Part 2 (1/2)

”Oh, no fear,” replied Leslie, who loved a joke, ”I won't try it until I'm perfectly sure of success, and will then take the whole school in hand.”

”Ah, but unless you can swim, my boy, you will have to keep on dry land; the doctor don't like more than one pupil drowned a term, and Jones, here, was very near it the other day,” slapping a quiet-looking boy on the back. ”If Hall and I had not stood him on his head, to let the water run out of his mouth, and rolled him over and over on the bank, his place in the cla.s.s would have been vacant, and you would have seen all our eyes red with weeping; eh, Jones?”

”That will do Moore,” replied Jones; ”you must not believe him, you new boy, or he'll cram you with no end of nonsense.”

”Nonsense, Jones, nonsense! why, am I not the most sensible boy in the school?”

”Yes, when all the rest of us are away.”

”Come, Moore, say no more,” broke in Hall, ”I have not ended my questioning yet.” Then turning to Leslie he said, ”Can you swim?”

”Yes, and row too?”

”Where did you learn?”

”Oh, my home is by the sea-sh.o.r.e,--an old sailor taught me.”

”Well, come and have a row now, and let's see who's the best man. I never have rowed on salt water.”

”You are sure to beat me,” said Leslie, ”you are so much older than I am. But will there be time before dinner?”

”Plenty; besides, the exercise will sharpen your teeth, and they'll need it to-day, for Fridays are boiled beef days.”

”But I am to dine with my father at the doctor's table.”

”Oh, then, you are all right, come along.”

Away the boys bounded, as only school-boys can, shouting and laughing, and playing off harmless practical jokes upon each other. They soon reached that part of the river where the boats were hauled up on the bank.

”Who will lend Ross a boat?” inquired Hall, as he stepped into his, and began preparing for the race.

”I will,” said Moore; ”here, jump in, youngster, and let's see what you're made of.”

Leslie seated himself in the boat which Moore pushed into the stream.

”You see that solitary tree about a quarter of a mile farther on?

well, that's the winning post,” said Moore; ”now then, all ready? one, two, three, off.”

Away the boats flew. Leslie found he had all his work cut out to beat Hall, who, if not so skilful as himself in the use of the oars, was much older and stronger. The other boys ran along the bank shouting and waving their caps by way of encouragement. The two boats for a third of the way kept even pace, then Hall's gradually forged a-head, and, try all he could, Leslie was unable to regain the lost s.p.a.ce, so that, when the winning post was reached, Hall won by quite a boat's length.

”Come,” said Hall, as he stepped out of his boat on their return, and gently patted Leslie on the shoulder, ”come, I think you and I are likely to be good friends.”

Leslie thought so too, although he felt a little hurt at having been beaten.

In the doctor's dining-room Leslie was introduced to Mrs Price, who gave him a very kindly welcome, and when he looked up into her pleasant face, he thought he should be sure to like her, and hoped that he would have many opportunities of being in her company; but when Leslie was introduced to the doctor's little daughter, a year younger than himself, he was quite charmed, and decided in his own mind that the world could not possess a prettier creature than Maud Price.

Leslie had not been much accustomed to the society of girls, and in consequence felt quite bashful when he found himself seated next to her at table; but her quiet, easy, and graceful manner speedily put him at his ease; and during the progress of dinner he could not refrain from stealing a few glances at her face and eyes. The little lady, however, was very quiet, and, until dessert was placed on the table, said not a word, when, lifting up her eyes to his face, she said,--