a greater
acquaintance with the language, and other knowledge besides.

CHAPTER FOUR.

SAINT PAUL'S SCHOOL.

Ernst Verner felt somewhat sad and lonely in London. Antwerp was a
large city, but London was far larger, and he was afraid to venture out
by himself, lest he should not find his way back again to Lombard
Street. Lady Anne too was very kind, but she was somewhat stately and
cold, and could not replace one whom he still remembered with tender
love. With Richard he was more at home, but Richard was delicate, and
did not seem inclined to enter into the sports for which Ernst sighed.
Master Gresham was as kind as Lady Anne, but he was at all hours engaged
in business, and often appeared not to take notice of the young boy
depending on him. He told Ernst that he was to go to school, but the
time passed by, and Ernst still remained at home, picking up such
knowledge as a worthy man, Master Dickson, who came every day to
instruct Richard, was willing to impart.

At length, one evening when Master Gresham was seated before the
fireplace, in which blazed several logs, Ernst, who had been sitting
silently in one corner for some time, with his face over a book,
ventured to address him. Ernst was in no way afraid of his patron,
whose genial, easy manners had from the first put him at his ease.

"Master Gresham," he said, "I now speak English well enough to go to an
English school. You said I was to go: when may that time be?"

"Few boys are in a hurry to put themselves under the power of a
pedagogue's birch," answered Ernst's patron, looking down upon him.
"Have you thought on that subject, Ernst? The road to learning is not
always one of roses. You must be prepared for many things to which you
have not been accustomed, boy."

"I do not expect to find many roses in this big city," answered Ernst;
"but yet I would lief get more learning than I at present possess."

"Well, lad, you shall have your will. As soon as Saint Paul's School
opens again after the holidays, you shall go to it," answered Master
Gresham. "You have heard of it, may be. It was founded by a ripe
scholar--Dean Colet--and it is well able to turn out ripe scholars, I am
told. Dr Freeman, the head master, is a learned man, and a thorough
disciplinarian, and it is the fault of his pupils if they do not imitate
his example. The Honourable Company of Mercers, to which I belong, are
the trustees of the school, and although you are not nat