Tom Browning's Schooldays

Tom Browning's Schooldays

By

Joel

Chapter Eleven

I was fast asleep and hadn't hear any cock crowing when I was gently awoken by a breath of warm air into my right ear. It was Benjy, of course, grinning his head off.

"Wake up, pretty angel," he whispered as he put his lips to my lobe and licked it, "Your faithful servant is here." He pulled the drapes along one side of my bed and tied them back. He was dressed in shirt and trousers which were off in a trice. His nether garment was cast aside and a not very warm body joined me under the cover. It wasn't the first time he'd joined me like this so as his head was now near mine again I leaned up and nibbled his ear lobe in return. "I have much to tell you," he said as he moved up against me. I wasn't wearing my nightshirt again. "Oooh, what a warm boy you are. Let me warm my hands on you." With that I was clutched and his chilly fingers ran up and down my back causing me to buck against him. "Hold still, I'm not some young filly ready for fucking." He fell silent. "I should not say things like that. That is all those boys talk about."

I was fond of Benjy. We had shared many secrets. "What boys? And what have they been saying?" I asked and put my arm round him so he knew I was not annoyed.

"My father has employed two rather rough boys to help him with the loading of the cart as Davy Cheal has a problem down there." I assumed he meant a hernia as Lancelot had explained that men carrying heavy loads often suffered such things. "They are older than us and have only been in the village since harvest-time. They live down the drift by the river with a man they say is their uncle and he works as potman at the inn." The drift was the path on which those old hovels were standing and I knew there was often trouble with itinerants who had no permission to stay. "I was with my father when he brought that new table and cabinets here for your Mother and he went to your Father for payment. I waited outside and the boys said the maids here looked ripe for a good fuck and one had no buttons on his britches and took his piece out and rubbed it. He said he was ready if any filly wanted it and his brother said it would fall off if he used it so roughly again. They sneered when I said I wanted to hear no more and they said I probably let the grooms fuck me anyway."

"Take no notice of what they say. There are boys at school who boast of what they could do," I said, having overheard several saying what they would like to do to their kitchen or parlour maids. But, then, Torquil had!

"But they said it again when I was at my father's on an errand. They laughed and asked had I warmed my prick yet as for sure those maids in the house were ready and willing, or did I have to satisfy those two fellows at the forge."

"I think Isaac and Jacob would get some satisfaction in giving them a clout or two round the head if they knew that."

"Should I tell them?"

"Better not. Remember when Hollis bested those travellers his henhouse got burned and they were away before Rogers could get his addled wits together."

We both giggled as the sight of Constable Rogers trying to mount his horse when fuddled was a constant joy to us boys.

"But you have things to tell me you said. And now you are warmer I'm ready to listen. Is it about that boy Eamonn?"

We put our arms round each other fully and he began.

"I did as you said. He was quite willing to share my room as I have a small fire and that pantry-hole is draughty. We talked a little and I heard his sad story but he said he was not sorry his father was gone as he got beaten regularly when the man was drunk. If his mother told him to stop he would threaten her as well and the little ones would cry and he would get angrier. I don't think the father was worried when the three died of that fever as he said he had disappeared after for some weeks and came home again with a bruised face and broken hand as he been in a fight. He took the money the parish had given his mother for food and spent it in the inn." Benjy sniffed. He had been touched by the boy's story. "It makes me sad. My father would not beat me. He shouts sometime and that is enough."

I said I had had the rod across my backside twice from Mr Clements when I had deserved it. Benjy did laugh then and said he was amazed I hadn't had more the things we boys had done, especially feasting on Mother Walker's ripe greengages and soiling ourselves with the trots, or running off with Farmer Biddle's old bitch and harnessing it to an ancient dog cart and giving the smaller children rides until some child had fallen out and grazed herself. I just said we had enjoyed ourselves and now he was older and wiser he had important tasks to do.

