did his
lessons a great deal better, and never got into any scrapes. Jack never
picked a quarrel, but he now and then got into one, and was apt in his
lessons to give a false quantity, and sometimes a translation of his
Caesar which put him down to the bottom of the class. Murray was always
ready and able to help him, but Jack was not a fellow who would consent
to trust to the help of another. When he really tried, he could always
do his work, and very creditably too. Adair, unlike his friends, was
nearly always getting into trouble. He would not think enough about
consequences. Once he and others had been letting off fireworks of
their own manufacture in a remote corner of the playground. Notice was
given that an usher was coming. They threw away their combustibles, and
fled. Terence, however, had a piece of lighted touch-paper, which, in
his hurry, he shoved into his pocket. It was already full of a similar
preparation. He was caught and hauled away into the schoolroom to
receive condign punishment. He tried to look very innocent, and
requested to know why he was dragged along so unceremoniously. Paddy,
under no circumstances, ever lost his politeness. Unhappily for him
just as he reached the door the proofs of his guilt became apparent.
Streams of smoke and sparks burst out of his pockets, and the master had
to pull out the burning paper to prevent him from being seriously
injured. As to his lessons he very frequently was at the top of his
class, but he never could manage to keep there many days together. For
some neglect or other, he soon again lost his place. Still he was a
general favourite. Even the masters could not help liking him. The
three new boys were put into one room. They slept there for several
halves. On one occasion Terence had kept away a good deal from Jack and
Murray, and associated more than was his custom with several of the less
nice boys. Among them was Pigeon, the bullying fellow. I happened to
be awake one night, when, by the pale moonlight which streamed in at the
windows, I saw Paddy Adair sit up in his bed and look about him. Pigeon
and another biggish fellow did the same. They signed to each other, and
slipping on their clothes, crept with their shoes in their hands out of
the room. I could not go to sleep, wondering what had become of them.
Jack Rogers slept near me. He likewise had seen what had occurred.
They were absent about half an hour. They returned as no