end
thenceforth--at least at meal-times, that is!

On breakfast being cleared away, the "refectory," by the simple process
of removing the dirty table-cloth from the long table occupying the
centre of the apartment, was converted into a school-room, Dr Hellyer
coming in immediately after a third gong had rung for a short interval,
and taking the armchair at the head--that seat of honour which had been
temporarily filled by "the Cobbler" during our meal being vacated by
Monsieur Phelan with much celerity as soon as the Doctor's expansive
countenance was seen beaming on us through the doorway, "like the sun in
a fog," as Tom whispered to me.

The great man had not long taken his seat before he called me up to him,
and, with many "ah's," interrogated me as to my acquirements. He was
evidently not greatly impressed with my proficiency; for, severely
commenting on the ignorance I displayed for a boy of my age, he
relegated me to the lowest class, under Mr Smallpage, or "Smiley," who
set me tasks in spelling and the multiplication table, after which
school regularly began for the rest.

Books were produced in the most extraordinary and mysterious fashion
from hidden cupboards, and desks improvised out of hinged shelves of
deal affixed to the walls, and supported by brackets likewise movable,
one of the forms along the centre table being shifted for the
accommodation of those taking writing lessons; and, at intervals, Dr
Hellyer had up a batch of boys before his throne of office, rigidly
putting them under examination, varied by the administration of
"pandies," and the imposition of ever so many lines of Caesar to be
learnt by heart, when they failed in construing it.

At sharp eleven, a large clock over the fireplace, with a round face
like that of our podgy preceptor, telling the time, Dr Hellyer pushed
back his chair as a sign that our morning studies were over; and the
boys then all trooped out into the playground for an hour, coming back
again punctually at twelve to dinner in the re-transformed room, at the
summons of the inveterate gong.

As the butcher had been lately conciliated apparently, there was no
recourse to tinned meats of Australian or South American brand on the
first occasion of my partaking of this meal at the establishment. Roast
beef, and plenty of it, was served out to us, with the accompaniment of
potatoes and cabbage, vegetables being cheap at that time on account of
the watering-place's seaso