"Yes, I know," he said, "I carried out your commands faithfully as you will see." I gave him a friendly squeeze and he ran his warmer fingers up my back. I knew what that was doing to me! That could wait as he went on, "I told him he could share my bed but he said he would be happy curled up by the fire, but we did share. I said I wanted to see if he knew what he had to do with that ointment. I told him he should undress and show me. He was rather reluctant at first but I undressed and took up my nightshirt but did not put it on. As he hesitated I helped him take his shirt off and after than he did take all off except his undergarment. I said he could hardly deal with the ointment if he still had that on and he could wear my second nightshirt as he didn't have one. He was hesitant and said I was not to laugh at him. I asked why? He started to cry then and said he had been fishing to get something for his mother when two boys had come up. I would say they were those I told you about just now. They asked him what he was doing and then asked how old he was. He has that high voice and they didn't believe he was fifteen and grabbed him and pulled his britches down and laughed and told him he was no more than a boy of eight and did he know what real boys had. He would not say what they did as he was too upset."

"If those are the boys I think I will tell Isaac and Jacob," I said, "But we'd better make certain they are the ones. It might have been two of the younger grooms as Mr Carter has taken on boys from other villages and they do keep together."

"We'll see as my father has an instruction to collect a new carpet and some hangings for your parlour and they should arrive before Christmas week." Yes, I had heard Mother telling Aunt Matty she had seen a notice in the newspaper and had enquired and was satisfied the articles were what she wanted. Aunt Matty had said wouldn't it have been safer to see the things when she was in London. My Mother said she had ordered them already and would send them back if not suitable.

Good, young Eamonn could tell Benjy if they were the same boys. "What happened next?" I asked.

"I didn't laugh but he looks like we did before..." He hesitated, too.

"I know, I saw him this morning. My cousin said he has examined other poor boys and they do not grow as well as us, they are usually thin and scrawny and not very tall. But the boy said he did take pleasure."

"I will come to that," Benjy said and his fingers pressed into my buttocks. "You are certainly not scrawny. He could do with some meat on his bones as my mother says." He giggled and squeezed again. "He could do with some meat elsewhere as well."

"Benjy," I said, "You are laughing at him. I shall get Mr Clements to whip you for being unkind."

"I'm sorry. But it is so. And I wish he could grow as he is a good boy. He can read as he said a priest in Ireland taught him before his father said they should come to England."

"I wondered about his name. I hadn't heard it before. So it is Irish. It's a nice name, but has he been here long?"

"He said they came to England when he was nine and he had four younger brothers and sisters then and three more were born here. They only came to the village four years ago as the farmer his father worked for found he was a Catholic and turned them out. A carter took pity on them and brought them to Cobblers Farm as he knew the agent wanted someone to keep watch on the house and he said they could live in the cottage. Then the agent went because of the dispute so no one has been at the farm for two years. Eamonn said he was unwell when his two sisters and brother died but he can't remember them being buried as he was sick in bed and his mother is too upset to talk about them."

I felt sorry for such a family. I supposed I'd been kept away from such things though I knew how my Mother and my Aunt, especially, cared for those less well off or less able to fend for themselves. I said we must help Eamonn as much as we can. For such a bad background he seemed such a pleasant boy. Benjy said he hoped he and Eamonn would become friends as he felt he was too old now to indulge in boyish escapades and pranks. Well, even Jabez had quietened down when he was fifteen or so but I knew that some of the older lads would go to the inn and drink and were often noisy and kicked on doors and pissed over walls or on doorsteps on their way home after the inn closed.

