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as well give you that copy of Cicero I mentioned this morning.'

Walker followed him to the study, and as they entered, an unexpected sight met their eyes.

Far advanced though the spring was, Dr. Fuller had not completely given up his classroom fire; and there, before its smouldering embers, stood Sinclair and Thornton, evidently intent upon destroying something. Startled by the unexpected noise of an intruder where they had deemed themselves in a secure retreat, Sinclair turned sharply round to the door, and in his fright dropped all that remained of the missing mark-book.

I will not detail all that followed-how a confession was extorted from the guilty boys that explained (or nearly so) their object in the daring and sinful deed they had attempted. Believing that if the mark-book were lost, the long list of the impositions still due from them would not be remembered, they had contrived to abstract Mr. Davenal's key from Ben's side at a time when he was too busy to notice them. Then, to screen themselves from the suspicion

they wished to be directed towards Lawrence, they agreed to place the key in the passage, where it would appear as if he had dropped it. They had further intended (but this they did not confess) to alter a few figures in the book, and then to hide it amongst some of Ben's papers, or to put it slyly into his pocket; but the loss was so early discovered that they had no time to carry out their malicious design, and then felt that their only chance of escape lay in the immediate destruction of the book. Unnoticed, as they stood talking in a corner of the corridor, they had overheard a report of the loss. Fearing, therefore, to pass any of their schoolfellows while the book was actually in their possession, they had hurried to the head master's room, as the safest hiding-place, and there began the deed of destruction so opportunely interrupted. Had this been completed, they would have joined the playground throng, and with an innocent air followed Walker into the classroom, where they would have committed another sin, by bearing false witness. against their more honourable neighbours.

Thus ended the career of these wicked boys at Hartwell College; for it was not likely that Dr. Fuller would give them another trial amongst those whom they were so anxious to corrupt or injure. Nor was there one voice raised to plead with him on their behalf. At first, indeed, Mr. Hunt ventured to suggest severe punishment in lieu of expulsion; but he ceased to advise milder measures, when amongst Thornton's belongings was discovered the lost exercise-book which had caused such trouble to Ben Lawrence.

Frank and his friends were much awed by so serious an event as their comrades' expulsion, though they naturally felt more pleasure than pain at parting from them. Frank rejoiced more than ever that he had separated himself from the companionship of the hardened boy, who, during his first few weeks at Hartwell, had done his best to draw him into sin. Many a youthful voice at Hartwell joined sincerely and earnestly that evening in the Divine prayer, 'Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'

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Then home, sweet home! the crowded coach-
The joyous shout-the loud approach-

The winding horns like rams'!
The meeting sweet that made me thrill,
The sweetmeats almost sweeter still,

No "satis" to the "jams!"'.

HOOD.

HE Lent term was now rapidly drawing to a close. The elaborate

calculations of its remainder had now

been reduced to hours, and even to minutes by some of the more skilful mathematicians. As there was no distribution of prizes to excite the boys at this season of the year, all their dreams of happiness and delight were in the prospect of home.

I must not omit to say, that before the term was quite over, Sir Geoffrey issued another invitation to his young friends of the Melville holiday, and gave them an afternoon of rare and uninterrupted enjoyment at Hartwell Grange. 'To crown all' (as Frank expressed in a letter home), the kind baronet bestowed upon the two finders of his pocket-book the present of a good silver hunting-watch each. You can easily imagine the pleasure and pride of both boys, as they exhibited their new possessions to every one who would admire them. Nor were Grant and the Fullers left out in Sir Geoffrey's kind remembrance of his little friends. Willie was given a small printing-press, which furnished him with a store of amusement for winter evenings; and the two Fullers were made joint possessors of a handsome case to hold their collection of eggs. It was hard to say which was the most delighted of all the young recipients, for Sir Geoffrey had guessed their wishes as well as if he had been with them ever since first making their acquaintance.

Then came, as I have said, the great happi

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