Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER X.

  IN WHICH ERNEST HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS UNCLE.

  With my resolution still at the highest pitch of firmness, I knockedat the library door. I expected a storm; it was hardly possible toavoid one; but I hoped, if I could induce my stern and silent guardianto speak or to listen, that I might make an impression upon him. Therewas no answer to my knock, and I repeated it. Then I heard a stir inthe library, and my uncle opened the door. When he saw me, he wasabout to close the door in my face, doubtless regarding my conduct inknocking at his door as impudent in the highest degree. I was notdisposed to be shut out, and anticipating his purpose, I steppednimbly into the room.

  "Uncle Amos, I wish to speak with you for a few moments, if you willbe kind enough to hear me," I began, in tones as humble as the veriesttyrant could have required.

  He sat down in his arm-chair, leaned his head upon his hand in such away as to cover his face, but made me no reply, either by word or bysign.

  "I would not trouble you if it were not necessary to do so," Icontinued. "Will you permit me to tell my story?"

  He removed his hand, and gave me an affirmative nod; but it wasevident to me that my presence was the occasion of positive sufferingto him. I knew of no reason why I should be personally disagreeable tohim, and it seemed to me that his aversion was caused wholly by a kindof obstinacy, which I could not understand.

  "I have had a difficulty with Mr. Parasyte; but I was not to blame, asI can prove by more than half the students in the academy," Iproceeded; and then I rehearsed all the particulars of my affray withPoodles, on the pier, including the rebellion of the students, and theconfession of the guilty ones.

  My uncle may have heard me, and he may not; but he took not the leastnotice of me, appearing to be absorbed in his own meditations duringthe recital of my wrongs.

  "Mr. Parasyte called me into his private office, and informed me thathe had been to see you," I added.

  My uncle removed his hand from his face, glanced at me, nodded hishead, which was the first indication he had given that he wasconscious of my presence, after I began to relate my story. The lookthat accompanied the nod was anything but a pleasant one. There wassomething like malignant satisfaction in the glance that he bestowedupon me.

  "Then you did request Mr. Parasyte to reduce me to subjection, as heexpressed it?"

  "I did," replied he, decidedly, as he again uncovered his face, andnodded to emphasize his reply.

  This was hopeful, for I had at least got an answer out of him, thoughthe reply was cold-blooded and cruel.

  "Did you request him to flog me?" I demanded, a little excited by thefact that my uncle was likely to prove as malignant as theschoolmaster.

  "I did," he added; and his eyes seemed to glow like two coals of fire.

  It was not difficult now for me to understand the situation. My unclehated me,--why I knew not. I could not reconcile such a feeling withthe indulgence he had always extended to me. I could not see why, ifhe hated me, as that fierce glare of his eyes indicated, he had alwaysallowed me to have my own way, had always given me money withoutstint, and had permitted me to go and come when and as I pleased, androve at will over the broad and dangerous lake.

  I have since learned that this indulgence was perfectly consistentwith hatred, and that the judicious parent, who truly loves his son,would deprive him of such unhealthy and dangerous indulgences. As hehated me, so he let me have my own way. Had he loved me, he would haverestrained me; he would have inquired into my conduct when away fromhome; and above all, he would not have allowed me to risk my life uponthe stormy lake as I did.

  "You _did_ request him to flog me, and without understanding themerits of the case!" I replied, indignantly.

  He nodded again.

  "Uncle Amos, I have tried to do my duty faithfully at school, and tobe respectful and obedient to my teachers. This is the first time Ihave had any trouble. I say, most solemnly, I was not to blame."

  "You were," said my uncle.

  "Will you hear the evidence in my favor?"

  "No."

  "You will not?"

  "No."

  "What would you have me do?"

  "Obey your teacher."

  "Mr. Parasyte ordered me to apologize to Poodles."

  "Do it then."

  "But Poodles confesses that I was not to blame."

  "No matter."

  "I cannot do it, uncle."

  "The master must make you do it," added my uncle, with a sneer.

  "He attempted to do so. He began to flog me, and I knocked him down,"I replied, quietly, but sullenly.

  My uncle sprang to his feet, and stared at me with an intensity whichwould have made me quail if I had been guilty.

  "You struck him!" exclaimed he, trembling with emotion.

  "When he attempted a second time to flog me, I hit him on the headwith a heavy ruler, and he fell insensible upon the floor."

  My stern guardian rushed furiously across the room, foaming withpassion.