Benjy had more to tell. "I asked him then if his itch was any better. He said he thought it was but the best thing was his backside no longer hurt. I said he'd better put some more ointment on his front but when he started I saw he had missed a patch of redness. I took the ointment pot away and told him to lie on my bed and I would do it for him." Benjy sniggered. "Of course something got in the way so I had to lift it and I must have squeezed it accidentally because he got hard. I was still holding it as I had to put ointment on the other side and it got squeezed again. It just happened, I was holding it, I rubbed it up and down and then he did spurt. Not very much and it is very thin and watery. I felt bad as he started to cry and said he was dirty. I got into bed beside him and said he wasn't and said I knew all boys did such things. I confessed I did and said my friends did. He said what about the gentry and I knew he meant you. I had to tell him I was certain you did but that's all I said. You're not angry I told him that?"

"Of course not. I'm a boy." I laughed. "And I can assure you that boys of much higher station than lowly me also do it."

Benjy laughed at this. "And do boys of higher station have bigger...." He stopped. "...Mustn't ask such things but Jabez was quite lowly."

It seemed all conversations between us village boys always returned to Jabez.

"I shall be seeing him when I go to London for New Year," I said.

Benjy giggled, "His mother says he has been promoted to be a junior footman now and has a smart livery. I hope his britches aren't too tight."

I turned him and slapped his bare backside. Then we giggled together and shed two portions of the highest station, worthy of the greatest duke, I said as I used a kerchief to wipe our streaming bellies.

"I must get back to the boy in case he wakes and wonders where I am. I promise I will not tell. I will bring your water when the bell strikes seven." He put on trousers and shirt and went out quietly waving his nether garment at me. Strike seven? I heard it then strike six and the noisy cock began to crow.

I was half asleep when he returned, now dressed and in his role of valet. We had laughed over that as Aunt Wright always used the word when we stayed with her in London and her youngest footmen had been given that title when they looked after me or my brothers. I suppose it was a better word than 'fag' and I would ask George and Theo if we might change as it sounded very French and la-di-da, especially as Aunt Wright said it.

Still, my intention today was to spend time at the forge. I wanted to ask Mr Barker if the boys could show me how to make a latch for that door to the walled garden. I would need to go first and measure and draw. Benjy put out my oldest clothes and they were so tight he said I looked as if I might beat Jabez in ten years time. He got another swipe to his backside and giggled and said he would be bulging as well as that was a way to make him hard. I just sneered and put my finger and thumb about two inches apart but knowing he was a good half inch bigger than me.

"Eamonn is quite happy now," he said as I was lacing my old boots, "I put the ointment on again for him but we didn't..."

"...I would hope not," I mumbled as one lace was all ravelled, "Your hands are too ready..." The lace broke but as I looked up I grinned at him, "...and now they can put a new lace in this boot." I was still grinning so my next words were not said as sternly as Mr Clements would have delivered them though I tried to imitate him. "A good valet would have checked for wear and changed them before the young master was inconvenienced!"

He gave me a baleful look. "You have heard him? I had to put all the silver back on the table the other evening as I hadn't put the fish knives and forks the correct distance from the edge and I hadn't put the water glasses two inches from the claret glasses."

"But you should know how to measure two inches, just put...." I said as we giggled again. I handed him the boot and waited while he found a lace in a drawer and threaded it through the holes.

"I think I will ask Mrs Gray if young Eamonn might share my room as he is likely to get a chill in that cold pantry. She thinks he works well and is learning all the tasks we are set. The two young ones who come from the village each day with the twins would rather live in their own homes, I think, though there is an empty room next to mine."

"You'll have to find if they need rubbing with ointment," I said, "Or have you inspected them already?"

I hadn't really seen these two who were newly employed as two of our previous scullery lads were now grown sufficiently to go to the stables to be apprenticed as grooms. The twins were in two minds about what they wanted to do but both hoped to be apprenticed to the village baker if they couldn't be junior footmen here or in another household.

Benjy shook his head. "The pair were thirteen a month or so back and your Aunt has them in the Dame School as well. They will need a position then and Mrs Gray is testing them. One works well but the other has a bad hand which he says hurts him but the twins help him."

"Has my cousin Lancelot seen him?"

"I don't know. Perhaps Mrs Gray would send him. His family is poor but honest but would not have money for a doctor."

