odd sort of reward, and were much
surprised to hear Ernest thank the Doctor for his kindness. They would
have considered it a greater reward to be excused altogether from their
lessons. Much more surprised were they to find Ernest working away day
after day at his Caesar, and translating as much as Mr Johnson had time
to listen to. He read on so clearly and fluently that most of the boys
declared that he must have known all about it before. A few felt
jealous of him, and tried to interrupt him; but he went steadily working
on, pretending to take no notice of these petty annoyances launched at
him. In the course of a fortnight he was out of the class and placed in
the next above it. This he got through in less than a month, and now he
found himself in the same with Buttar, Dawson, and Bouldon. They
welcomed him very cordially, though they could not exactly understand
how he managed so quickly to get among them. The two latter, however,
were especially indignant when they discovered his style of doing his
work.

"It's against all school morality," exclaimed Tommy, with a burst of
virtuous anger. "How should we be ever able to get through half our
lessons if we were to follow your plan? You must give it up, old
fellow; it won't do."

"I am sorry that I cannot, to please you," answered Ernest. "You see, I
want to read through all these books, that I may get to higher ones
which are more interesting; and then I want to get to College as soon as
possible, that I may begin life. Our days in this world are too short
to allow us to waste them. If I get through school twice as fast as any
of you, I shall have gained so many years to my life. That is worth
working for--is it not?"

"My notion is, that we should do as few lessons and amuse ourselves as
much as we can," answered Tom Bouldon. "When we are grown up there will
be time enough to think of employing time; I do not see any use in
looking forward to the future, which is so far off."

"What are we sent into this world for, do you think?" asked Ernest.

"I'm sure I don't know," answered Bouldon.

"To spend the money which is left us, or to go into professions to make
our fortunes," observed Dawson.

"I should think rather to prepare for the future," remarked Ernest. "So
my father has always told me, and I am very sure that he is right. We
are just sent into this world to prepare for another, and that
preparation is to be made by doing our duty to the