th so much pleasure, or enjoys it so thoroughly. When the time draws near that he is to leave school-life for a season, how old Father Time seems to

is last breakfast in the old dining-hall, what tricks he plays with his schoolmates, who are equally excited as himself! Now he boasts what he will do during the holidays, where he will go, whom he shall see, and what things he will eat. And with what a shout he

g embrace, and his sisters with smiles and kisses; while his younger brothers, who have been on the watch for hours, greet him with shouts of

smiles; he views the preparations of each departing boy with envy, and, try all he can, he cannot assume a nonchalant or I-don't-care kind of air, nor prevent a lump rising in his throat, and an occasional dimness gathering over his eyes. May

re away on the Continent, and, unable to reach home in time, had requested the master, as a favour, to allow me to remain at

hich had never before appeared so deserted or silent, kicking stones about with my feet, and making holes in the ground with the heels of my boots. I sauntered up to the school-room windows, and stared in at the empty room, and at the long desks, which looked strange and unfamiliar. Even the doctor's wife did not raise my spirits when she kindly said, 'You may go into the garden, Hall, whenever you like, and pick some fruit, but be sure you do not eat t

ut of them since I was alone, for they were nothing like so pleasant as when my companions were

until I heard a scream in the adjoining lane, and the terrified voice of a girl exclaim, 'Oh! papa! papa! do come!' and then another scream, followed by the deep bay of a dog. I bounded from the wood, cleared the old palings

hold on no longer, and should be compelled to relinquish my grasp, and while tumbling over and over in the dust, a voice cried out-while I could hear rapid steps approaching,-'Hold on; I'll be with

tle girl as ever I saw was clinging round the neck of a tall gentleman, who was endeavouring to hush her terrified sobs. This was soon accomp

nd warmly for saving my littl

oots of my hair, 'it was not much; I should

re nothing, neither do I. I don't think many boy

say that, for I could bring no end of a number who woul

you; but what is your name?

Hall-Arthur Hall, and I am one

are here-I thought i

way on the Continent, and I am stayin

you li

ely and miserable as a ra

and give your clothes a brush

you are Squi

r of my going away until evening; so I stayed and had dinner with them, while their little girl-Alice, they called her-took me round the gardens and grounds to show me all the beauties of the place. Some preparations were going on at the end of the l

o visit them on the morrow, as his little girl was going to entertain a host of young friends, the number of which would not b

ted my hair to perfection, put on my best frilled shirt, made Jim, our odd boy, polish my boots until he could see his face in them; discarded my straw hat and took to the chimney-pot (i.e. my best beaver), saw that there was not a speck of dirt on my clothes

ng step, the one keeping pace with the other, as though there existed some private agreement by which

ked me heartily for the service I had rendered to their sister, whom, they said, they 'would not have had hurt for the world.' This I could well believe, as I w

fairy Allie, taking me by the hand; 'co

d boys who never had been to school; there were short boys and tall boys, fat boys and lean boys; square boys and round boys; in fact, there we

scribe them? I have seen a few diamonds in my time, but never any that sparkled so brightly as the eyes that flashed on me on this memorable day; indeed to compare them to diamonds was to offer them an insult. On early summer mornings, when the sun was shining over land and sea, I have seen the dew spark

ded; for what with eyes, and the being called 'quite a hero,' and 'a darling brave boy,' and so on ad inf

out of the palm of his hand, guinea-pigs, white mice, a large Newfoundland dog, which would carry anything he wanted it to carry, or go any where, or fetch anything from a distance; a pony came t

on her shoulders, pick food from between her lips, and coo with delight. Indeed, every live thing a

the flutter of the light dress and the streaming of the curls in the wind, were things worth remembering. When tired with swinging, we started a game of kiss-in-the-ring, i

t is not because the game is "too vulgar," but because they

d the good things disappeared like magic; indeed he must have been a clever magician who could have made them vanish as quickly. Two or three of the young

that youngster over there will find himself under the necessity of

up with a cork before the dance commenced. No particular dances were called for; the musicians played just what they chose, the dancers danced whatever they knew best. Some, and these were the majority, knew nothing of dancing

chickens, and ducks, and game, each one of which appeared to be saying, 'Yes, come and eat me, I am willing to sacrifice myself for your pleasure!' I need not say what terrific inroads we made into such

ng was needed. When all had eaten as much as was possible, and nuts, oranges, and grapes and bon-bons took the places of the already vanished delicaci

e have!' from all assembled.) I am glad to think so, and so is Mrs Aveling. But there is one here to-day whom most of you have never seen before-Arthur Hall. (Here all eyes were directed to me.) Yesterday, by his bravery and courage, he saved my

ing whispered that I must make a speech. I stood on my feet, and tried to say something in reply, but what I said I never could remember; all I know is that my health

to their hats and shawls, and then went back to Ascot

entered to ascertain if the boys were in bed and the lights out. "What! not

re story-telling, and don't f

a general favourite with the boys; "suppose I

e first-class," exclaimed

, closing the door, seated himself on Leslie's bed, while all the

" said Mr Arnold; "you

go a-head," was