"You know my cousin never turns away anyone who is ill," I said, "He often helps without taking any money. I told you before, if it is someone in the household then Lancelot would treat them anyway. Eamonn has been dealt with. What is the boy's name?"

"I think it is Paul but that's all I know."

"Talk to Mrs Gray and explain about his hand. He probably hides his pain so he isn't turned away. Mrs Gray is kind so she will understand. Do you want me to stand and listen while you tell her?"

He shook his head. "I know Mrs Gray. You are right, she wouldn't turn him away if he can be cured."

By this time I had finished lacing my boot and stomped round the room to ease my feet as I needed bigger boots! Growing, growing, growing! Perhaps that other half an inch soon!

I was ready for breakfast and made a good start to the day. There were kidneys as well as bacon and egg with fresh hot bread. That would set me up for a morning at the forge. First I had to make a sketch of the broken latch on the walled garden door. No one was around as I tried my best with a cold wind whistling and rustling the paper as I drew. I hurried over to the nearby stable where Blaze was ready as Bobby had combed him down and saddled him for me. Silver was missing so Robin had been already to go off with his father. Tarquin looked on as I rode out and whinnied. He needed Timmy and I thought if Robin was not busy helping his father on Thursday afternoon we three might ride down to old Miss Barnes and if Robin brought his fiddle as well we could entertain her. She would be fascinated by Timmy and she had a fine garden to be discussed. I also wanted to have another look at those carvings and if both Robin and Timmy were there I might find a chair to stand on while they were all in her parlour.

Isaac and Jacob were already busy at the forge as there were four horses waiting for shoes. I tied Blaze to the hitching-post near the hay manger and went in where Mr Barker was measuring pieces of iron outside his office room. I showed him my rough drawing and he said I could have time later in the morning but important things first as he had to take two hunters already shod to Squire Matthews and I had to keep an eye on his lazy sons. I knew him of old so I just grinned and went into the forge to help with the bellows. I had shivered on my way even with a heavy riding coat on but the forge was very warm so to be like the brothers I stripped down to my nether garment and put on a leather apron. I was soon keeping the furnace at the heat the pair needed as they made shoes and fitted them to the two horses already standing patiently. I had to put up with remarks such as 'The boy likes pumping', 'I wonder where he practises?', 'He has a powerful stroke', 'Up, down, up, down. Keep it going'. Jacob had taken out the horse he had just finished shoeing and as he came back in Isaac bent over the anvil to pick up some tongs. I leant over and slapped his almost bare buttocks. "Oooh!" he said in a high-pitched voice, "I am chastised for my sinful laziness. Beat me, my Lord, and I will sin no more!"

His brother was laughing. "You must not mock poor Zebediah." He looked at me and grinned. "But that fool has read somewhere that to be holy you have to whip yourself. I think it was in some Romish book about martyrs he found when he was in Cambridge last. He had Mr Jeffs the saddler add a lash to a riding crop and uses it on himself. This ninny here went with his friend Joby Cox and listened under his window and said he accused himself of all sorts of sins they'd never heard of. What was it he said?"

Isaac hit the red hot piece of iron he was holding with the tongs with a mighty hammer blow. "I have sinned," he warbled in the self-same voice, "I have been unclean by night. That uncleanness which chanceth me by night. I must cleanse myself with water. May I be forgiven!"

His brother shook his head. "You are stupid sometimes, Isaac, that is not what you told me yesterday. You know as well as I do what he was saying then."

Isaac just laughed. "It was Joby who heard wrong the night before. He thought he was making moan because his seat was unclean. He thought Zeb had had the shits and that made him unclean in the sight of the Lord. I didn't tell Joby that he had said seed, not seat and it was just me that listened last night. We all know what was happening to him, eh lad?"

