severely. The
little chap's good-natured, honest face won his way for him. He only got that
degree of beating which was, no doubt, good for him; and as for blacking shoes,
toasting bread, and fagging in general, were these offices not deemed to be
necessary parts of every young English gentleman's education?
    Our business does not lie with the second generation and Master Rawdon's
life at school, otherwise the present tale might be carried to any indefinite
length. The Colonel went to see his son a short time afterwards, and found the
lad sufficiently well and happy, grinning and laughing in his little black gown
and little breeches.
    His father sagaciously tipped Blackball, his master, a sovereign, and
secured that young gentleman's goodwill towards his fag. As a protégé of the
great Lord Steyne, the nephew of a County member, and son of a Colonel and C.B.,
whose name appeared in some of the most fashionable parties in The Morning Post,
perhaps the school authorities were disposed not to look unkindly on the child.
He had plenty of pocket-money, which he spent in treating his comrades royally
to raspberry tarts; and he was often allowed to come home on Saturdays to his
father, who always made a jubilee of that day. When free, Rawdon would take him
to the play, or send him thither with the footman; and on Sundays he went to
church with Briggs and Lady Jane and his cousins. Rawdon marvelled over his
stories about school, and fights, and fagging. Before long he knew the names of
all the masters and the principal boys as well as little Rawdon himself. He
invited little Rawdon's crony from school, and made both the children sick with
pastry, and oysters, and porter after the play. He tried to look knowing over
the Latin Grammar when little Rawdon showed him what part of that work he was
»in.« »Stick to it, my boy,« he said to him, with much gravity; »there's nothing
like a good classical education - nothing!«
    Becky's contempt for her husband grew greater every day. »Do what you like:
dine where you please, go and have ginger-beer and sawdust at Astley's or
psalm-singing with Lady Jane, only don't expect me to busy myself with the boy.
I have your interests to attend to, as you can't attend to them yourself. I
should like to know where you would have been now, and in what sort of