but his heart was far too
full. After two or three brave attempts he was obliged to sit down.

"Bracebridge," he said, "do you get up and tell them all I feel. You
know." Ernest got up, and made a very fitting speech for his friend,
which was loudly applauded, and then three cheers were given for Ernest,
as the "Favourite of the School." Ernest himself was somewhat taken
aback at this, but he was very well pleased, and replied in a way which
gained him yet further applause. From this time Ellis made still more
rapid progress than before, and many people thought him not much
inferior in talent to Ernest Bracebridge. He got up several steps, one
after the other, but his success did not make him less humble than he
had ever been. Out of doors, he made as great progress in his
amusements. Cricket was now in, and in that finest and most interesting
of English manly games he soon gained considerable proficiency. He used
to play, and then only occasionally, with two or three small boys at
single wicket; now he entered boldly into the game, and played whenever
he could. Ernest, who was becoming one of the best players in the
school, always got him on his side when he could. Soon after the
commencement of the half there was to be a game between the six best
players in Ernest's class and five others from any class except the
highest, whom they might choose on one side, and five of the second
class and six others from any other class below them. No school in
England could boast of a better cricket-field than did that of Grafton
Hall. It was, too, a lovely day when that game was played, and there
were a good many spectators. Ernest and Ellis, Buttar, Bouldon, and two
others of their class, together with several good players from other
classes, formed their side. They were all resolved to play their best,
and to fear nothing. They had the first innings.

"Now, Ellis," said Ernest, "you remember our first game at rounders.
You thought you could do nothing with that, but you tried, and did as
well as anybody. So you can with cricket. You have had fair practice,
you know the principles, and you have no vices to overcome."

"I'll do my best, depend on that," answered Ellis, resolving to exert
himself to the utmost. He had thought over and thoroughly studied the
principles of the game, and as his eye was specially correct, he played
far better than many who had infinitely more practice. To make a good
cricketer, a