This last was directed at me. I knew exactly what was happening as I'd experienced those outflows at night when I was barely thirteen and a bit. Now here was Zebediah at nineteen or so, having foresworn the usual boyish way of preventing unwanted issues, having to pray for forgiveness for something Lancelot had explained to me would happen to growing boys anyway. I decided to play innocent.

"What do you mean Isaac? He doesn't drink strong ale so he can't be wetting his bed. Perhaps Joby did hear him rightly. Perhaps he did have the runs and couldn't get to the privy in time."

Isaac put down his hammer and tongs and I was over his shoulder in a trice. My underdrawers were down and I received three sharp slaps. They didn't hurt as I was laughing too much and as he put me back on the ground my apron was all awry and I was erect.

The two lads looked at me and both laughed even louder than before. Isaac pointed and warbled "Unclean, unclean! Thou shalt not uncover thy nakedness! Not in the sight of the pure for it is an abomination."

Having pored over those chapters and not understanding much of what I had read I was not sure. I knew there were all manner of prohibitions about uncovering but was this one of them?

"Well you've uncovered yourself in my presence many times," I said, "And I am very pure!"

Both grabbed me then and I got hugs and more slaps and got more than a few smudges of black over me. There was a voice outside. It was their father returning and talking to someone.

"Hunnh, those lazy wretches have only finished three. I can't take my eyes off them for a moment..."

"Father, dear father," sang out Isaac, "The boy in here has been distracting us from our tasks...." I was scrabbling to get my drawers up again and safely knotted and I was pumping the bellows as hard as I could when Mr Barker came into the forge followed by my Father.

He took one look and shook his head. "I am not surprised," he said, "That boy's tongue hasn't stopped wagging since he returned."

I thought I had better take partial blame. "Father, we have been discussing biblical texts, or at least they have been instructing me in the ways of certain dissenters." Oh, I'd better be careful! "I do not mean the Methodists but..." Luckily my Father realised I may be in a fix.

"Is it Zebediah? I heard him on Sunday and he has been putting the fear of God into some of the young grooms as well. He has had instructions to keep his preaching to the Holy Day. Anyway, Mr Barker, I am pleased to hear your sons are good biblical scholars. Blessed are the meek is a text I have not really understood. My brother-in-law Dodd says it is because I have no ear for language but why they should inherit the earth? I do not know?"

"Father, you have heard Uncle Alfred preach on the Beatitudes many times," I said, knowing this would get me out of any trouble, "The Greek word 'praeis' can be translated better as humble in the sight of the Lord."

"Boy!" Father just laughed, "You are exasperating. Why do you show your poor father up so. I think you are much better employed as a bellows pumper. Will you take him off my hands, Mr Barker? He looks unkempt enough!"

"No, Mr Browning, sir, I have enough trouble with these two. He is welcome to pump the bellows betimes and I have promised to show him how to do some iron work but that is my limit." He looked at his sons. "You two, start working and earn your keep!" He laughed as well. The lads just shook themselves and took up their hammers and tongs again.

Father and Mr Barker left the forge and work recommenced with a vengeance. I would get another swipe or two but we grinned at each other. My comeuppance was not long in arriving. The fourth horse was shod and outside and I was bundled into a corner and tickled and slapped and Jacob's hands were not idle in other ways. I spurted for the second time that day and the boys joined in by showing off their own talents side by side.

Isaac was breathing heavily with his efforts. "Poor Zeb!!"

His brother just laughed as he tucked himself away. "Let him be. I want to hear no more about him. We might let young Tom loose on him, though, to confuse the poor dunderhead with proper learning." He slapped me on the back and I recoiled as he was one who did not know his own strength. "I wager your father will have his riding crop across your arse before the day is out!"

"I doubt it," I said, "He will use that knowledge to get a point across my cousin Rass when he starts preaching again at the dinner table."

Both laughed as they knew my dear cousin and his most boring sermons.

It was time for a mid-morning break for victuals. Mrs Barker had parcelled up two great portions of good bread and cheese and they willingly shared some with me, together with a draught of her best ale. The rest they would have for their luncheon. But more work was at hand as Bobby our lame groom came along riding Tarquin.

