seen when I reached Meade Place on the previous night, enter by
the middle door, and look gravely and smilingly round.

"Good morning, gentlemen," he said. "Good morning, Mr Rebble;" and
then he marched solemnly to the pulpit on the dais, took his place,
waved his hand, there was a repetition of the rustling and shuffling as
the boys reseated themselves, and then the humming murmur of the school
recommenced.

"I say, how old are you?" whispered my companion.

"Sixteen--nearly," I replied.

"Well, that is rum. So am I. So's lots of fellows here. Where did you
go to school before?"

"Nowhere. Had a private tutor at home."

"Well, you must be a muff."

"Why?"

"To give up a private tutor all to yourself to come to school here."

"Obliged to. Uncle said I should grow into a--"

I stopped short.

"Well, what?"

"Less talking there," said Mr Rebble.

"Mind your own business," muttered my neighbour. "What did he say you'd
grow into?"

"A milksop; and that I must come and rough it among other boys."

"Ha! ha! what a game! You will have to rough it too, here. I say,
who's uncle?"

"My uncle, Colonel Seaborough."

"What's he?--a soldier too?"

"Yes; and I'm going to be a soldier by and by."

"Well, you are a lucky one! Wish I had an uncle who said I should be a
soldier. I shall have to be a doctor, I suppose."

Just then, the tall, thin boy pointed out to me a few minutes before as
Burr major, came across in a bending, undulating way, with an open book
in his hand, glanced up and down to see that the Doctor and his
lieutenant were both occupied, and then slipped into the seat at our
long desk on the other side of my neighbour, who did not give him time
to speak, but began rapidly,--

"I say, this new chap says he'll give you such a leathering if you shoot
peas at him."

"Eh? Like to see him begin," said the fresh comer, with a contemptuous
look at me. "I say, Senna T, you're in for it."

"What for?"

"Old Dicksee says you gave him some stuff last night, and it's made him
so bad he can't learn his lessons. He's going to tell the Doctor."

"Gammon! What do you want?"

"Less talking there," said Mr Rebble sharply.

"Hark at old Reb!" whispered the new-comer. "I say, we're going to have
a holiday to-day, ain't we?"

"No such luck."

"Oh, but we must! I've written this out. You'll sign, won't you?"

My neighbour snatched a document consisting of about half a dozen lines,
and