He pushed open the door and entered. The scene that followed was grave and sad, and yet, in the end, strangely unimpressive. His father talked too much. As he talked Jeremy's thoughts would fly back to the coal-black horse and to that moment when he had seemed to fly into the very heart of the stars.
“Ah, Jeremy, how could you?” said his father. “Is obedience nothing to you? Do you know how God punishes disobedience? Think what a terrible thing is a disobedient man!” Then on a lower scale: “I really don't know what to do with you. You knew that you were not to go near that wicked place.”
“Nonsense! You knew well enough. You will break your mother's heart.”
“I'll tell her I'm sorry,” he interrupted quickly.
“If you are really sorry--” said his father.
“I'm not sorry I went,” said Jeremy, “but I'm sorry I hurt Mother.”
The end of it was that Jeremy received six strokes on the hand with a ruler. Mr. Cole was not good at this kind of thing, and twice he missed Jeremy's hand altogether, and looked very foolish. It was not an edifying scene. Jeremy left the room, his head high, his spirit obstinate; and his father remained, puzzled, distressed, at a loss, anxious to do what was right, but unable to touch his son at all.
Jeremy went up to his room. He opened his window and looked out. He could smell the burnt leaves of the bonfire. There was no flame now, but he fancied that he could see a white shadow where it had been. Then, on the wind, came the music of the Fair.
“Tum--te--Tum... Tum--te--Tum... Whirr--Whirr--Whirr--Bang--Bang.”
Somewhere an owl cried, and then another owl answered.
He rubbed his sore hand against his trousers; then, thinking of his black horse, he smiled.
He was a free man. In a week he would go to school; then he would go to College; then he would be a horsetrainer.
He was in bed; faintly into the dark room, stole the scent of the bonfire and the noise of the Fair.
He was asleep, riding on a giant charger across boundless plains.
The last day! Jeremy, suddenly waking, realised this with a confusion of feeling as though he were sentenced to the dentist's, but, oddly enough, looked forward to his visit. Going to school, one had, of course, long ago perceived, was a mixed business; but the balance was now greatly to the good. It was a step in the right direction towards liberty and freedom. Thank Heaven!