ning of it.

"Meaning, child?" replied Mrs McShane, who was then very busy in her
occupation, "it means, child, that a person is believed to be guilty of
murder, and, if taken up, he will be hanged by the neck till he is
dead."

"But," replied Joey, "suppose he has not committed the murder?"

"Well then, child, he must prove that he has not."

"And suppose, although he has not committed it, he cannot prove it?"

"Mercy on me, what a number of supposes! why, then he will be hanged all
the same, to be sure."

A fortnight after these queries, Joey was sent to school; the master was
a very decent man, the mistress a very decent woman, the tuition was
decent, the fare was decent, the scholars were children of decent
families; altogether, it was a decent establishment, and in this
establishment little Joey made very decent progress, going home every
half year. How long Joey might have remained there it is impossible to
say; but having been there for a year and a half, and arrived at the age
of fourteen, he had just returned from the holidays with three guineas
in his pocket, for McShane and his wife were very generous and very fond
of their protege, when a circumstance occurred which again ruffled the
smooth current of our hero's existence.

He was walking out as all boys do walk out in decent schools, that is,
in a long line, two by two, as the animals entered Noah's Ark, when a
sort of shabby-genteel man passed their files. He happened to cast his
eyes upon Joey, and stopped. "Master Joseph Rushbrook, I am most happy
to see you once more," said he extending his hand. Joey looked up into
his face; there was no mistake; it was Furness, the schoolmaster.
"Don't you recollect me, my dear boy? Don't you recollect him who
taught the infant idea how to shoot? Don't you recollect your old
preceptor?"

"Yes," replied Joey, colouring up, "I recollect you very well."

"I am delighted to see you; you know you were my fairest pupil, but we
are all scattered now; your father and mother have gone no one knows
where; you went away, and I also could no longer stay. What pleasure it
is to meet you once more!"

Joey did not respond exactly to the pleasure. The stoppage of the line
had caused some confusion, and the usher, who had followed it, now came
up to ascertain the cause. "This is my old pupil, or rather I should
say, my young pupil; but the best pupil I ever had. I am most delighted
to see him, sir," said Furness,