As he came into the forge he looked at me, now sweaty with a smudged face, and laughed. "Your father said I would find you here as usual. He said I must not stay or my head would be filled with more useless learning than was good for a young lad like me. My orders are that this fine beast is to be shod and so is that Blaze of yours and I am to take myself off to Mr Hine's to buy my mother a present for Christmas with this crown he gave me. Your father is very generous today so you must have pleased him, Tom."

Both Isaac and Jacob held empty hands out to me. "Alms for the poor," Isaac trilled. They both laughed. They both knew they would be rewarded by a good Christmas Box. I just sneered at them and went back to the bellows handle.

"Get to work, vassals," I said, "You have to earn your keep!" Another slap or two would come my way before long. I pumped even harder as they heated the iron and made shoes for Isaac to nail onto Tarquin's hooves. I was amazed how the horse just stood as they talked to it and didn't make any movement as the old shoes were removed one by one and the new ones fitted. I was more and more convinced that horses knew who were kind and those who were not. I knew Father had that gift and so did my brothers. Timmy was another and I had watched Jack the farrier's lad and he was able to control the fieriest of steeds as Maitland's Perseus could be awkward on the rein. I wondered if the horse would respond to me. I went up as Isaac was measuring the last shoe. I stroked his muzzle and he responded by nodding against my hand. "You are a fine beast," I said quietly against his ear, "And you know it." The horse nuzzled my hand and breathed out quietly. Perhaps I could be a better horseman?

"Back to the handle, serf!" shouted Jacob and as I passed prodded my arsecheek with a piece of very cold iron, "I'll have you shot for deserting your post and you'll be tied to the cannon's wheel and flogged before." They had heard of all the military punishments from my brother Terence when he had managed to ride his horse and then hobble into the forge to watch and tell them tales.

I made a long nose at him and got another prod. I said he wouldn't know which end of a rifle to point and the only shots he managed to fire anyway with his little pistol were too weak and watery to harm even the most cowardly Frenchman! His brother laughed and said I had hit him straight in the cods. I was then entertained by the banter between the two about habits, nightly or otherwise, as Tarquin received his last shoe and was led out to the manger stuffed with hay and Blaze was brought in and was shod, too.

When they had finished their raillery I said I needed to ask their advice before either had time to uncover themselves before the pure again. I found my piece of paper and Isaac looked at it first.

"What is this?" he asked, "That bit that hangs down. You been looking at yourself in a bit of mirror?" He held up his hand and bent his first finger. "Yes, less than four inches but enough for a boy of his age."

"Let me see," Jacob said and snatched the page away from him, "More likely he's been peering through that gap in the privy at you. Less than a hand's breadth and that's generous."

"It's a new latch for my mother's garden gate," I said, "Your minds are so mired with filth..."

I was lifted up again and underwent more tickling. I screeched as my ribs were getting sore and my face was streaming with sweat and blackness from their hands. I was put down and two industrious lads showed me how to hammer and shape not only the latch but the plate it would fit through. This was decorated with a fine curl of iron and holes were punched so it could be fixed. They grinned as Isaac quenched the last piece of hot metal and held it up.

"For you, young Tom, with our compliments," he said, "We knew exactly how to do it as we have made two others for your mother as well for other gates on the estate." He laughed. "We've missed you and that other imp. You haven't changed. We said we worried you would not know your old friends." He shook his head. "My father says change will come and he says the portents are there with these railways. People will move around and old habits will be replaced by new. You must tell us what you learn at that school of yours. You and Robin." He smiled. "He is worthy of all that will come to him. His was no accident of birth. I foretell great things for him..," He laughed. "...And for you, of course."

