in one of the desks where
there was a jam sandwich and several toffee-drops. The Sixth seem to
like jam sandwiches and toffee-drops, there are some of them in nearly
every desk. The desk I was in had a packet of cigarettes in one corner.
They were labelled `Mild.' I wonder why the Sixth like their
cigarettes mild. In the same desk were one or two books written by a
man called Bohn; they seemed queer books, for they had Latin and Greek
names outside, but all the reading inside was English. It is sad to see
the quarrelling that goes on in this room. You would not suppose, to
see these monitors walking grandly up and down the passages striking
terror into the hearts of all the small boys, that they could possibly
condescend to quarrel over the possession of an inkpot or the ownership
of an acid-drop found among the cinders. Alas! it is very sad. They
don't seem anything like the Sixth of old days. I shall emigrate if
this goes on.
"Wednesday.--A great row to-day when the Doctor was out of the room.
The two senior monitors engaged in a game of marbles--knuckle down--in
the course of which one player accused the other of cheating. There was
nearly a fight, only neither seemed exactly to like to begin, and both
appeared relieved when the Doctor came in and confiscated the marbles."
And so the diary went on, in a strain highly offensive to the Sixth and
equally delighting to the lower forms. After this the Sixth withdrew,
not caring to face further taunts of the kind, and leaving a free field
to the rest of Saint Dominic's, who perused this wonderful broadside to
the end with unflagging interest. Some of the advertisements with which
Tony had filled up the gaps caused considerable mirth--such as this: "A
gentleman about to clear out his desk, begs to give notice that he will
Sell by Auction to-morrow after `Lights out,' all those rare and
valuable articles, to wit:--one and a half gross best cherry-stones,
last year's, in excellent condition. About twelve assorted bread
crusts, warranted dry and hard--one with a covering of fossilised
sardine. Six quires of valuable manuscript notes on various subjects,
comprising Latin, Greek, Mathematics, French, and Crambo. One apple,
well seasoned, and embellished with a brilliant green fur of two years'
growth. And many other miscellaneous treasures, such as slate pencils,
nutshells, an antique necktie, several defunct silkworms, a noble
three-bladed knife (deficient of
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