ear anything of the kind."

The next morning I set off with a full conviction that I should be
flogged before night, and notwithstanding that, as full of joy as if I
was going to the fair.

The morning passed as usual; I said my lesson, but not very well; I was
thinking so much of my anticipated revenge, that I could not pay
attention to my teacher, who was, as usual, one of the boys.

"Master Keene," said Mr O'Gallagher, "we'll let the account stand over
till the evening, and then I'll give you a receipt in full; I may have
one or two lines to add to it before the sun goes down; you'll not
escape me this time, anyhow."

The boys went out at the dinner hour, leaving me, as before, to wait for
my basket, after the tyrant had helped himself. I stood by him in
silence while he was rummaging its contents.

"Now, Mr Keene, I'll see if you've remembered my particular injunction
relative to the mustard."

"I told my aunt to put more mustard, sir," replied I, humbly, "it she
that cuts the sandwiches."

"Well, then, if your aunt has not complied with your request, see if I
don't flay you alive, you little imp of abomination."

The sandwiches were pulled out of the paper and tasted. "Down on your
knees, Mr Keene, and thank all the blessed saints that your aunt has
saved you from at least one-half of what I intended to administer to you
this blessed afternoon, for she has doubled the mustard, you tief," said
Mr O'Gallagher, speaking with his mouth as full as it could hold. Down
went sandwich after sandwich, until they had all disappeared. Oh! what
joy was mine! I could have tossed up my cap and leapt in the air.
Having received the bread and cheese, for he permitted me to have the
latter on this occasion I went out and enjoyed my meal, delighted with
Mr O'Gallagher's having fallen into the trap I had laid for him.

The bell summoned us in, and all went on as usual for the first two
hours, when I thought Mr O'Gallagher changed countenance and looked
very pale. He continued, however, to hear the lessons, until at last I
perceived him pass his hand up and down and across his stomach, as if he
had had a twinge; a few minutes afterwards, he compressed his thick
lips, and then put his hands to his abdomen.

"Ah! he begins to feel it now," thought I; and sure enough he did; for
the pain increased so rapidly that he lost all patience, and vented his
feelings by beating with his ruler, on the heads of the whole class of
b