tallest youth in the school, about six feet anywhere out of bounds, he was under three or four, I should suppose, with the obligation of scampering off as hard bushy, black whiskers. The commission as he could, just as if he had really been of some school-offence had brought him detected, or were afraid of being detectunder the special notice of Dr. Balston, ed, in the commission of an offence, and the very last head-master: and the con- were trying to get away. Not to do this, trast presented by this giant, as he looked not to "shirk," as it was called, was floggadown upon his comparatively puny as- ble. The logical character of this arsailant while in the act of making some rangement was exhibited every day in fundamental changes in his garments, some such instance as this. You were was described by an eye-witness as a peacefully sauntering along, bearing an thing not easily to be forgotten. The order from your tutor for a book or a hat worst of it was that, leaving soon after, or a coat, when, on catching sight of the he found news of his recent castigation self-same tutor walking through the town, had travelled into his own neighbour- or coming upon him at a corner, you hood, where it formed the subject of were bound to rush with all speed into some agreeable banter at the meets of the first hiding-place that presented the hounds (behind and among which he itself. As this hiding-place was generwas a great performer), especially on the ally a shop it might happen that the offipart of the young ladies. One can fancy cial whom you were shirking came in them whispering and tittering at his ap- after you on business of his own; but in proach, and then laughing outright and these cases the majority of the masters blushing scarlet as he came up. Now, held that you had got into a kind of whatever offence the young man may "base," and were safe. Indeed, except have committed, I think it could hardly by hiding under the counter, which was have been of a kind to render him the not always practicable, it would have subject of such an acute punishment as been impossible to carry the simulated this implies. And if he had knocked the flight further. Accordingly, at Ingalton head-master down, and thereupon walked the bookseller's, it was not unusual to off to the railway-station and taken a see a master or two surrounded by half a ticket, and so made his way home, I am score of boys, every one of whom must sure that if I had been that young man's have run for his life if he had met the father, I should have been inclined, if not same masters outside the door of the to condone, at any rate to make some al-shop. I have heard explanations of this lowance for, the act.

The institution of "bounds" was perhaps as curious and inexplicable as any part of the school-system. By the term bounds is generally understood what must exist in every well-organized seminary for boys, namely, the limits beyond which, except on particular occasions or by special permission, they are not permitted to go. The line as established at Eton was drawn very close round the college and the masters' and dames' houses; and, beyond the ground on which these stood, embraced little more than the playing-fields. The town or village, whichever it is, of Eton, with its shops where we got our cricket-bats and foot-balls not to speak of clothes, hats, boots, as was the case with many boys the tailor's, where we invariably kept our boating-jackets, stopping there to put them on and take them off on our way to and from the river, all this was "out of bounds." By this it was not meant that it was an offence to go into the town or the surrounding country, or even to cross the Thames into Windsor; but that if a boy happened to catch sight of a master'

strange practice attempted, but none that have appeared to me in the smallest degree intelligible. It has been said that the authorities did not recognize a right on the part of the boys to go out of bounds, but must be understood as merely conceding to them a temporary permission to do so, reserving to themselves the power of putting an end to the arrangement at any time; and that the shirking-system was kept up as evidence of this power: in the same way as the Duke of Bedford closes on certain days the gates across some of the streets of Bloomsbury. Just as if there could be any right or any power in the matter except that which emanated from the authorities themselves, who could fix the bounds at their pleasure. And, even if one can treat such an argument as serious, surely the reserved power might have been kept on foot by making the boys shirk, as the Duke of Bedford closes his gates, one day in every year.

There were other singularities connected with the Eton system of a generation ago. But enough has been said to suggest the question whether the school

say she would leave Mr. Trewhella's house to-night?"

"I did not say anything about it. I suppose we shall leave about ten; the young ones leave at nine." "You will be there?"

66

Yes, Wenna and I are to keep order."
Nobody else with you?"

"No."

down at the foot, and you found there a carriage and pair of horses

of that date was indeed a school in the serious sense of the term, or merely a kind of crèche, or asylum for children of larger growth, to which the wealthy intrusted their young ones for the purpose of being kept out of harm's way, with the understanding that they were to be returned gentlemen at all points — riding, shooting, and other extras of the kind being, of course, taught at home. If He looked at her rather hesitatingly. this was virtually the view which so "And supposing, Mabyn." he said recently prevailed in upper circles, we slowly, "supposing you and Wenna were shall be taught some indulgence for the to leave at ten, and that it is a beautiful apathy in the matter of making the most clear night, you might walk down by the of educational advantages which still wood instead of by the road; and then, unhappily prevails in the lower. As re-supposing that you came out on the road gards Eton itself, it is of course possible that everything has been changed. The authorities may have consented to break with some of the fond traditions which they inherited from the times of Henry VI. and Queen Elizabeth. Some sort of stimulus may be applied to the boys by whom it is most needed and at the time when it is most needed. "Sap," or student, may have died out as a term of reproach, and the Newcastle scholar may be a greater personage than the captain of the boats. The king's scholars, or poorer students, who win almost all of these Newcastle scholarships, may now be looked upon, as they deserve to be looked upon, with the greatest consideration and respect. "Bounds" and the flogging of bearded men may be unknown. If this be so- and I hope all this is so it will not be without a strange curiosity, and perhaps even incredulity, that the present generation will see here briefly recalled the main features of the system of training in force in the first of our English schools, at a period so incredibly recent as thirty years ago.

