lass was about to
separate.

"I hope Trimble won't send you away," said another.

"I wish you'd condemn young Trimble to death, or transport him, Mr
Jeffreys," said a third confidentially.

"Good-bye, Mr Jeffreys," said Freddy, with all the confidence of an old
friend. "Did you like that parliament cake?"

"Awfully," said Jeffreys. "Good-bye."

Every one insisted on shaking hands with him, greatly to his
embarrassment; and a few minutes later the school was scattered, and
Jeffreys was left to go over in his mind his first day's experience.

On the whole he was cheerful. His heart warmed to these simple little
fellows, who thought none the worse of him for being ugly and clumsy.
With Mrs Trimble, too, he anticipated not much difficulty. Young
Trimble was a rock ahead undoubtedly, but Jeffreys would stand him as
long as he could, and not anticipate the day, which he felt to be
inevitable, when he would be able to stand him no longer.

"Well, Mr Jeffreys," said Mrs Trimble, as the dame and her two
assistants sat down to tea, "how do you manage?"

"Pretty well, thank you, ma'am," replied Jeffreys; "they are a nice lot
of little boys, and I found them very good and quiet."

"Of course you would, if you let them do as they like," said Jonah.
"You'll have to keep them in, I can tell you, if you expect to keep
order."

It did occur to Jeffreys that if they were good without being kept in,
Jonah ought to be satisfied, but he was too wise to embark on a
discussion with his colleague, and confined his attentions to Mrs
Trimble.

The meal being ended, he said--

"Will you excuse me, ma'am, if I go into the city for about an hour? I
have to call at the post-office for letters."

"Look here," said Jonah, "we don't let our assistants out any time they
like. It's not usual. They ought to stay here. There's plenty of work
to do here."

"It's very important for me to get the letters, Mrs Trimble," said
Jeffreys.

"Well, of course, this once," said the matron, glancing uneasily at her
son; "but, as Jonah says, we like our young men to stay in, especially
at night. We parted with Mr Fison because he was not steady."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Jeffreys; "if the letters have come to-day I
shall not have to trouble you again. Can I do anything for you in
town?"

"That chap won't do," said Jonah to his mother when at last Jeffreys
started on his expedition.

"I think he will; he means well. It wouldn't do, Jo