retreat as quickly as possible to
the junior schoolroom, there to await, in the calm atmosphere of
expectant scholarship, the ringing of the twelve o'clock bell.

Has the reader ever visited that famous resort of youth, the Zoo? Has
he stood on that terrace five minutes before dinner-time and listened to
the deep-mouthed growl of the lion, the barking of the wolf, the shriek
of the hyaena, as they pace their cages and await their meal? Then,
turning on his heel, has he quitted that stately scene and pushed back
the door of the monkey house?

Even so it was with our heroes. The junior schoolroom was as the
matron's hall and the studies thrown into one.--At first, to the
untutored eyes of the visitors, it looked like a surging sea of unkempt
heads and waving elbows; then, as their vision grew accustomed to the
scene, they beheld faces and legs and boots; then, amid the general din,
they distinguished voices, and perceived that the sea was made up of
human beings.

At the which they would fain have retreated; but, as old Virgil says--
and we won't insult our readers by translating the verses--

"Facilis descensus Averni, Sed revocare gradum Hoc opus, hic labor
est."

Their retreat was cut off before they were well in the room, and, amid
loud cries of "New kids!" "Bertie!" "Scrunch!" they were escorted to
the nearest form, where they forthwith received a most warm and pressing
welcome into their new quarters. The top boy of the form, in his
emotion, planted his feet against the wall and began to push inwards.
The bottom boy, equally overcome, planted his feet in the hollow of a
desk and also pushed inwards. Every one else, in fellow-feeling, pushed
inwards too, except our heroes, who, being in the exact centre, remained
passive recipients of their schoolfellows' welcome until the line showed
signs of rising up at the point where Aspinall's white face pointed the
middle; whereupon the bottom boy considerately let go with his feet, and
the occupants of the form were poured like water on the floor.

After being thus welcomed on some half-dozen forms, our heroes began to
feel that even good fellowship may pall, and were glad, decidedly glad,
to hear the great bell beginning to sound forth.

School that morning was rather a farce; the master was not in the humour
for it, nor were the boys. After calling over names and announcing the
subjects which would engage the attention of the different classes, and
read