  "You villain!" gasped he, pausing before me. "You struck the master?"

  "I knocked him down, as I would any other man who insulted me with ablow," I replied, firmly; for I intended to have my uncle understandexactly how I felt.

  "You are an obstinate whelp!" ejaculated my guardian, who hadcertainly found a tongue now.

  "All the students think I am right."

  "The students! What do I care what they think?"

  "They understand the case."

  "Humph!" sneered my uncle.

  "I see, sir, that I have nothing to expect from you," I continued.

  "No!"

  "I have only to say that Mr. Parasyte can't flog me. If I were guilty,I would not resist; but I will fight as long as I have a breath leftagainst such injustice."

  "Very pretty! May I ask what you are going to do with yourself?"

  "I don't know yet; only, if I am not wanted here, I won't stay here. Ithink I can take care of myself."

  "Do you consider this a proper return for all I have done for you?"asked he, more calmly.

  "I don't know what you have done for me. I asked you once somethingabout my father and mother, and you did not answer me."

  "You have no father and mother," he replied, with visible emotion."You need not ask any questions, for I will not answer them."

  "Did they leave any property for me?" I asked, mildly; and I hadalready concluded that they did, or my uncle would not have been solavish of his money upon me.

  "Property! What put that idea into your head?" demanded he; and he wasmore agitated than the circumstances seemed to warrant.

  "I have no idea anything about it. I only asked the question."

  "It is enough for you to know that I am willing to take care of you,and pay your expenses, however extravagant they may be, as long as youbehave properly."

  "I have always done so."

  "No, you haven't! You have resisted your teacher, knocked him down,killed him for aught I know. You are a bad boy."

  It seemed just as though my uncle intended to drive me to desperation,and compel me to commit some rash act. I could not see why he shouldrefuse to tell me anything about my father and mother.

  "I asked you whether my parents left any property for me. You did notanswer me," I continued.

  "I will answer no questions," replied he.

  "If they did, it is right that I should know it," I persisted.

  "If they did, you will know it when you are of age to receive it."

  "I would like to know whether you are supporting me out of your ownproperty or with my own."

  "It doesn't concern you to know, so long as you are supported."

  "Yes, it does, and I insist upon knowing."

  "I shall answer no questions," replied he, more troubled now thanangry.

  "If there is nothing belonging to me, I am very willing to go to workand support myself. I don't wish to be a burden upon one who cares solittle for me as you do."

  "I did not say you we
re a burden. I have given you all you asked for,and am willing to do so still."

  "I don't wish to have you do so, if what you give me does not belongto me."

  "You are a foolish boy!" said he, impatiently.

  "You have hardly spoken to me before for a year; and you never said asmuch to me as you have to-night before in all my lifetime."

  "It was not necessary to do so."

  "Uncle Amos, I am old enough now to be able to think for myself," Icontinued, earnestly. "It is time for me to know who and what I am,and I am going to find out if it is possible for me to do so."

  "It is not possible," said he, greatly agitated, though he struggledto be calm. "What do you wish to know?"

  "About my parents."

  He walked the room for a moment with compressed lips, as ifconsidering whether he should tell me what I wanted to know.

  "If I have concealed anything from you, it was for your own good,"replied he, with a desperate effort. "Your father is dead; he diedeleven years ago."

  "And my mother?" I asked, eagerly.

  "She is a raving maniac in an insane asylum."

  This information came like a shock upon me, and I wept great tears ofgrief.

  "I thank you, uncle Amos, for telling me so much, sad as it is. Onemore question and I am satisfied. Did my father leave any property?"

  "No," said he.

  I fancied that this single word cost him a mightier effort than all hehad said before, though I could not see why it should.

  "Where is my mother now?" I asked.

  "You were to ask no more questions; and it is not best for you to knowwhere she is," he answered. "Now, Ernest, I wish you to make yourpeace with Mr. Parasyte."

  "How make my peace with him?"

  "Do what he requires of you."

  "I cannot do that; and I will not."

  "If you persist you will ruin me," said my uncle, bitterly.

  "I don't understand you, uncle Amos."

  "Mr. Parasyte owes me a large sum of money."

  Here was the hole in that millstone!

  "His Institute is mortgaged to me. If there is trouble there, theproperty will depreciate in value, and I shall be the loser."

  My uncle seemed to be ashamed of himself for having said so much, andtold me to go to bed. I retired from his presence with the feelingthat I must sacrifice myself or my guardian.