at your orders--at what time?"

"Say ten o'clock if the weather is fine; if not the next day."

"Then, sir, I'll now wish you good-bye, as I must go and see the
Dominie."

Mr Turnbull took my hand, and we parted. I was soon at Brentford, and
was continuing my course through the long, main street, when I met Mr
and Mrs Tomkins, the former head clerk who had charge of the Brentford
Wharf. "I was intending to call upon you, sir, after I had paid a visit
to my old master."

"Very well, Jacob; and recollect we dine at half-past three--fillet of
veal and bacon--don't be late for dinner."

I promised that I would not, and in a few minutes more arrived at the
Grammar School. I looked at its peaked, antiquated front, and called to
mind my feelings when, years back, I had first entered its porch. What
a difference between the little uncouth, ignorant, savage, tricked out
like a harlequin, and now the tall, athletic, well-dressed youth, happy
in his independence, and conscious, although not vain, of his
acquirements! and I mentally blessed the founders. But I had to talk to
the Dominie, and to keep my appointment with the veal and bacon at
half-past three, so I could not spare any time for meditation. I,
therefore, unfolded my arms, and making use of my legs, entered the
wicket, and proceeded to the Dominie's room. The door was ajar, and I
entered without being perceived. I have often been reminded, by Flemish
paintings which I have seen since, of the picture which then presented
itself. The room was not large, but lofty. It had but one window,
fitted with small diamond-shaped panes in heavy wood-work, through which
poured a broad, but subdued, stream of light. On one side of the window
was an ancient armoire, containing the Dominie's library, not gilt and
lettered but well thumbed and worn. On the other his huge chest of
drawers, on which lay, alas! for the benefit of the rising generations,
a new birch rod, of large dimensions. The table was in the centre of
the room, and the Dominie sat at it, with his back to the window, in a
dressing-gown, once black, having been a cassock, but now brown with
age. He was on his high and narrow-backed chair, leaning forwards, with
both elbows on the table, his spectacles on his luxuriant nose, and his
hands nearly meeting on the top of his bald crown, earnestly poring over
the contents of a book. A large Bible, which he constantly made use of,
was also on the table, and had