led the grand
tour of Europe under the charge of a tutor, after leaving the
university. But these formed a very small proportion of society,
and, indeed, the frequent wars which had, since the Stuarts lost the
throne of England, occurred between the two countries had greatly
interfered with continental travel.

Even now the subjects of France and England were engaged in a
desperate struggle in India, although there was peace between the
courts of Versailles and St. James's. A knowledge of the French
language then would be likely to be of great utility to Harry if
he entered the army; his expenses at Westminster would be saved,
and the two hundred and forty pounds which he would acquire during
his three years' stay in France would be very useful to him on
his first start in life. After breakfast next morning Dr. Sandwith
asked Harry to take a turn in the garden with him, for the holidays
had just begun.

"What do you think of this, Harry?"

"I have not thought much about it one way or the other, sir,"
Harry said, looking up with a smile. "It seemed to me better that
you should do the thinking for both of us."

"I might perhaps be better able to judge whether it would
be advantageous or otherwise for you to accept the offer, but you
must be the best judge as to whether you would like to accept it
or not."

"I can't quite make up my mind as to that, sir. I like school very
much and I like being at home. I don't want to learn Frenchified
ways, nor to eat frogs and snails and all sorts of nastiness;
still, it would be fun going to a place so different to England,
and hearing no English spoken, and learning all their rum ways,
and getting to jabber French."

"It might be very useful to you in the army, Harry;" and then the
doctor stopped suddenly.

"The army!" Harry exclaimed in a tone of astonished delight. "Oh,
sir, do you really think of my going into the army? You never said
a word about that before. I should like that immensely."

"That slipped out, Harry, for I did not mean to say anything about
it until you had left school; still, if you go to France I do not
know why you should not keep that before you. I don't think the army
is a very good profession, but you do not seem to have any marked
talent for anything else. You don't like the idea of medicine or
the church, and you were almost heart-broken when I wanted you to
accept the offer of your uncle John of a seat in his counting-house.
It seems to me t