fellows would thank me for wishing them old women. Would they, Barrow?"

So discoursed the Doctor; but before they parted, he put two guineas into Barrow's hands, and this when added to the collection which was made in the school next day, helped to raise the sum to about nine pounds, of which Barrow and Godfrey were to be the joyful bearers.

100

CHAPTER IX.

An Adventure.

Light thickens, and the crow

Makes wing to the rooky wood :

Good things to-day begin to droop and drowse

While night's black agents to their prey do rouse.

MACBETH.

ABOUT a week after this delightful mission, Barrow fixed with Godfrey to walk down again to the old woman's cottage. But it was by the merest chance that Godfrey went at all. For partly with joy at the approaching long holidays, and partly through one of those mysterious influences to which schools and all large bodies are liable— there was a spirit of idleness and mischief abroad that morning, which vented itself in every way which it could discover.

The Doctor was safe out of the way with the sixth in the library; and Etterton was head master in the school, a man little liked and less

and beloved of the two.

below with the junior

respected. For with all Wilson's strictness and Etterton's laxity, the invariable justice and earnestness of the Doctor made him the more influential The junior masters were classes. Now the two classes of which Etterton was master, sat opposite to each other, and all that morning they responded to each other in mischief. Some threw quills across from between their forefingers. Some flirted nuts-others caught the sun-beams watch-glasses, and played them on the wall,— others read "Joe Miller" and penny ballads, folded in their lexicons. In short, the boys were up to every "lark" they dared.

on

The boldest scheme of all, however, was to blow through the hollow of the hand upon Etterton's face as he sat in his high-backed chair; and when he looked up and complained of the draught, and ordered another window to be shut, the boys pored over their books and bit their tongues most diligently.

Godfrey had come down and seated himself near Lovett, an idle fellow, who used to convulse the form when up in class, by wagging his ears, over which he had extraordinary power. This Lovett was now the blower. After a time he asked Godfrey to try, but he had always followed

Barrow's advice, to be respectful to the masters, and therefore refused.

"You daren't!" said Lovett, with one of those sneers which quail the stoutest heart of boyhood. "Yes, I dare," replied Godfrey, "but I don't choose."

"Don't choose! O, that's only another word for afraid. I say, Levison, Davenant here is quite the molly again to-day, he daren't blow at Etterton."

"Yes, I dare," said Godfrey now put on his mettle, or rather put off his discretion and his principle, and immediately blew a lusty breath at the unfortunate master.

In this case, however, the master was not so unfortunate as the pupil. Etterton had heard all that was going on for some time. He called up the culprits immediately, caned Lovett and Levison, and confined them to bounds, and set Godfrey an imposition, with the remark, that if he chose to let others make a fool of him he was welcome, but he had a great mind to give him the same punishment as the others, and he certainly would the next time.

Barrow heard of all this after school, and he looked very mischievous when Godfrey put on his hat after dinner to go down to Mrs. Blake's. We

cannot, however, wait now to hear what passed on the subject between the two friends, as we must accompany them to the old widow's as fast as possible.

They found the good woman as glad to see them as they expected, but not equally happy. She said they were very kind to come and see her, and she was sure she should never forget their goodness. Farmer Matthews was going to the fair next Monday, and was to buy her another cow, but it was a shame to say so to them, but she was afraid she should never get another like her that was gone. But it did not matter much: "My time is most come," continued the widow; “I feel somehow as if I was not to be here long, and I am truly glad to see your dear faces again once more."

Barrow tried to cheer her and to dispel the presentiment which she evidently felt that she was soon to die. Still what he said was cautious and not altogether contradictory to the poor woman's notions; for he believed that such feelings as hers are often given to people as a warning, and that they are most blessed who "die daily."

They left earlier than they expected, and as they had time on hand they resolved to have a ramble in the wood behind the cottage; so bid