n being ended; while such of the pupils whose
parents paid extra for the beverage, in the same way as they did for
French and dancing lessons from the "Cobbler," were supplied with a mug
apiece of very small beer--the remainder, and far larger proportion of
us, being allowed cold water "at discretion."

After dinner came afternoon school, lasting till four o'clock; when
followed another hour's diversion in the playground; and then, tea,
similar to the repast I had been a spectator, but not partaker of, the
evening before. After tea a couple of hours' rest were allowed for
reflection, in the same apartment, during which time the boys were
supposed to learn their lessons for the next morning, but didn't--Dr
Hellyer relegating his authority at this period of the day generally to
Smiley, who went to sleep invariably when in charge of the room, or the
Cobbler, who as invariably sneaked out and left the pupils to
themselves, when the consequences may be readily imagined.

At eight o'clock, to bring this category of our day's doings to a close,
the final gong sounded a tattoo, sending us all aloft, like poor Tom
Bowling, to the dormitories to bed.

Such was the ordinary routine of our life at the Doctor's, according to
my two years' experience, the only exception being that our meals
varied, as to quantity and quality, in direct proportion to the Doctor's
credit in the neighbouring town; for, I will do our preceptor the
justice to state that, should fortune smile on him, in respect to the
facilities afforded him by the tradespeople with whom he dealt, he
treated us with no niggard hand and we fared well; while, should the
fickle goddess Fortune frown, and provisions be withheld by the cautious
purveyors thereof until ready money was forthcoming, then we suffered
accordingly, there being a dearth upon the land, which we had to tide
over as best we could, hoping for better times. Every Wednesday and
Saturday, too, there was no afternoon school, the boys on these half-
holidays being either allowed additional exercise in the so-called
"playground," or taken out for long dreary walks under the escort of
Smiley or the Cobbler; and on Sundays we were always marched to church
in state, be the weather what it might, wet or fine, Dr Hellyer leading
the van on these high parade occasions--in full academical costume, and
wearing a most wonderful sort of archdiaconal hat that had a very
imposing effect--with the two assistant masters