methods,
reap his own experiences for himself.

Grover had good reason to know the doctor's peculiarity in this respect,
and took care to give his friend a few hints about starting work, which
otherwise he might never have evolved out of his own consciousness.

Amongst other things he advised that he should, as soon as possible,
make the acquaintance of the head boys of his house, and try to come to
a good understanding with them as to the work and conduct of the term.
Accordingly four polite notes were that evening handed by the house-
messenger to Messrs. Ainger, Barnworth, Stafford, and Felgate,
requesting the pleasure of their company at 7.30 in the new master's
rooms. The messenger had an easy task, for, oddly enough, he found the
four gentlemen in question assembled in Ainger's study. They were, in
fact, discussing their new house-master when his four little missives
were placed in their hands.

"What's the joke now, Mercury?" asked Barnworth.

The messenger, who certainly was not nicknamed Mercury on account of the
rapidity of his motions or the volatility of his spirits, replied, "I
dunno; but I don't see why one letter shouldn't have done for the lot of
yer. He's flush with his writing-paper if he isn't with his pounds,
shillings and pence!"

"Oh, he's not tipped you, then? Never mind, I'm sure it wasn't your
fault!"

Mercury, in private, turned this little sally over in his mind, and came
to the conclusion that Mr Barnworth was not yet a finished pupil in
manners. Meanwhile the four letters were being opened and perused
critically.

"`_Dear Ainger_'--one would think he'd known me all my life!" said
Ainger.

"`_I shall be so glad if you will look in at my rooms_,'" read
Barnworth. "He evidently wants my opinion on his wall-paper."

"`_At 7.30, for a few minutes' chat_'--nothing about tea and toast,
though," said Stafford.

"`_Believe me, yours very truly, M. Railsford_.' So I do believe you,
my boy!" said Felgate. "Are you going, you fellows?"

"Must," said Ainger; "it's a mandate, and there's no time to get a
doctor's certificate."

"What does he want to chat about, I wonder?" said Stafford.

"The weather, of course!" growled Barnworth; "what else is there?"

Stafford coloured up as usual when anyone laughed at him.

"He wants to get us to take the oath of allegiance, you fellows," said
Felgate. "`Will you walk into my parlour? said the spider to the fly,'
that's what he means. I