tched, with a secret joy, the rapid progress of this work of
dilapidation.

In what I judged to be an opportune moment, I timidly expressed my
desire.

I had to do more--much more than that--before I could obtain my will. I
begged, stormed, grumbled, sulked. I became almost ill with hope
deferred. At length, for the sake of peace, my parents granted my
eccentric wish.

It was a proud moment for me when, for the first time, I arrayed myself
in that resplendent nankeen jacket, won at the cost of so many struggles
and persevering efforts. Standing before the mirror, I surveyed myself
admiringly for a full hour. I was grand! superb!

"Ah! my Lord _Met-a-Mort_! You will find yourself ousted at last! My
shining jacket will soon snatch from you the _prestige_ acquired by your
stupid, brute force. Georgette, astonished, fascinated, dazzled, and
delighted, will run towards me, for I shall now be the handsomest boy in
the school. _Met-a-Mort_ will weep for chagrin, as I have so often wept
for jealousy and mortification."

Such were my complacent reflections as, with the stride of a conqueror,
I entered the precincts of our school.

Alas for my rose-coloured anticipations! I was greeted with a broadside
of laughter. Even our gentle mistress, Ermance Dulorre, could not
repress a smile, and, above all other voices, I heard that of Georgette,
who cried mirthfully:--

"Oh! look at him! Look at him! He is a canary-bird!"

The word was caught up instantly. All the scholars shouted in chorus:
"He is a canary! A canary!"

Words fail me to describe my bitter disappointment, my burning shame and
chagrin. I saw my folly now. But it was too late--the awful deed was
done! Worse than all, in order to obtain this now odious jacket, I had
spoiled all my other jackets, and had nothing else to wear! When, on the
evening of that most miserable day, I told my troubles to my father and
mother, they were merely amused, and said to me:--

"It is entirely your own fault. You insisted upon having the jacket, and
now you must put up with it!"

Thus was I condemned to the perpetual wearing of my yellow jacket, which
entailed upon me no end of petty miseries.

Every day, at school, I was jeered at and insulted. Even the babies of
three years--sweet, blue-eyed, golden-haired cherubs--pointed at me with
their tiny fingers, and lisped, "Canary! Canary!"

[Illustration: "I WAS JEERED AT AND INSULTED."]

How was I to extricate myself from this e