He put down the plate and latch on the anvil and I put out my hands and grasped a calloused hand each. "How could I forget you," I said trying to squeeze as hard as I could, "I vow we are friends always. I have made new friends as well. I expect one would say they are of much higher station but I have found they are no different underneath. Others I would not want as friends and whether they look down on me I could not care and nor should you."

I was hugged by both and was told I could bring my dirty face into their lair at any time. They then set to and made some other pieces of ironwork which had been ordered by Squire Matthews's factor. One was the beginnings of a new weather-vane as the other had been blown down when that storm had occurred. I was pumping the bellows again when two others poked their noses into the forge. These were two boys I hadn't seen before. Were these the two who had tormented Eamonn and upset Benjy with their remarks?

"Hey, ho?" sang out one, "Got a copper or two for the poor?" They certainly looked rough. Their clothes were not clean and they both looked if their boots hadn't been soled for years. "We've been up to that house again with the cart and the old biddy told us to fuck off! Old bitch wouldn't even hand out a crumb of bread and that fat little bastard shut the door on us." I grasped the handle even harder. These two were going the right way to be dumped in the village pond! Unfortunately it was covered with a sheet of ice!

"You look a fine pair of fellows, got some good muscle there," the other one said and the way he was looking around I knew he was seeing if there was anything worth stealing. "And who's that you've got tucked in the corner? That blackface? He learning the trade? Haven't seen him before."

Before I could open my mouth Isaac held up his tongs. "Oh, that's little Jock McTavish. He got left behind after that last lot of travellers we chased out. He's got the palsy so we took pity on him and chained him to the bellows and only have to whip him once a day. And who are you?"

"I don't say, nor does he!" He pointed to the other one who was also squinting around. "We live here now and we're staying. Old Mutton-chops gives us a job or two and we keeps to ourselves." 'Old Mutton-chops' was Benjy's father who was very proud of his 'facial ornaments' as Mr Venables, who was also the village barber, described them.

"I suggest you keeps yourselves out of here, then," Isaac said levelly, "You might get yourselves a bit overheated and we can't guarantee you won't get damaged."

The other one kicked at a pile of discarded pieces of iron. "Fuck it!" he said, "That's torn my boot. Leaving stuff like that lying around. I'll have a half sovereign off you for a new pair or I'll tell my uncle."

So these were the pair. I put on my best Scotch accent having heard Gordon many times. "So thee'rt the twa who downed the breeks o'that puir wee laddie by the river."

"What the fuck is that idiot saying?" asked the taller of the two, "Is he kin to that other blackamoor they were feeding and denying us good Christians?"

"What's that, Jock?" Isaac asked. He was getting redder in the face with anger and swinging the hammer he was holding.

"That puir wee bairn at the Hall," I said, "They had his wee breeks down and made him do things I canna say." I was getting well into my acting!

Both the Barkers dropped the tools they were holding and the two lads were seized in vice-like grips.

"And what did you make him do?" Isaac said and there was real menace in his voice.

"Leave go, you bastard!" the one held by Isaac said and tried to struggle to no avail, "My uncle'll slice your cods off if I'm hurt!"

The other was even more plucky. "If that's the kid with a tiny prick he sucks off well. You ought to try it with Jocky here or that other darkie. I wager they've got tender mouths for the pair of you!"

Two sets of britches came down in a moment. Two riding crops were snatched up and two screaming rogues got half a dozen or so cuts apiece before being lifted above heads and thrown bodily into the snowdrifts piled up outside the gates to the forge yard.

"And tell your uncle to kiss your arses better and don't come back unless you want more!" shouted Jacob as he used his apron to gather up more snow and chucked it over their heads. Two bare, very red arses looked very picturesque against the virgin snow! That would be something to describe in detail to Benjy, but I would just tell Eamonn his tormentors had been chastised firmly.

The boys were chuckling as they lifted me up and carried me back into the forge from where I had been watching. "Poor palsied Jocky," said Isaac, "Do you want your whipping now or later? And don't stand there with your mouth open!"

To be continued: