ng two and two together, and like the
monkeys, who very sensibly refrain from speech lest they should be set
to earn their livings, we were careful to conceal our capabilities for a
simple syllogism. Thus we were rarely taken by surprise, and so were
considered by our disappointed elders to be apathetic and to lack the
divine capacity for wonder.

Now the daily output of the letter-bag, with the mysterious discussions
that ensued thereon, had speedily informed us that Uncle Thomas was
intrusted with a mission--a mission, too, affecting ourselves. Uncle
Thomas's missions were many and various. A self-important man, one
liking the business while protesting that he sank under the burden, he
was the missionary, so to speak, of our remote habitation. The matching
a ribbon, the running down to the stores, the interviewing a cook--these
and similar duties lent constant colour and variety to his vacant life
in London, and helped to keep down his figure. When the matter, however,
had in our presence to be referred to with nods and pronouns, with
significant hiatuses and interpolations in the French tongue, then the
red flag was flown, the storm-cone hoisted, and by a studious pretence
of inattention we were not long in plucking out the heart of the
mystery.

To clinch our conclusion, we descended suddenly and together on Martha;
proceeding, however, not by simple inquiry as to facts--that would never
have done; but by informing her that the air was full of school and that
we knew all about it, and then challenging denial. Martha was a trusty
soul, but a bad witness for the defence, and we soon had it all out of
her. The word had gone forth, the school had been selected; the
necessary sheets were hemming even now, and Edward was the designated
and appointed victim.

It had always been before us as an inevitable bourne, this strange
unknown thing called school; and yet--perhaps I should say
consequently--we had never seriously set ourselves to consider what it
really meant. But now that the grim spectre loomed imminent, stretching
lean hands for one of our flock, it behoved us to face the situation, to
take soundings in this uncharted sea and find out whither we were
drifting. Unfortunately the data in our possession were absolutely
insufficient, and we knew not whither to turn for exact information.
Uncle Thomas could have told us all about it, of course; he had been
there himself, once, in the dim and misty past. But an unfor