.
Creakle came to where I sat, and told me that if I were famous for biting, he
was famous for biting, too. He then showed me the cane, and asked me what I
thought of that, for a tooth? Was it a sharp tooth, hey? Was it a double tooth,
hey? Had it a deep prong, hey? Did it bite, hey? Did it bite? At every question
he gave me a fleshy cut with it that made me writhe; so I was very soon made
free of Salem House (as Steerforth said), and was very soon in tears also.
    Not that I mean to say these were special marks of distinction, which only I
received. On the contrary, a large majority of the boys (especially the smaller
ones) were visited with similar instances of notice, as Mr. Creakle made the
round of the schoolroom. Half the establishment was writhing and crying, before
the day's work began; and how much of it had writhed and cried before the day's
work was over, I am really afraid to recollect, lest I should seem to
exaggerate.
    I should think there never can have been a man who enjoyed his profession
more than Mr. Creakle did. He had a delight in cutting at the boys, which was
like the satisfaction of a craving appetite. I am confident that he couldn't
resist a chubby boy, especially; that there was a fascination in such a subject,
which made him restless in his mind, until he had scored and marked him for the
day. I was chubby myself, and ought to know. I am sure when I think of the
fellow now, my blood rises against him with the disinterested indignation I
should feel if I could have known all about him without having ever been in his
power; but it rises hotly, because I know him to have been an incapable brute,
who had no more right to be possessed of the great trust he held, than to be
Lord High Admiral, or Commander-in-chief - in either of which capacities, it is
probable, that he would have done infinitely less mischief.
    Miserable little propitiators of a remorseless Idol, how abject we were to
him! What a launch in life I think it now, on looking back, to be so mean and
servile to a man of such parts and pretensions!
    Here I sit at the desk again, watching his eye - humbly watching his eye, as
he rules a ciphering book for another victim whose hands have just been
flattened by that identical ruler
