d-night," said Mr Halgrove when he had done, "and thank you for
a pleasant evening. I dare say Mr Jeffreys will make up for any little
deficiencies on my part if you ask him. Ask him, with my compliments,
to show you the little game he played with one of his old school-
fellows. Good-night, Mr Trimble. Wish him good-night, Julius."

Julius once more pinned his affrighted victim to the bank, and then
following at his master's heels, left the bruised and bewildered Jonah
to limp home as best he could.

The day he had had yesterday had been nothing in comparison with to-day!
In the school, meanwhile, there was jubilation and thanksgiving over
the fact that Jonah had a bad headache. Jeffreys, with the first and
second classes merged for the occasion into one, amazed Mrs Trimble by
the order and industry which he commanded.

"The young man's worth his money," said the good lady, with a sigh of
relief, for she had counted on losing her nap for that day at least, and
was grateful beyond measure to find her fears disappointed.

As for the first class, they got completely spoiled by their day's
change of teacher, and vowed they would all become dunces in order to be
put back in the second class.

"I say, Jeff," said Teddy confidentially, as the school was being
dismissed, "_is_ there any chance of his dying? It's been so ripping
to-day without him."

"Hold your tongue, sir," said Jeffreys, in a tone which astonished his
bloodthirsty young confidant; "you're old enough to know better than
talk like that."

Teddy looked very miserable at this rebuke.

"Don't be in a wax with me, Jeff," he said appealingly. "Whatever would
I do if you got to hate me?"

Jeffreys was not proof against this, and walked home with his two young
friends, beguiling the way with cheery talk, which effectually dispelled
the cloud which his passing anger had roused.

On his way back he felt impelled to climb for a moment on the bank at
his favourite spot. It amazed him to see the ground all torn up, and to
find a trowel lying half bedded in the turf at the top. Still more did
it surprise and perplex him to find a penknife, which he recognised at
once as belonging to Trimble, and which he distinctly recollected having
seen in that hero's hand during school the afternoon of the preceding
day. What did it all mean?

CHAPTER NINE.

A THUNDERSTORM.

It did not add to Jonah's happiness to see the looks of evident disgust
with which t