y boys,
who, under the pretence of studying their lessons, kept up
conversations, played at odd or even for marbles, or flicked peas at
each other across the school.

"Old Reb wouldn't dare to hit him like that if the Doctor was here."

"Your father?" I said.

"No, no--old Swish! Doctor Browne."

_Flick-tip_.

A pea struck my companion on the ear, and dropped on the floor.

"All right, Burr," said my neighbour; "did that with a pea-shooter. I
owe you one."

"I didn't do it!" I whispered eagerly.

"Of course you didn't. It was that long, thin boy yonder. His name's
Burr too. He'll be Burr major now, and you'll be Burr junior."

"Oh!" I said, feeling much relieved.

"You'll have to lick him. Regular old bully. Your name's Frank, isn't
it?"

"Yes."

"His name's Eliezer. We call him Eely, because he's such a lanky, thin,
snaky chap. I say, his father's a tailor in Cork Street, he's got such
lots of clothes in his box. He has a bob-tail coat and black kersey
sit-upon-'ems, and a vesky with glass buttons, and all covered with
embroidery. Such a dandy!--What's your father?"

I did not answer for a few moments, and he looked at me sharply.

"Dead," I said in a low voice.

"Oh!" said my companion softly too. "I didn't know."

"He was shot--out in India--Chillianwallah," I said.--"Died of his
wounds."

"Oh, I am sorry! I wish my father had been there."

"Why?"

"He'd have cured him. There's nobody like him for wounds. But, I say,
Chillian what's its name?"

"Chillianwallah," I said.

"Why, what a game! That's where old Lomax was. I remember now."

"Is Lomax one of the boys," I asked wonderingly.

"Yah! no. You saw him last night, when you came in the fly. That big
chap who lives at the lodge, and helped lift down your box. He had a
shot through him, and nearly had his head cut off with a tully
something. He'll tell you. He has a pension, and is our drill-master,
and teaches boys riding."

This was interesting, and I felt a desire to know old Lomax.

"What's your mother?" said my companion, breaking in upon my musing.

"A lady," I said proudly.

"So's mine. She's the nicest and best and--" At that moment I heard a
loud, deep-throated cough, which was followed by a shuffling and
stamping, as I saw all the boys rise in their places.

"Get up--get up," whispered my neighbour. "The Doctor."

I rose in my place, and saw the tall, stout, clerical-looking gentleman
I had