rce of English
wealth. He had had a very pleasant yachting expedition, and had learned
a good deal more about a vessel, and how to sail her, than he had before
known. He had become a proficient in archery, and had filled a book
full of sketches. Then he had read through a History of France, and
made a synopsis of the work, as well as two or three biographies; and he
had fished and ridden, and botanised and geologised, and seemed to have
seen and talked with a great number of interesting people. Even Buttar,
to whom he gave this account of himself, was surprised; and yet Buttar
was one of the hardest readers in the school.

"How I can possibly get through so much, do you ask?" said Ernest.
"Why, I will tell you. I am never idle. I always arrange beforehand
what I want to do, and when I am at work, I give all my mind to that
work, and never allow myself a moment to think of anything else. I have
the gift, and a valuable one it is, I feel, of being able to concentrate
my thoughts on the particular subject in which I am engaged, while I
never allow them to be drawn off by anything else. I believe that my
mind is so constituted that I should do this of my own accord; but my
father has strongly urged on me the importance of the habit, and I
accordingly practise it systematically. Whenever I find my mind
wandering away from the subject on which I am engaged, I bring it back
forcibly, just as if it were a truant, or a deserter from his colours.
Some people can think of two things at the same moment; but my father
says it is much better to think of one thing well at a time, as likewise
to do one thing well; so, as you may have observed, I never attempt
more. The consequence of this system is, that I gain some credit, more
or less, for nearly everything I undertake."

"Indeed, you do," exclaimed Buttar enthusiastically. "I wish that I
were like you; but my thoughts are constantly wool-gathering, whatever I
am about. Now, Ellis is like you. He can keep his mind fixed on his
work, whether mental or physical; and see how rapidly he has got on. I
wonder when he is coming. It is extraordinary how I took to liking that
fellow; I quite long to have him back among us."

"He wrote me word a few days ago that he expected to be here to-morrow.
He tells me that he looks forward to coming back with great pleasure,
though formerly it was always with pain and dread that he approached the
school."

"I am glad of it," remarked