, when he was fairly harnessed and carrying a load, it was the
delight of small and mischievous boys to follow him and whip his calves.
This was too much for the temper even of Stumps, and he would pursue his
tormentors in a vindictive and apoplectic manner when released, but was
easily pacified by twopence to buy beer with.

The lower school-boys of the School-house, some fifteen in number, had
tea in the lower-fifth school, and were presided over by the old verger
or head-porter. Each boy had a quarter of a loaf of bread and pat of
butter, and as much tea as he pleased; and there was scarcely one who
didn't add to this some further luxury, such as baked potatoes, a
herring, sprats, or something of the sort; but few, at this period of
the half-year, could live up to a pound of Porter's sausages, and East
was in great magnificence upon the strength of theirs. He had produced a
toasting-fork from his study, and set Tom to toast the sausages, while
he mounted guard over their butter and potatoes; "'cause," as he
explained, "you're a new boy, and they'll play you some trick and get
our butter, but you can toast just as well as I." So Tom, in the midst
of three or four more urchins similarly employed, toasted his face and
the sausages at the same time before the huge fire, till the latter
cracked; when East from his watch-tower shouted that they were done; and
then the feast proceeded, and the festive cups of tea were filled and
emptied, and Tom imparted of the sausages in small bits to many
neighbours, and thought he had never tasted such good potatoes or seen
such jolly boys. They on their parts waived all ceremony, and pegged
away at the sausages and potatoes, and, remembering Tom's performance in
goal, voted East's new crony a brick. After tea, and while the things
were being cleared away, they gathered round the fire, and the talk on
the match still went on; and those who had them to show, pulled up their
trousers and showed the hacks they had received in the good cause.

They were soon however all turned out of the school, and East conducted
Tom up to his bedroom, that he might get on clean things and wash
himself before singing.

"What's singing?" said Tom, taking his head out of his basin, where he
had been plunging it in cold water.

"Well, you are jolly green," answered his friend from a neighbouring
basin. "Why, the last six Saturdays of every half, we sing of course;
and this is the first of them. No first le