JOHN DELAWare Lewis.

Mabyn began to look alarmed. "And if I was there," he continued, more rapidly, “and I said to Wenna suddenly, 'Now, Wenna, think nothing, but come and save yourself from this mar│riage! There is your sister will come with you and I will drive you to Plymouth

"Oh, Mr. Trelyon!" Mabyn cried, with a sudden joy in her face, "she would do it! She would do it!"

"And you, would you come too?" he demanded.

"Yes!" the girl cried, full of excitement. "And then, Mr. Trelyon, and then?"

"Why?" he cried boldly, "up to London at once twenty-four hours' start of everybody-and in London we are safe! Then, you know, Mabyn

"Yes, yes, Mr. Trelyon!" "Don't you think now that we two could persuade her to a quick marriage with a special licence, you know-you could persuade her, I am sure, Mabyn

In the gladness of her heart Mabyn felt herself at this moment ready to full on the young man's neck and kiss him. But she was a properly-conducted young person; and so she rose from the big block of slate on which she had been sitting, and managed to suppress any great intimation of her abounding joy. But she was very proud, all the same; and there was a great firmness about her lips as she said:

"We will do it, Mr. Trelyon; we will do it. Do you know why Wenna submits to this engagement? Because she reasons with her conscience, and persuades herself that it is right. When you meet her like that, she will have no time to consider

"That is precisely what my grand

mother says," Trelyon said, with a tri- [they'll be less fiery, the unfortunate umphant laugh. wretches, when they get to Plymouth." "At what time?

"Yes, she was a girl once," Mabyn replied, sagely. "Well, well, tell me all about it! What arrangements have you made? You haven't got the special licence?"

No," said he, "I didn't make up my mind to try this on till last night. But the difference of a day is nothing when you are with her. We shall be able to hide ourselves away pretty well in London, don't you think?"

"Of course!" cried Mabyn, confidently. "But tell me more, Mr. Trelyon! What have you arranged? What have you done?"

"What could I do until I knew whether you'd help me?"

"You must bring a fearful amount of wraps with you."

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"About half past three in the morning, if we go straight on," said he. "Do you know a good hotel there?" said the practical Mabyn.

"The best one is by the station; but if you sleep in the front of the house, you have the whistling of engines all night long, and if you sleep in the back, you overlook a barracks, and the confounded trumpeting begins about four o'clock, I believe."

"Wenna and I won't mind that- we shall be too tired," Mabyn said. "Do you think they could give us a little hot coffee when we arrive?"

"Oh, yes! I'll give the night-porter a sovereign a cup-then he'll offer to bring it to you in buckets. Now don't Certainly more than you'll want, I you think the whole thing is beautifully know. And I sha'n't light the lamps un-arranged, Mabyn ?” til I hear you coming along; for they "It is quite lovely!" the girl said joywould attract attention down in the val-ously, "for we shall be off with the mornley. I should like to wait for you else- ing train to London, while Mr. Roscorla where; but if I did that you couldn't get is pottering about Launceston station Wenna to come with you. Do you think at mid-day! Then we must send a telyou will even then?" egram from Plymouth, a fine, dramatic "Oh, yes," said Mabyn cheerfully. telegram; and my father, he will swear a Nothing easier! I shall tell her she's little, but be quite content, and my mothafraid; and then she would walk downer- -do you know, Mr. Trelyon, I bethe face of Black Cliff. By the way, Mr. lieve my mother will be as glad as anyTrelyon, I must bring something to eat body! What shall we say? To Mr. with me, and some wine-she will be Rosewarne, Eglosilyan. We have fled. and the long journey will Not the least good pursuing us. May as well make up your mind to the inevitable. Will write to-morrow. Is that than the twenty words for a shilling?" "We sha'n't grudge the other shilling if it is," the young man said. "Now you must go on with your cake, Mabyn! I am off to see after the horses' shoes. Mind, as soon after ten as you can —just where the path from the wood comes into the main road."

so nervous

tire her."
"You will be at Mr. Trewhella's, Ma-
byn; you can't go carrying things about
with you!

