult to entertain, his father's departure being too recent to bear talking about, while any allusion to his school life brought the colour to his face. The only safe topic was the future, and accordingly they spoke of the boys, the hours for study, the boating, bathing, etc. Then, when other subjects failed, she discovered that he loved music and actually sang himself. " Is there anything here you sing ? " she asked eagerly, passing down a portfolio. Jack glanced through it, and presently his eye lighted on Mendelssohn's "Hear my Prayer."

" I used to sing this," he said, rather shyly. " Try it now," Mrs. Austen said, encouragingly, and as she began to play, he sang in a clear, sweet voice which delighted his listener. All went well till he reached " Oh, for the wings," which seemed to touch a tender chord, for he stopped abruptly, and Mrs. Austen did not press him to go on. " Hannah is out this evening," she said, after a pause, " or she would have had a game with you ; and George is in bed, that is why everything is so THE SCAPEGRACE ARRIVES. 13 peaceful. I almost think, do you know, that bed would be the best place for you ; you have had a journey and look very tired." Jack assented a little wearily, and said " Good night." Mrs. Austen, passing his door a few minutes after, heard a sound which drew her into the room. The boy was lying with his face buried in the pillow, sobbing as if his young heart would break.

She stood still a moment— he had not heard her entrance — then, remembering that he had no mother, and had just seen his father depart to certain danger, perhaps death, and that he was a lonely little boy amongst strangers, without one cheerful thought of past, present, or future, she went softly across the room and laid her cool hand on his hot forehead. Jack had never had a lady's hand on his head before. " My poor little Jack, is it so bad ? Tell me, is it your father you want so badly ? " " It's everything," sobbed the boy, " but I do want dad dreadfully." She smoothed the rough hair in silence for a moment, then spoke again in the same quiet voice. " But you know, Jack, that you are very proud your father is so brave and good that his country has need of him ; you would not keep him back from his duty for your sake, would you ?

" " N-no, but I wish I could go too." "So do I, for your sake; but, since that is im possible, don't you think your father would be pleased to hear that you had settled down here and were doing your duty ? Besides, you know, in that way you can be getting ready to join him by-and-by. I want you to feel as if this were your home ; come to me when you feel lonely or dull and want to talk about your father. I believe we are all going to be "JACK." 14 very happy together. Good-night, dear, there is my husband come in ; you will sleep now, will you not ? " She stooped to kiss him, and Jack said gratefully — " You are awfully good to me." " Well, has the boy come ? " was the Rector's greeting as his wife entered the room. " Yes, poor laddie, and he has had a hard battle with his home-sickness, but I think he will settle down now.

I sent him to bed early, he was so tired, and oh ! Henry, he has the sweetest voice and will be a God-send to the choir." The Rector gave a sound resembling a grunt, and hoped the lad would be a God-send to the house as well. Jack settled down much sooner than Mrs. Austen expected. The next day his dolefuls were flown, and he was all over the place, making friends with every one — swinging Hannah, racing Georgie, pumping for Mary, helping Thomas with the horses, and coming in to early dinner with a happy face and an enor mous appetite. Hannah and he were sworn chums from the first, and during the three days that elapsed before the return of the other pupils, they were inseparable. Mrs. Austen smiled at this violent friendship ; she was sure Jack would soon forsake his girl-friend when his male companions arrived.

The boys' room, or study as it was called, though quite distinct from the Rector's study, was a bright, pleasant room looking out over the back garden, with peeps of field and river showing here and there amid the trees. It was the last evening of the holidays, and Jack, feeling a little forlorn at the immediate prospect of lessons, was standing in the study drumming on the window pane, when suddenly the door opened and a startled voice said, " Hullo ! " THE SCAPEGRACE ARRIVES. 15 The young hero at the window turned round and repeated the exclamation for lack of a better. The new-comer advanced into the room holding out his hand. " I did not know we were to have any new boys this term," he said brightly, " but I am very glad to see you. I am Watson." Jack shook hands heartily enough. " I am Jack Percy," he said.

" I have heard Mrs. Austen speak of you — you are the sap." Watson laughed. He had a pleasant, open face, with kind blue eyes, and his laugh was good to hear. Jack liked him in spite of the sappishness, and the two strolled out together on very good terms. The other boys all arrived that evening. Meredith was a big, strong fellow with a hand some, heavy face. He was the sort of boy who could not be dragged through the fourth form of a public school, and so had been sent to Mr. Austen as a last resource. Cyril Wyndham, who was related, though not closely, to the Rector, was a rather colourless boy of seventeen. His parents were in India, and had kept their son with them too long for his health. He was intelligent, but dreadfully lacking in vigour. Last of all came Ray Neville, a proud, handsome lad of sixteen, with fine dark eyes and long legs.

