it, from the
looks on it! WOULD you be so kind as write your name upon it, learned
governor?' (In a wheedling tone.)

Bradley hesitated for a moment; but placed his usual signature,
enlarged, upon the board.

'I ain't a learned character myself,' said Riderhood, surveying the
class, 'but I do admire learning in others. I should dearly like to hear
these here young folks read that there name off, from the writing.'

The arms of the class went up. At the miserable master's nod, the shrill
chorus arose: 'Bradley Headstone!'

'No?' cried Riderhood. 'You don't mean it? Headstone! Why, that's in a
churchyard. Hooroar for another turn!'

Another tossing of arms, another nod, and another shrill chorus:

'Bradley Headstone!'

'I've got it now!' said Riderhood, after attentively listening, and
internally repeating: 'Bradley. I see. Chris'en name, Bradley sim'lar to
Roger which is my own. Eh? Fam'ly name, Headstone, sim'lar to Riderhood
which is my own. Eh?'

Shrill chorus. 'Yes!'

'Might you be acquainted, learned governor,' said Riderhood, 'with a
person of about your own heighth and breadth, and wot 'ud pull down in
a scale about your own weight, answering to a name sounding summat like
Totherest?'

With a desperation in him that made him perfectly quiet, though his jaw
was heavily squared; with his eyes upon Riderhood; and with traces of
quickened breathing in his nostrils; the schoolmaster replied, in a
suppressed voice, after a pause: 'I think I know the man you mean.'

'I thought you knowed the man I mean, learned governor. I want the man.'

With a half glance around him at his pupils, Bradley returned:

'Do you suppose he is here?'

'Begging your pardon, learned governor, and by your leave,' said
Riderhood, with a laugh, 'how could I suppose he's here, when there's
nobody here but you, and me, and these young lambs wot you're a learning
on? But he is most excellent company, that man, and I want him to come
and see me at my Lock, up the river.'

'I'll tell him so.'

'D'ye think he'll come?' asked Riderhood.

'I am sure he will.'

'Having got your word for him,' said Riderhood, 'I shall count upon him.
P'raps you'd so fur obleege me, learned governor, as tell him that if he
don't come precious soon, I'll look him up.'

'He shall know it.'

'Thankee. As I says a while ago,' pursued Riderhood, changing his hoarse
tone and leering round upon the class again, 'though not a learned
character my own sel