"I could bring a bit of cake in my pocket," Mabyn suggested; but this seemed even to her so ludicrous that she blushed and laughed, and agreed that Mr. Harry should bring the necessary provisions for the wild night-ride to Ply

mouth.

more

"Oh, Mr. Trelyon," she said, "this is a very serious thing. You-you will be kind to our Wenna after she is married to you!

Then she hesitated, and for a minute "Oh, it does so please me to think of or two she remained thoughtful and siit!" she said with a curious anxious ex-lent; while he was inwardly hoping that citement as well as gladness in her face; she was not going to draw back. Sud"I hope I have not forgotten to arrange denly she looked up at him, with earnest anything. Let me see - we start at ten; and anxious eyes. then down through the wood to the road in the hollow-oh, I hope there will be nobody coming along just then! - then you light the lamps-then you come forward to persuade Wenna - by the way, Mr. Trelyon, where must I go? Shall I not be dreadfully in the way? "You? You must stand by the horses' heads! I sha'n't have my man with me. And yet they're not very fiery animals

"You will see, Mabyn," he answered gently.

66

You don't know how sensitive she is," she continued, apparently thinking over all the possibilities of the future in a much graver fashion than she had done.

"Yes, I am quite sure of that," said he, "as sure as a man may be. I don't think "Do you know," said he rather shameyou need fear my being unkind to Wen-facedly, "how much I am grateful to you na. Why, what has put such thoughts for all your frank straightforward kindinto your head?" and your help and your cour

indeed, Mr. Trewhella!" Mabyn said, anxiously. "Wenna and I always go about by ourselves — and far later than this too. It is a beautiful, clear night! Why

Her impetuosity made her sister smile. "You talk as if you would rather like to be run away with, Mabyn," she said. "But indeed, Mr. Trewhella, you must not think of coming with us. It is quite true what Mabyn says."

And so they went out into the clear darkness together; and the door was shut; and they found themselves in the silent world of the night-time, with the white stars throbbing overhead. Far away in the distance they could hear the murmur of the sea.

"But I did not mean you to go alone." "Oh," said Wenna, you propose to į come with me? Then it is you who are afraid to go down by yourself? Oh, Mabyn !"

"Never mind, Wenna, let's go down through the wood just for fun."

looked then, with the clear sunshine of April streaming down through the scantily-leaved trees into this sequestered spot. Now the deep hole was black as night; and they could only make out a bit of the spire of the church as it appeared against the dark sky. Nay, was there not a sound among the fallen leaves and underwood down there, in the direction of the unseen graves?

"Some cow has strayed in there, I believe," said Mabyn, in a somewhat low voice, and she walked rather quickly until they got past the place and out on to the hill over the wooded valley.

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66

Now," said Wenna, cheerfully, not wishing to have Mabyn put in a real fright, as we go down I am going to tell you something, Mabyn. How would you like to have to prepare for a wedding in a fortnight?"

"Not at all!" said Mabyn promptly, even fiercely.

"Not if it was your own?"

"No-why, the insult of such a request !"

According to Mabyn's way of thinking it was an insult to ask a girl to marry you in a fortnight, but none to insist on her marrying you the day after to-morrow.

"You think that a girl could fairly plead that as an excuse the mere time to get one's dresses and things ready?" "Certainly!"

"Oh, Mabyn," said Wenna, far more seriously, "it is not of dresses I am thinking at all; but I shudder to think of getting married just now. I could not do it. I have not had enough time to forget what is past—and until that is done, how could I marry any man?"

alone?"

He wants me to go with

"Oh, no.
him to Jamaica."

"Wenna, I do love you when you talk like that! her sister cried. "You can be so wise and reasonable when you choose! Of course you are quite right, So the two sisters set out, arm-in-arm; dear. But you don't mean to say he and through some spirit of mischief wants you to get married before he goes Wenna would not speak a word. Mabyn to Jamaica, and then to leave you was gradually overawed by the silence, the night, the loneliness of the road, and the solemn presence of the great living vault above them. Moreover, before getting into the wood, they had to skirt a curious little dingle, in the hollow of which are both a church and churchyard. Many a time the sisters had come up to this romantic dell in the spring-time, to gather splendid primroses, sweet violets, the yellow celandine, and other wildflowers that grow luxuriantly on its steep banks; and very pretty the old church

Mabyn uttered a short cry of alarm. "To Jamaica! To take you away from the whole of us—why-oh, Wenna, I do hate being a girl so - for you're not allowed to swear if I were a man now! To Jamaica! Why, don't you know that there are hundreds of people always being kil.ed there by the most frightful hurricanes, and earthquakes, and large serpents in the woods? To Jamai