d 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
eatables, how we piled our fair partners' plates with the good
things, until we were obliged to help eat them (the good things I
mean, not the partners, although some of them looked good enough to
eat).

"Squire Aveling sat at the head of the long dining-table, and his fair
lady at the bottom, each pressing their guests to make a good supper.
No pressing 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 delicacies, Squire Aveling rose from his chair, and
with the rap of a knife upon a plate commanded silence. He then, much
to my discomfiture, spoke as follows:--

"'With the exception of one, all now present are old friends of my
darling Allie, and this is not the first time I have seen you seated
at this table, and I hope it will not be the last. ('Hear, hear!') I
hope you have all enjoyed yourselves. ('We 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 darling Allie from a great danger, of which you have all
heard. I cannot thank him sufficiently for what he has done. I want
you all to help me. Now, each of you fill your glass. Now stand up.
Let us drink to Arthur Hall with a three times three!'

"I did not know whether I was on my head or my heels; I am sure I
blushed, and must have looked anything but heroic. When the cheers
were ended, the elder Herbert Aveling 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 was
again drunk in lemonade, which some imbibed so hurriedly that it went
down the wrong way, and a chorus of coughing followed, under cover of
which I resumed my seat.

"And so the party ended. I assisted several fair ladies to their hats
and shawls, and then went back to Ascot House to enact all the scenes
over again in my dreams."

As Hall finished his story, the room door opened and one of the
under-masters entered to ascertain if the boys were in bed and the
lights out. "What! not asleep yet, boys?" he exclaimed, as he h