best of our power in
that station of life in which we are placed. It is our duty when we are
boys to prepare for being men, by training our minds and bodies, and by
laying in as large a share of knowledge as we can obtain."

"Oh, that's what the saints say!" exclaimed Dawson, with a laugh. "We
shall very soon christen you the saint, Bracebridge, if you talk in that
way."

"I don't mind what you may call me," said Ernest, quietly; "I only
repeat what a sensible man has told me; I am very certain that he has
only said what he knows to be the truth."

Neither Dawson nor Bouldon would be convinced that Ernest was talking
sense, but Buttar, who was listening, drank in every word he said. He
had at first felt an inclination to patronise the new boy, but he now
tacitly acknowledged him as his superior in most respects, except
perhaps a small amount of the details of school knowledge.

Ernest, however, had been too carefully trained by his father to presume
on this superiority. He, of course, could not help feeling that he did
many things better than most of his companions, but then he was
perfectly conscious that if they had possessed the advantages his father
had given him, they would probably have done as well.

With the ushers he was a favourite, especially with his own master, who
was under the impression that the rapid progress he made was owing to
his instruction; while Doctor Carr soon perceived that he was likely to
prove a credit to the school. Ernest, however, was not perfect, and he
had trials which were probably in the end good for him. Some of the
elder boys were jealous of the progress he made, and called him a
conceited little puppy. Blackall, who was only in the third class, and
had from the first taken a dislike to him, did not like to see him
catching him up, as he called it. With mere brute force Ernest could
not contend, so that he got many a cuff and kick from the ill-disposed
among the elder boys, which he was obliged to take quietly, though he
might have felt the inclination to resent the treatment he received.

At length he began to prefer the hours spent in school, because he was
there certain of being free from the annoyances in the playground. The
bigger boys did not condescend to play with hoops, but Ernest was very
fond of all games played with them. Buttar and he were generally on one
side, opposed to Dawson and Bouldon.

"Who's for prisoners' base?" exclaimed Buttar coming out f