Vivian Grey | Page 6

the whole school, and swears you have seduced and ruined
us all; everything was happiness until you came, &c. Mallett is of
course at the bottom of the whole business: but what can we do? Dallas
says you have the tongue of a serpent, and that he will not trust himself
to hear your defence. Infamous shame! I swear! And now every fellow
has got a story against you: some say you are a dandy, others want to
know whether the next piece performed at your theatre will be 'The
Stranger;' as for myself and Etherege, we shall leave in a few weeks,
and it does not signify to us; but what the devil you're to do next half,
by Jove, I can't say. If I were you, I would not return."
"Not return, eh! but that will I, though; and we shall see who, in future,
can complain of the sweetness of my voice! Ungrateful fools!"
CHAPTER V
The Vacation was over, and Vivian returned to Burnsley Vicarage. He
bowed cavalierly to Mr. Dallas on his arrival, and immediately
sauntered up into the school-room, where he found a tolerable quantity
of wretches looking as miserable as schoolboys who have left their
pleasant homes generally do for some four-and-twenty hours. "How
d'ye do, Grey? How d'ye do, Grey?" burst from a knot of unhappy
fellows, who would have felt quite delighted had their newly arrived
co-mate condescended to entertain them, as usual, with some capital
good story fresh from town. But they were disappointed.
"We can make room for you at the fire, Grey," said Theophilus
"I thank you, I am not cold."

"I suppose you know that Poynings and Etherege don't come back,
Grey?"
"Everybody knew that last half:" and so he walked on.
"Grey, Grey!" halloed King, "don't go into the dining-room; Mallett is
there alone, and told us not to disturb him. By Jove, the fellow is going
in: there will be a greater row this half between Grey and Mallett than
ever."
Days, the heavy first days of the half, rolled on, and all the citizens of
the little commonwealth had returned.
"What a dull half this will be!" said Eardley; "how one misses Grey's
set! After all, they kept the school alive: Poynings was a first-rate
fellow, and Etherege so deuced good-natured! I wonder whom Grey
will crony with this half; have you seen him and Dallas speak together
yet? He cut the Doctor quite dead at Greek to-day."
"Why, Eardley! Eardley! there is Grey walking round playing fields
with Mallett!" halloed a sawney who was killing the half-holiday by
looking out of the window.
"The devil! I say, Matthews, whose flute is that? It is a devilish
handsome one!"
"It's Grey's! I clean it for him," squeaked a little boy. "He gives me
sixpence a week!"
"Oh, you sneak!" said one.
"Cut him over!"
"Roast him!" cried a third.
"To whom are you going to take the flute?" asked a fourth.
"To Mallett," squeaked the little fellow. "Grey lends his flute to Mallett
every day."

"Grey lends his flute to Mallett! The deuce he does! So Grey and
Mallett are going to crony!"
A wild exclamation burst forth from the little party; and away each of
them ran, to spread in all directions the astounding intelligence.
If the rule of the ushers had hitherto been light at Burnsley Vicarage, its
character was materially changed during this half-year. The vexatious
and tyrannical influence of Mallett was now experienced in all
directions, meeting and interfering with the comforts of the boys in
every possible manner. His malice was accompanied, too, by a tact
which could not have been expected from his vulgar mind, and which,
at the same time, could not have been produced by the experience of
one in his situation. It was quite evident to the whole community that
his conduct was dictated by another mind, and that that mind was one
versed in all the secrets of a school-boy's life, and acquainted with all
the workings of a school-boy's mind: a species of knowledge which no
pedagogue in the world ever yet attained. There was no difficulty in
discovering whose was the power behind the throne. Vivian Grey was
the perpetual companion of Mallett in his walks, and even in the school;
he shunned also the converse of every one of the boys, and did not
affect to conceal that his quarrel was universal. Superior power,
exercised by a superior mind, was for a long time more than a match
even for the united exertions of the whole school. If any one
complained, Mallett's written answer (and such Dallas always required)
was immediately ready, explaining everything in the most satisfactory
manner, and refuting every complaint with the most triumphant spirit.
Dallas, of course, supported his