as
Uncle James, my mother's brother; and there was our aunt, his wife, and
a number of cousins, boys and girls; and we were all soon quite at home
and happy, though I did not exactly know what to do with myself.

A few days after that, Uncle James and my mother and I drove out in a
carriage, and there was a box on the top of it full of my clothes, and
several other things; and then I found that I was going to school. I
was rather pleased than otherwise; not that I wished to leave my mother
and Ellen, but I wanted to know what sort of a place school was. We
went some distance away from London, and stopped before a house with an
iron gate, and a huge stone lion on each side of it. We got out, and
were shown into a drawing-room, and there we sat, till a tall gentleman
dressed in black, with a very white head, made his appearance, and my
mother and Uncle James talked to him for some time; then he called me
up, patted me on the head, and told me he hoped that I should be a good
boy, and learn my lessons well. I did not feel quite comfortable when
my mother got up and kissed me again and again, and looked somewhat sad;
and then Uncle James wished me good-bye; and out they went, while the
tall gentleman kept me by the hand.

"Now, Harry Faithful," he said, "I will introduce you to your
school-fellows;" and he conducted me through a passage, at the end of
which was a door which opened out into a large open space covered with
gravel, with high walls on either side. A big tree stood in the centre,
and a vast number of boys of all ages were running about. Some had
hoops, others were jumping over long ropes, and others, with reins
fastened to their arms held by bigger boys, were scampering round and
round, playing at horses. Some were leaping over each other's backs,
and others were hopping about with their arms folded charging at each
other. I thought it very good fun, and hoped that was the way they were
always employed.

The tall gentleman, after waiting a minute or two, called out, "Antony
Nyass, come here. Here is the son of an old friend of your father's. I
expect you to look after him."

Then he turned round to me, and said, "When the bell rings, you will
come in with the rest, and we will lose no time in placing you."

"And so you are the new boy," said my companion. "What is your name?"
I told him. "Well, I am very glad you are come," he observed, "for I
want a chum. We will have all sorts of fun together