"I
shall speak to the Doctor about it."

Some one answered this, but I did not hear the words, and I hobbled to
the door, and went up to my room, wondering how any one could be envious
of the sensations I was experiencing then.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

"How are your sore knees?" said Mercer one morning soon after my long
first lesson in riding.

"Oh, dreadful!" I cried. "They get a little better, and then the
riding makes them bad again."

"But why don't he let you have a saddle?"

"He does now," I said--"that is, he did yesterday; but it's worse riding
on a saddle, it's so slippery, and he will not let me have any
stirrups."

"When are you going again?"

"To-day, I suppose. The Doctor says I'm to get on as fast as possible,
and make up with my other studies afterwards."

"Wish I was going to learn to ride."

"You wouldn't much like it if you had to," I replied. "Oh, I don't
know. It looks very nice to see you going along. But, I say, it does
make Burr major so wild. I heard him tell Dicksee he should make his
father send him a horse, and Dicksee said he ought to, and I laughed."

"Did he hear you?"

"Yes, and gave me such a clip on the head with a cricket stump. Feel
here."

I placed my hand where he suggested, and there was a good-sized lump.

"What a shame!" I cried indignantly. "Didn't you hit him again?"

"No; I only put it down. We're going to pay it all back some day."

"Yes; but when?" I cried.

Mercer shook his head.

"I say," he continued, "I saw old Magglin this morning before
breakfast."

"What was he doing here?"

"Dunno. Wanted to see me, I suppose, and borrow a shilling."

"Did you lend him one?"

"Yes; I felt obliged to."

Just then Burr major came by us, and looked us both over sharply.

"Haven't you two got any lessons to get ready?" he said.

"Yes," I replied.

"Then go in and get them ready before I report you both to Mr Hasnip.
Do you hear?"

"Yes," I said; "but I'm going to have my riding lesson."

"Your riding lesson!" he sneered; "you're always going to have your
riding lesson. I never saw such a school as it's getting to be. It's
shameful! I shall go and ask Mr Hasnip if we boys are to be kept
always at work, while you and Tom Mercer are idling about and enjoying
yourselves."

"All right," said Mercer oracularly, in a whisper to me, as Burr major
walked off importantly for a few yards, attended by his satellites, and
then stopped, drew out