life; his races on the river, the long country walks with the doctor,
and the tales told in bed.

During his first month, everything was too fresh, pleasant, and
exciting, for Leslie even to think about having "_a lark_;" but in the
first week of his second month he gave evident proof that this fault
had not disappeared from, or been overcome in his character. He forgot
the promise he had made to his papa, or the nearly fatal results of
his last "lark;" he forgot all about the many good resolutions he had
made in his own heart; all which led him into fresh trouble.

Near to Ascot House was a small market-town, which the boys were
allowed to visit during play hours and on half-holidays; but after
dusk no one was permitted to be absent from the playground, and after
the names were read over for the evening, without special leave, no
one could absent himself from the school-house; this rule was
rigorously enforced by the doctor.

The market-town consisted mainly of three streets in the form of a
triangle; but on the outskirts of the town were long rows of cottages,
principally tenanted by farm-labourers and working-men. The outer door
of each of these cottages opened into the sitting-room without any
passage intervening, so that any boy so disposed, by placing one eye
at the keyhole, could see all the inmates of the room. Leslie had
observed this during his various visits to the town.

One evening, after each name had been called over and answered to, and
the boys were preparing lessons for the next day, Leslie shut up his
books with a bang, saying to Johnnie Lynch, who sat next to him,
"There, those are done; now, what shall I do?"

"One moment, Ross, and I shall be finished, then we'll both do
something."

A minute or two after, Lynch put his books into the desk, saying,
"Now, Ross, what is it to be?"

"Follow me, Lynch, and I will show you; mind Wilson don't see you, or
he'll want to know where we are going."

The two boys watched for an opportunity, and when the master's head
was turned on one side, slipped silently and unobserved from the room,
and without detection made their way to the playground.

"Where are you going?" inquired Lynch.

"Into the town," replied Ross.

"But that is against rules, and if discovered we shall be punished."

"Oh, we shan't be found out; but don't come if you are afraid."

"I am not afraid, but I don't see we are doing exactly right."

"But it will be no end of a lark."