if master briggs is destined in all probability to be a poor man, the chances are, that mr. bullock will have a very different lot. he is a son of a partner of the eminent banking firm of bullock and hulker, lombard street, and very high in the upper school—quite out of my jurisdiction, consequently.
he writes the most beautiful current hand ever seen; and the way in which he mastered arithmetic (going away into recondite and wonderful rules in the tutor's assistant, which some masters even dare not approach) is described by the doctor in terms of admiration. he is mr. prince's best algebra pupil; and a very fair classic, too, doing everything well for which he has a mind.
he does not busy himself with the sports of his comrades, and holds a cricket-bat no better than miss raby would. he employs the play hours in improving his mind, and reading the newspaper; he is a profound politician, and, it must be owned, on the liberal side. the elder boys despise him rather; and when champion major passes, he turns his head, and looks down. i don't like the expression of bullock's narrow, green eyes, as they follow the elder champion, who does not seem to know or care how much the other hates him.
no—mr. bullock, though perhaps the cleverest and most accomplished boy in the school, associates with the quite little boys when he is minded for society. to these he is quite affable, courteous, and winning. he never fagged or thrashed one of them. he has done the verses and corrected the exercises of many, and many is the little lad to whom he has lent a little money.
it is true he charges at the rate of a penny a week for every sixpence lent out, but many a fellow to whom tarts are a present necessity is happy to pay this interest for the loan. these transactions are kept secret. mr. bullock, in rather a whining tone, when he takes master green aside and does the requisite business for him, says, "you know you'll go and talk about it everywhere. i don't want to lend you the money, i want to buy something with it. it's only to oblige you; and yet i am sure you will go and make fun of me." whereon, of course, green, eager for the money, vows solemnly that the transaction shall be confidential, and only speaks when the payment of the interest becomes oppressive.
thus it is that mr. bullock's practices are at all known. at a very early period indeed his commercial genius manifested itself; and by happy speculations in toffey; by composing a sweet drink made of stick liquorice and brown sugar, and selling it at a profit to the younger children; by purchasing a series of novels, which he let out at an adequate remuneration; by doing boys exercises for a penny, and other processes, he showed the bent of his mind. at the end of the half year he always went home richer than when he arrived at school, with his purse full of money.
nobody knows how much he brought: but the accounts are fabulous. twenty, thirty, fifty—it is impossible to say how many sovereigns. when joked about his money, he turns pale and swears he has not a shilling: whereas he has had a banker's account ever since he was thirteen years old.
at the present moment he is employed in negotiating the sale of a knife with master green, and is pointing out to the latter the beauty of the six blades, and that he need not pay until after the holidays.
champion major has sworn that he will break every bone in his skin the next time that he cheats a little boy, and is bearing down upon him. let us come away. it is frightful to see that big peaceful clever coward moaning under well deserved blows and whining for mercy.
