placed in front of
her. A low armchair was near her for Louis, and another quite in the
window Mrs. Norman took possession of, when she had provided herself
with some work.

"Oh, what a beautiful view!" exclaimed Louis, as he looked for the
first time out of the window. "How very, very beautiful! I think this
is the pleasantest situation in Clifton."

"It is very beautiful," said Mrs. Norman. "But you have a magnificent
prospect at Dr. Wilkinson's."

"Dr. Wilkinson's is a very nice place, I believe, is it not?" said
Mrs. Paget. "It is a pity such a pretty place should be a school."

"Nay," said Mrs. Norman, smiling; "why should you grudge the poor
boys their pleasure?"

"I don't think they appreciate it," said Mrs. Paget; "and, poor
fellows, they are always so miserable that they might as well be
miserable somewhere else."

"We are not at all miserable after the first week," said Louis.

"I thought you were not to go to school again, my dear," said
Mrs. Paget.

"So I thought, myself, but papa wished me to go, and he is the
best judge."

"Well, dear it's a very nice thing that you are wise enough to see
it,--and you are happy?"

"I should be very ungrateful not to be so ma'am; Dr. Wilkinson and
all the boys are so kind to me this half. It is so different from
the first quarter spent at school."

"They are kind, are they? Well, I dare say; they couldn't help it,
I'm sure," replied Mrs. Paget. "I suppose you will have the medal
again this half year. I am sure you ought to have it to make up."

"Oh, but I shouldn't have it to make up for last half, ma'am,"
said Louis, smiling.

"But you will get it, I dare say," said the lady.

"I don't know," said Louis; "perhaps--I think I have a very good
chance yet, but we never can tell exactly what Dr. Wilkinson thinks
about us. There are only one or two I am afraid of."

"I should think you needn't be afraid of any," said Mrs. Paget. "I
told you, Charlotte, about that story we heard at Heronhurst last
summer--dear boy--you know he bore--"

"Yes," interrupted Mrs. Norman. "You have a large number of
school-fellows, Master Louis," she added.

"Yes, ma'am, there are seventy-six of us this half, so many that
we hardly know the names of the lower school."

"Is that M. _Ferrar_ or _Ferrers_ there still?" asked Mrs. Paget.

"Yes, ma'am, and he is so much improved, you cannot think."

Louis looked very earnestly at her as she spoke, and she put her
hand on his fo