class and write out pages 245 to 252, inclusive, of
the School History. He had no objection, as he confided to his friend
and comforter, Arthur Herapath, Esquire, to the Master of the Shell
entertaining his own opinions as to the character of the personage in
question. But he believed in the maxim "give and take," and just as he
would cheerfully have received anything Mr Railsford might have to say
on the subject, he at least expected that his own statement should be
received in an equally candid spirit, particularly (as he was anxious to
point out) since he had personally inspected a portrait of Cromwell not
long ago, and verified the existence of the two features alleged.

Sir Digby, indeed, deserved some little commiseration. He had come up
to Grandcourt this term pledged to the hilt to work hard and live
virtuously. He had produced and proudly hung in a conspicuous place in
his study a time-table, beautifully ruled and written in red and black
ink, showing how each hour of every day in the week was to be spent in
honest toil and well-earned sport. He had explained to his friend the
interesting fact that a duplicate of this table had been presented to
his mother, who thereby would be able to tell at any moment how her dear
son was occupied.

"Let's see," said he, proudly, taking out his watch. "7.15. Now what am
I doing at 7.15 on Thursdays? French preparation. There you are! So
if she's thinking about me now she knows what I'm up to."

"But you're not doing French preparation," suggested Arthur.

"Of course I'm not, you ass. How could I when I lent Dimsdale my book?
Besides, we've not started yet. I've got about a million lines to
write. Do you know, I'm certain it was Bickers got me into that row
about the omnibus; I saw him looking on. I say, that was a stunning
lark, wasn't it? I'd have won too if Riggles had kept his right side.
Look here, I say, I'd better do some lines now; lend us a hand, there's
a good chap. Wouldn't it be a tip if old Smiley could write; we could
keep him going all day long!"

Master Oakshott had, in fact, become considerably embarrassed at the
beginning of the term by one or two accidents, which conspired to put
off the operation of the time-table for a short period.

The doctor had received information through some channel of the famous
chariot race on opening day, and had solaced the defeated champion with
a caning (which he did not mind) and five hundred lines of Vi