The boys
of course hated her with the hatred of which schoolboys alone are
capable, and many a practical joke was played at her expense, not,
however, with impunity. Still more pronounced, if possible, was the
animus entertained against Mrs. Tootle's offspring, and it was upon
the head of Master Felix that the full energy of detestation
concentrated itself. He was, in truth, as offensive a young imp as
the soil of a middle-class boarding-school could well produce. If
Mrs. Tootle ruled the Academy, he in turn ruled Mrs. Tootle, and on
all occasions showed himself a most exemplary autocrat. his
position, however, as in the case of certain other autocratic
rulers, had its disadvantages; he could never venture to wander out
of earshot of his father or mother, who formed his body-guard, and
the utmost prudence did not suffice to protect him from an
occasional punch on the head, or a nip in a tender part, meant
probably as earnest of more substantial kindnesses to be conferred
upon him at the very earliest opportunity.
To poor Egger fell the unpleasant duty of instructing these young
Tootles in the elements of the French language. For that purpose he
went up every morning to the class-room on the first floor, and for
a while relieved Miss Enderby of her charge.
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