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.

With anguish of spirit he felt the approach of the moment which summoned him to this dread duty, for, in addition to the lively spite of Master Felix and the other children, he had to face the awful superintendence of Mrs.Tootle herself; who was invariably present at these lessons.

Mrs.Tootle had somehow conceived the idea that French was a second mother-tongue to her, and her intercourse with Mr.Egger was invariably carried on in that language.

Now this was a refinement of torture, seeing that it was often impossible to gather a meaning from her remarks, whilst to show any such difficulty was to incur her most furious wrath.