ays travelling about and going to places. Only, of
course if the girls would rather go abroad, I don't mind."

However, it was settled that it should be as Godfrey wished.

"But I do think, father," Godfrey said, "that it will be a good thing if
I had lessons in writing from one of those fellows who guarantee to
teach you in a few lessons. I suppose that is all bosh; but if I got
their system and worked at it, it might do me good. I really do write
badly."

The girls laughed.

"I don't think that quite describes it, Godfrey," his father said. "If
anyone asked me about your accomplishments I should say that you knew a
good deal of Latin and Greek, that you had a vague idea of English, and
that you could read, but unfortunately you were quite unable to write.
According to my idea it is perfectly scandalous that at the great
schools such an essential as writing is altogether neglected, while
years are spent over Greek, which is of no earthly use when you have
once left school. I suppose the very worst writers in the world are men
who have been educated in public schools.

"Well, I am glad you have had the good sense to suggest it, Godfrey. I
had thought of it myself, but I was afraid you would think it was
spoiling your last holidays at home. I will see about it to-morrow. I
cannot get away very well for another fortnight. If you have a dozen
lessons before we go, you can practise while we are away; and mind, from
to-day we will talk nothing but Russian when we are alone."

This had been indeed a common habit in the family since they had come
home two years before, as the two girls and Mr. and Mrs. Bullen spoke
Russian as fluently as English, and Mr. Bullen thought it was just as
well that they should not let it drop altogether. Indeed on their
travels in Switzerland they had several times come across Russians, and
had made pleasant acquaintances from their knowledge of that language.

The holidays passed pleasantly at Weymouth. Godfrey practised two hours
a day steadily at the system of handwriting: and although he was, at the
end of the holidays, very far from attaining the perfection shown in the
examples produced by his teachers of the marvels they had effected in
many of their pupils, he did improve vastly, and wrote a fair current
hand instead of the almost undecipherable scrawl that had so puzzled and
annoyed a succession of masters at Shrewsbury. After another month spent
in London, getting his clothes and o