entleman.

"Is he awfully stuck-up and strict?" asked the boy anxiously.

"I really don't know," said the gentleman, biting his lips; "I hope
not."

"So do I. I wish my father was the head master," said Charlie, the
tears for a moment starting to his eyes at the bare thought of such
happiness.

The gentleman looked at him very kindly, and said,--

"Cheer up, my little man; perhaps it won't be so bad after all."

Charlie smiled again as he said,--

"Oh, yes, I've got to be brave, you know, because I promised father.
But I say, if you ever come to the school, ask for me--my name's Charlie
Newcome--will you? because I don't know any of the fellows; and
besides," added he, brightening at the idea, "we can see if our watches
are going the same, you know."

The gentleman promised, and soon after this the train arrived at
Randlebury. The boy bid his companion farewell, and went off as before
to look after his belongings.

As he was standing surrounded by his baggage, a man in the dress of a
coachman came up to him and said,--

"Are you the young party from London for the school?"

"Yes," replied the boy.

"It's all right," said the man; "give us hold of these things, and jump
inside my trap."

"How far is it?" he asked of the man.

"Better of three miles."

"Is it, though? I say, can't you put the things inside, and then I can
ride on the box?"

"All square," said the man; "hop up, my young bantam."

The young bantam did hop up, and they were soon on their way to the
school.

I need hardly say it was not long before Charlie and the driver were on
confidential terms. The boy duly produced first me and then his six-
bladed knife to the admiring eyes of his new companion, insisting on his
taking both into his hands, and demanding his candid opinion on their
merits.

Presently a wholly new idea seemed to strike him.

"I say, driver, what's your name?"

"Jim, if you want to know," replied that public servant.

"Well, Jim, I wish you'd just get inside and look after the luggage, and
let me drive; will you?"

The man opened his eyes and his mouth at the proposition, and then
bursting out laughing.

"Hark at him!" he exclaimed; "did you ever hear the like? Me get inside
and let a young shaver like him drive me--ho! ho!"

"Come along, Jim; I know the way; and it _would_ be a lark. Come on,
_dear_ Jim."

And the boy got quite affectionate in his eagerness.

"Dear Jim," who was one of those eas