appearance that
Ashfield House presented when the three young gentlemen arrived there.
Such descriptions are generally skipped; consequently, I leave it to my
reader's imagination to picture how romantic the edifice looked, with
the last faint yellow daylight glowing on its front, and the first few
stars peeping out on the green park.

Our young gentlemen, be assured, noticed nothing but the very dismal
impression that they were once more at school. Inquiring if the doctor
were to be seen, they were informed that he was expected in a few
minutes, as it was nearly prayer-time; and accordingly Reginald
marshalled the way without a word to the school-room. There was no
one in the hall or school-room, but a murmur from the half-open door
of the adjoining class-room drew them in that direction. The room was
nearly full, for besides the first and second classes there were many
belonging to the third class, and one or two others who had either
arrived late, or taken advantage of the little additional license
given the first few days to stay beyond their usual bedtime. It was
too dark to distinguish faces, but the figure of Frank Digby, who had
managed with great pains to climb the mantelpiece, and was delivering
an oration, would have been unmistakable if even he had been silent;--who
but Frank Digby could have had spirit to do it the third night after
the opening of the school?

"Gentlemen and ladies," began the merry-andrew; "I beg your
pardon, the Lady Louisa not having arrived, and Miss Maria
Matheson being in bed, I ought to have omitted that term--but,
gentlemen, I take this opportunity, gentlemen, the opportunity
of the eleventh demi-anniversary of our delightful reunion.
Gentlemen, I am aware that some of you have not been fortunate
enough to see eleven, but some among us have seen more. I,
gentlemen, have seen eleven at this auspicious moment. I may
say it is the proudest moment of my life to be able to stand
on this mantelpiece and look down on you all, to feel myself
enrolled a member of such an august corps. I may say I feel
myself elevated at this present moment, but as, gentlemen,
there is no saying, in the precarious situation I am now
placed, how long I may be in a position to contemplate the
elegance of his majesty and court, I hasten to propose that
his majesty's health be eaten in plum-cake, and that if I
fall somebody will catch me.

"With kind regards to all,