Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 8.djvu/40

14 such a Message ordered to be delivered to me by a Master? Better let him take away my life than ruin my Character. My Conscience acquits me of ever meriting expulsion at this School; I have been idle and I certainly ought not to talk in church, but I have never done a mean action at this School to him or any one. If I had done anything so heinous, why should he allow me to stay at the School? Why should he himself be so criminal as to overlook faults which merit the appellation of a blackguard? If he had had it in his power to have me expelled, he would long ago have done it; as it is, he has done worse. If I am treated in this Manner, I will not stay at this School. I write you that I will not as yet appeal to Dr. Drury; his Son's influence is more than mine and justice would be refused me. Remember I told you, when I left you at Bath, that he would seize every means and opportunity of revenge, not for leaving him so much as the mortification he suffered, because I begged you to let me leave him. If I had been the Blackguard he talks of, why did he not of his own accord refuse to keep me as his pupil? You know Dr. Drury's first letter, in it were these Words: "My son and Lord Byron have had some Disagreements; but I hope that his future behaviour will render a change of Tutors unnecessary." Last Term I was here but a short time, and though he endeavoured, he could find nothing to abuse me in. Among other things I forgot to tell you he said he had a great mind to expel the Boy for speaking to me, and that if he ever again spoke to me he would expel him. Let him explain his meaning; he abused me, but he neither did nor can mention anything bad of me, further than what every boy else in the School has done. I fear him not; but let him explain his meaning; 'tis all I ask. I beg you will write to Dr. Drury to let him know