Jack looked them all over, and they looked at him. Neville remarked, superciliously, that he was not aware Mr. Austen intended opening a nursery, and he supposed the new-comer would have lessons with Hannah and George ; to which Jack artlessly replied that he thought he had been sent there as a companion to Master Neville, who, it was feared, missed his baby brothers. A flash from Ray's dark eyes boded no good to Jack, but Watson warded off a catastrophe for that "JACK." time by beginning an energetic talk about the holidays. The next day lessons began in earnest, and the " unconquerably idle, perpetually mischievous, and insufferably impudent " new boy had an opportunity for the display of these qualities. Perhaps the Rector was not an easy person to air them on, or perhaps Jack was still on his good behaviour ; at all events the first two or three days passed very peacefully.

It was on the Saturday afternoon, while tennis was going forward briskly, that hostilities reached a climax between Jack and Ray. It must be con fessed that Jack was exasperating either as a partner or as an opponent, since no court was ever large enough for him. Ray had really dis played a great deal of patience, but the limit of his endurance was reached when one of Jack's balls flew over field and fence, down to the bank of the river itself. " Now, look here ! " shouted Neville angrily, " no one has any right to send balls like those. I am not going to be your footman, I can tell you ; you may fetch it yourself, and look jolly sharp about it." " Why didn't you stop it, dear ? " queried Jack, sweetly. "Weren't your arms long enough, or did you funk it ? Perhaps you'll tell me when you have found it," and the irritating boy laid himself down on the grass and pulled his cap over his eyes.

Ray, in ungovernable fury, leaped the net and stood over his prostrate foe. " Get up and take the thrashing you so richly deserve," he thundered. " I see there will be no peace until you have had your due." " I am glad you are so just," was the cheerful reply; "'give the devil his due,' you know, so it is only fair that I should have mine." THE SCAPEGRACE ARRIVES. 17 " Don't think you'll shirk it in that way. Get up, you little cad!" began Ray, but in a moment the blood of Jack's fighting ancestors boiled in his veins — no one should call him "cad" with impunity. With blazing eyes he sprang up, and the next instant the two lads had closed in violent combat. Ray was head and shoulders taller, but Jack was tough and agile for his years. Further, he was in good practice, which his adversary was not ; never theless, Ray's long legs were a great advantage to him, and again and again Jack was brought with vio lence to Mother Earth.

He never knew when he was beaten, however, but each time sprang up hotter than ever and flew at his enemy. How long it would have lasted cannot be said, but fortunately Watson, strolling on to the field, saw the conflict and put an end to it by forcibly dragging Jack off. "What foolery is this?" he exclaimed; "the Rector will be awfully wild. Neville, you ought to be ashamed of yourself; as for you, Percy, you'll not be fit to be seen for a week." Neville was ashamed, and after a few more words the boys were induced to shake hands, after which Watson conveyed the injured hero to the house to be patched up for tea. Mr. Austen was much disgusted at the introduc tion of the fighting element into his peaceful household, and his wife was specially sorry because the bumps and bruises prevented Jack's appearance in the choir the next day.

Hostilities were never renewed, and the two boys were much more friendly after the fight. But Jack soon found that Ray was either too gentlemanly or too lazy to take part in the pranks which were always filling his own pate, and he turned for sympathy to his oldest friend — Hannah. B

Chapter III. Wherein Ghosts Are Laid

THE boys usually spent a part of the evening with Mrs. Austen in the drawing-room. The Rector was often out, or in his study, and his wife liked to have them with her. Very pleasant times they had — sometimes music, sometimes games, or reading aloud, and always the gentle presence of the lady of the house to smooth over difficulties. It was wonderful how they softened their voices and purified their speech of all slang in Mrs. Austen's company. Even Jack, thoughtless as he was, learned to check hasty expressions and the words which would sound vulgar in a lady's drawing-room. He was funnily shy in her presence, but he always went to her when he had a letter from his father, and read a few lines of the short soldierly sentences to her. He generally stopped abruptly before the end, and then Mrs. Austen knew that the far-away father was telling his boy to be brave, and good, and true.

" Hullo ! my merrythought, is that you ? " cried Jack, one afternoon, as he went into the study and found Meredith helplessly scratching his head over a piece of Latin prose. " Bothered with that, are you ? Let's have a look ! Why, it is as easy as A, B, C. Pass me a sheet of paper and I'll do it for you ; you can get it up afterwards, you know." " All right, fire away ! " said Meredith, passing the paper, and Jack set to work, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He chuckled once or twice, and then explained that it was a comical piece, and he wished that the Rector would give him something as interesting. When he had done, he hurried out of the room, and astonished Hannah and Georgie by a peal of laughter in the garden. "What you laughing at, Jack, now ? " demanded Georgie. " Couldn't tell a boy who can't speak plain," was the reply.

" But I can speak plain," said the injured youth, and indeed he could when he liked, but experience had taught him that the baby tongue paid better. Jack took no notice of him, however, but drew Hannah aside, to confide his latest trick to her. Hannah was the chief confidante of his mischief, and enjoyed it as much as he did himself. They laughed so heartily that Mrs. Austen, suspecting pranks, called Hannah in to get ready for a walk. The next morning Jack was sitting at his desk, which, for obvious reasons, was close to the Rector's chair, when the time came for Meredith's translation. As he was behind the others, he usually construed alone, and this half-hour was generally the most trying of the Rector's week. To-day, however, instead of the droning voice and hesitating tone, the boy began to read in a decided voice, and Jack, shaking with inward laughter, heard his own saucy though skilful arrangement given to the Rector's astonished ears.

Mr. Austen allowed the reading to end without a single interruption ; then he laid down the books and looked at his somewhat breathless pupil with a very grim smile. Jack, peeping between his fingers, detected the suppressed amusement in the Rector's face, and said gleefully to himself: "JACK." 20 "Why even Mr. Austen enjoyed it; I didn't think I was giving him a treat." The silence lasted long enough for even Meredith to discover that something was wrong. For one moment a suspicion crossed his mind, and he gave an anxious look at the Rector. The latter had by this time recovered his com posure. " May I ask," he said coldly, " whether you looked these words out, Meredith ? " " I did s-some of them, sir," stammered the poor boy, now convinced that Jack had failed him. " Very well," said the Rector growing colder in his indignation, "this afternoon you may look out each word and write it fifty times.

I think by that time you will see that this most interesting version differs slightly from the original." A dull, red glow spread over Meredith's face as he went slowly to his desk. Lessons went on very quietly after this. Mr. Austen's face showed plainly that he would allow no trifling, and even Jack was awed into exceptionally good behaviour. " How awfully black the Rector looked ! What had old Dith done to get into such a row ? You were nearest Percy, what was it ? " the other boys asked eagerly when morning work was over. For answer, Jack produced a rough copy of Mere dith's translation. " It's awfully clever!" said Watson, when they had laughed over it; "old Meredith never did this himself, he isn't up to it — it was you, you young monkey," catching sight of Jack's grinning face. " Glad you think it so clever," said that saucy youth, and eluding Watson's hand, he ran off to the study, where Meredith was still sitting surrounded by dictionaries.

" I say, old fellow, I'll look out those words for you — it was all my fault," Jack said, feeling very remorseful over the extra work he had brought on his companion. Meredith rose slowly from the table, remarking : " Come outside a minute, I want to speak to you." Jack followed him wonderingly through the garden to the field beyond, and there they paused. "Now, look here!" said Meredith in his slow, heavy way, "I'm going to pay you out for making a fool of me. If you never had a licking before you'll have one now." It was useless to struggle, and Jack knew it. His fight with Ray was no preparation for this. Meredith was almost a man, with arms strong enough to crush a small boy like Jack. And perhaps the latter thought that he deserved it, for he set his teeth and kept back the bad words which rose so easily to his lips.

Meredith was blind with wounded pride and never heeded where his blows fell. The dinner bell ringing loud and clear put an end to the unequal strife, and flinging aside his victim the elder boy strode away to the house. Jack lay where his conqueror had thrown him, too much stunned to think, and was found at last by Ray, whom the Rector had impatiently despatched in search of him. " Good heavens, Percy ! what has happened to you ? Who have you been fighting with this time ? " " No one," growled the prostrate hero, " but if you want a fight I feel just ready for the second round." "Don't be a fool," said Ray bluntly; " get up and come in, the Rector sent me out to find you." " Did he though ? " said Jack, struggling to his "JACK." 22 feet, " I thought he would have been only too pleased to lose me for a little."

He began to hobble slowly towards the house, and Ray watched him not without sympathy. " I say, old fellow, was it Meredith who mauled you about like this ? He looked mighty queer at dinner when you were mentioned. What a cad he is!" " I didn't say it was Meredith, but if it were, it was fair enough after the trick I served him," said Jack fiercely. " Well, all I can say is, the Rector will be mad and Meredith will catch it awfully." Jack stood still to consider. " Can't you go in and say I have a headache or something ? " he asked ; but Ray shook his head, and in the end Jack shuffled in to dinner with a shamefaced apology to Mrs. Austen for his unpunc tuality. No notice was taken of him till the meal was over, then the Rector said shortly : " Come to my study, Percy." Jack glanced wistfully at Mrs. Austen as he left the room, but her face was very grave ; she was privately wishing that Jack's ancestors had not bequeathed quite so much of the fighting instinct to their young descendant, and wondering how long these new bruises would take to heal.

Meanwhile, the Rector was sternly surveying a rather disconsolate culprit in the study. " I want you clearly to understand that I will not have my house turned into a bear-garden. If you cannot be happy without getting yourself into this disgraceful condition, you must go elsewhere to do it. Now, remember, this is the last battle on my ground — who was it with this time ? " Dead silence on Jack's part, and the Rector resumed somewhat angrily, " I have never had to deal with sulky boys yet, but I warn you that I shall find a way of dealing with them." Jack looked up a little defiantly. " I'm not sulky, sir, but I can't tell because — because — but really it was all my fault." Just at this moment, when Jack was despairing and Mr. Austen indignant, there came a tap at the door and Meredith entered.