132 THE EARLY DAYS OF 



" Now, Baboo," I would ask, " What are the subjects you are 

 taking up ? " 



" Mister Shakespeare, Mister Goldsmith, and Bengali." 



" Well, sit down, and pray what makes you appear so fright- 

 ened ? " 



" Your Worship, I am a coward, sprung from a race of cowards ; 

 and you appear before me as a lion." 



" Oh, if that's all, you have no cause for apprehension, for in the 

 words of Mister Shakespeare, I will ' roar like any sucking dove or 

 nightingale.' Let me hear you say a few words in Bengali, though 

 I have no doubt you know as much about the language as I do. 

 Indeed, on second thoughts, I will take it for granted that you do, 

 and decline betraying my own ignorance by examining you ; We will 

 therefore pass on to Mister Goldsmith." 



The Baboo reads : — 



" No surly porter stands in guilty state, 

 To drive imploring famine from the gate." 



" What do you understand by a surly porter ? " 



"One peevish door-man, your Worship." 



" Very good! See, here is a report from the Inspector of Police: 

 He, says ' he has caught a thief in the act of stealing some rice, and 

 he is sending in the grain to me.' What does he mean by that ? " 



" He is transmitting those corns to your Majesty." 



" Ah 1 Baboo," I involuntarily exclaim, " I envy your power of 

 acquiring knowledge. What a good boy they would have thought 

 you at Marlborough College, where your poor examiner acquired 

 little besides the stick." 



But this reminds me I am rambhng from the point of my 

 discourse, and consequently I will at once return to Marlborough 

 by remarking that what were the causes which led to the so-called 

 Rebellion, which took place during the last half-year I remained at 

 school, those who took a more active part in it could tell probably 

 much better than I can. But generally speaking, it was due to the 



