osition his establishment
had held for so many years.

Of course we all looked very hard at the new usher, who was a pale,
yellowish-looking man, with eyes hidden by smoked glasses, which enabled
him to see without being seen, and he now smiled at us as if he were
going to bite, and was nicknamed Parsnip by Mercer on the instant.

"He'll be a teaser," whispered Mercer. "Going to strengthen our weak
parts, is he? Wish he could strengthen mine in the way I want. I
suppose we shall be turned over to him. Can't be worse than old Reb."

Mercer was right; we two were the first boys turned over to the new
usher, and this was fortunate for us, for he knew nothing about our
personal appearance; and the swellings that did come on, and which would
have been noticed directly by Mr Rebble, passed unheeded by him.

I was very glad when tea-time came, for my head was so confused that Mr
Hasnip was quite right in telling me I was a very stupid boy, for I was
that afternoon--very.

But the meal-time did come, and as soon as tea was over, instead of
going into the play-field with the others, I sat down alone, sore,
aching, and disconsolate, to try and master some of the things Mr
Hasnip had said I was behindhand in.

I had just taken up my book, with my head feeling more hazy than ever,
and the shouts of the boys floating in at the open window, when Mercer
came in hurriedly.

"Here, put that book away," he said quickly.

"What for? I don't want to come out."

"But you must. I've been and put away my specimens, and that settled
it. Come along."

"But why must I come out? I don't want to play, and the other fellows
will only laugh at us."

"No, they will not. They're not going to see us. Come along.
Revenge!"

I got up and took my cap unwillingly, but, as we got out in the soft
evening air, I began to think that perhaps I could keep him back if he
were going to do anything wrong, so I walked on by his side with more
alacrity.

"Going for a walk?" I said, as I found that he avoided the play-field.

"No. You wait and you'll see."

"Well, you needn't be so disagreeable with me," I said gruffly.

"I'm not, only I ache and burn, and I'm full of it. Come on."

To my surprise, he led me down to the lodge cottage, where the big,
soldierly-looking fellow was enjoying his evening pipe in his
neatly-kept little garden.

"Evening, young gents," he said, saluting us. "When do you two begin
your drill?"

"I don't