In short, if there was ever a worse education, it must
have been in that academy where Oliver met Charles
Bates.
When I was first guided into the exchange to have my
desk pointed out by one of the assistant teachers, I
was overwhelmed by the clamour and confusion. Certain
blackboards at the other end of the building were
covered with figures continually replaced. As each new
set appeared, the pupils swayed to and fro, and roared
out aloud with a formidable and to me quite meaningless
vociferation; leaping at the same time upon the desks
and benches, signalling with arms and heads, and
scribbling briskly in note-books. I thought I had
never beheld a scene more disagreeable; and when I
considered that the whole traffic was illusory, and all
the money then upon the market would scarce have
sufficed to buy a pair of skates, I was at first
astonished, although not for long. Indeed, I had no
sooner called to mind how grown-up men and women of
considerable estate will lose their temper about
halfpenny points, than (making an immediate allowance
for my fellow-students) I transferred the whole of my
astonishment to the assistant teacher, who--poor
gentleman--had quite forgot to show me to my desk, and
stood in the midst of this hurly-burly, absorbed and
seemingly transported.
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