erning him."

Leslie murmured something in reply, but what, he scarcely knew. He was
glancing round the doctor's library, to ascertain if there were any
instruments of punishment to be seen, his ideas of school discipline
and punishment being almost one and the same.

"You will, of course, stop and dine with me, Ross, and be introduced
to my wife and child; your son also, will like to have one more meal
with you; meanwhile I will introduce him to his future companions,
with whom he has both to work and play."

"Then I will bid you farewell till dinner time, Leslie," said Mr Ross,
as the doctor took his son by the hand to lead him away.

As they approached the school-room door a confused buz of many voices
fell upon Leslie's ear, which was hushed, complete silence reigning,
as they entered. It was a long and lofty room, containing as many as
eighty or ninety boys of various size and age, from the little urchin
of nine years in knickerbockers, to the youth of eighteen sporting his
first tailed-coat. Leslie gave one hasty look round the room and then
lowered his glance, fixing it upon the floor, being unable to
withstand the battery of so many eyes, all of which were fixed
scrutinisingly upon himself.

"Boys," said the doctor, "I introduce to you a new companion, who,
being a stranger, I hope you will treat with all kindness and
courtesy. Hall, I place him beneath your care and protection, make him
familiar with the ways of the school. It is my custom, you know,
boys," continued the doctor, "to indulge you with a half-holiday
whenever a new boy enters the school; we will therefore resume our
studies at half-past eight to-morrow morning."

"Hurrah! one cheer for the doctor," cried a boy, jumping on a form and
waving a large dictionary in the air. "Hip! hip! hip! hurrah!" was the
deafening response. "Now then, one more for the new boy."

"Hip! hip! hip! hurrah!" was again heartily shouted, in the middle of
which the large dictionary slipped from the hand which held it,
falling with a crash upon the head of a boy who was just rising to
leave his desk.

"You, Johnnie Lynch," cried the boy, rubbing his head, "just be
careful where you throw your books."

"I beg pardon," replied Lynch, laughing; "it was quite an accident, I
assure you."

"It is all very well saying so now it is done; I never had so many
words thrown at me before."

"Well, never mind, words are but wind."

"Wind, I found them anything but wind."