ouse. For he had found
school, and school-house, in a state of monstrous license and misrule,
and was still employed in the necessary but unpopular work of setting up
order with a strong hand.

However, as has been said, old Brooke triumphed, and the boys cheered
him and then the Doctor. And then more songs came, and the healths of
the other boys about to leave, who each made a speech, one flowery,
another maudlin, a third prosy, and so on, which are not necessary to be
here recorded.

Half-past nine struck in the middle of the performance of "Auld Lang
Syne," a most obstreperous proceeding; during which there was an immense
amount of standing with one foot on the table, knocking mugs together
and shaking hands, without which accompaniments it seems impossible for
the youth of Britain to take part in that famous old song. The
under-porter of the School-house entered during the performance, bearing
five or six long wooden candlesticks, with lighted dips in them, which
he proceeded to stick into their holes in such part of the great tables
as he could get at; and then stood outside the ring till the end of the
song, when he was hailed with shouts.

"Bill, you old muff, the half-hour hasn't struck." "Here, Bill, drink
some cocktail," "Sing us a song old boy," "Don't you wish you may get
the table?" Bill drank the proffered cocktail not unwillingly, and
putting down the empty glass, remonstrated, "Now, gentlemen, there's
only ten minutes to prayers, and we must get the hall straight."

Shouts of "No, no!" and a violent effort to strike up "Billy Taylor" for
the third time. Bill looked appealingly to old Brooke, who got up and
stopped the noise. "Now then, lend a hand, you youngsters, and get the
tables back; clear away the jugs and glasses. Bill's right. Open the
windows, Warner." The boy addressed, who sat by the long ropes,
proceeded to pull up the great windows, and let in a clear fresh rush of
night air, which made the candles flicker and gutter, and the fires
roar. The circle broke up, each collaring his own jug, glass, and
song-book; Bill pounced on the big table, and began to rattle it away to
its place outside the buttery-door. The lower-passage boys carried off
their small tables, aided by their friends, while above all, standing on
the great hall-table, a knot of untiring sons of harmony made night
doleful by a prolonged performance of "God save the King." His Majesty
King William IV. then reigned over us, a m