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didn't give him boiled mutton； they gave him rice pudding； pretending it
was a treat。 And saved the butcher。
So Old Cheeseman went on。 The holidays brought him into other
trouble besides the loneliness； because when the fellows began to come
back； not wanting to； he was always glad to see them； which was
aggravating when they were not at all glad to see him； and so he got his
head knocked against walls； and that was the way his nose bled。 But he
was a favourite in general。 Once a subscription was raised for him； and；
to keep up his spirits； he was presented before the holidays with two white
mice； a rabbit； a pigeon； and a beautiful puppy。 Old Cheeseman cried
about itespecially soon afterwards； when they all ate one another。
Of course Old Cheeseman used to be called by the names of all sorts
of cheesesDouble Glo'sterman； Family Cheshireman； Dutchman； North
Wiltshireman； and all that。 But he never minded it。 And I don't mean to
say he was old in point of yearsbecause he wasn'tonly he was called
from the first； Old Cheeseman。
At last； Old Cheeseman was made second Latin Master。 He was
brought in one morning at the beginning of a new half； and presented to
the school in that capacity as 〃Mr。 Cheeseman。〃 Then our fellows all
agreed that Old Cheeseman was a spy； and a deserter； who had gone over
to the enemy's camp； and sold himself for gold。 It was no excuse for him
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that he had sold himself for very little goldtwo pound ten a quarter and
his washing； as was reported。 It was decided by a Parliament which sat
about it； that Old Cheeseman's mercenary motives could alone be taken
into account； and that he had 〃coined our blood for drachmas。〃 The
Parliament took the expression out of the quarrel scene between Brutus
and Cassius。
When it was settled in this strong way that Old Cheeseman was a
tremendous traitor； who had wormed himself into our fellows' secrets on
purpose to get himself into favour by giving up everything he knew； all
courageous fellows were invited to come forward and enrol themselves in
a Society for making a set against him。 The President of the Society was
First boy； named Bob Tarter。 His father was in the West Indies； and he
owned； himself； that his father was worth Millions。 He had great power
among our fellows； and he wrote a parody； beginning …
〃Who made believe to be so meek That we could hardly hear him
speak； Yet turned out an Informing Sneak？ Old Cheeseman。〃
… and on in that way through more than a dozen verses； which he used
to go and sing； every morning； close by the new master's desk。 He
trained one of the low boys； too； a rosy…cheeked little Brass who didn't
care what he did； to go up to him with his Latin Grammar one morning；
and say it so： NOMINATIVUS PRONOMINUMOld Cheeseman；
RARO EXPRIMITURwas never suspected； NISI DISTINCTIONISof
being an informer； AUT EMPHASIS GRATiAuntil he proved one。 UT…
…for instance； VOS DAMNASTISwhen he sold the boys。 QUASIas
though； DICAThe should say； PRETAEREA NEMOI'm a Judas！ All
this produced a great effect on Old Cheeseman。 He had never had much
hair； but what he had； began to get thinner and thinner every day。 He grew
paler and more worn； and sometimes of an evening he was seen sitting at
his desk with a precious long snuff to his candle； and his hands before his
face； crying。 But no member of the Society could pity him； even if he
felt inclined； because the President said it was Old Cheeseman's
conscience。
So Old Cheeseman went on； and didn't he lead a miserable life！ Of
course the Reverend turned up his nose at him； and of course SHE did
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because both of them always do that at all the mastersbut he suffered
from the fellows most； and he suffered from them constantly。 He never
told about it； that the Society could find out； but he got no credit for that；
because the President said it was Old Cheeseman's cowardice。
He had only one friend in the world； and that one was almost as
powerless as he was； for it was only Jane。 Jane was a sort of wardrobe
woman to our fellows； and took care of the boxes。 She had come at first；
I believe； as a kind of apprenticesome of our fellows say from a Charity；
but I don't knowand after her time was out； had stopped at so much a
year。 So little a year； perhaps I ought to say； for it is far more likely。
However； she had put some pounds in the Savings' Bank； and she was a
very nice young woman。 She was not quite pretty； but she had a very frank；
honest； bright face； and all our fellows were fond of her。 She was
uncommonly neat and cheerful； and uncommonly comfortable and kind。
And if anything was the matter with a fellow's mother； he always went and
showed the letter to Jane。
Jane was Old Cheeseman's friend。 The more the Society went
against him； the more Jane stood by him。 She used to give him a good…
humoured look out of her still…room window； sometimes； that seemed to
set him up for the day。 She used to pass out of the orchard and the
kitchen garden （always kept locked； I believe you！） through the
playground； when she might have gone the other way； only to give a turn
of her head； as much as to say 〃Keep up your spirits！〃 to Old Cheeseman。
His slip of a room was so fresh and orderly that it was well known who
looked after it while he was at his desk； and when our fellows saw a
smoking hot dumpling on his plate at dinner； they knew with indignation
who had sent it up。
Under these circumstances； the Society resolved； after a quantity of
meeting and debating； that Jane should be requested to cut Old Cheeseman
dead； and that if she refused； she must be sent to Coventry herself。 So a
deputation； headed by the President； was appointed to wait on Jane； and
inform her of the vote the Society had been under the painful necessity of
passing。 She was very much respected for all her good qualities； and
there was a story about her having once waylaid the Reverend in his own
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study； and got a fellow off from severe punishment； of her own kind
comfortable heart。 So the deputation didn't much like the job。 However；
they went up； and the President told Jane all about it。 Upon which Jane
turned very red； burst into tears； informed the President and the deputation；
in a way not at all like her usual way； that they were a parcel of malicious
young savages； and turned the whole respected body out of the room。
Consequently it was entered in the Society's