a much higher degree of excellence than the others. I found the children more entirely under control, and the discipline altogether better. I was allowed in almost every case to test the knowledge of the children by examination, and I was very pleased with their general proficiency in the three great subjects-reading, writing, and arithmetic. I made, according to your wish, very particular inquiries respecting the Scriptural knowledge which is imparted to the children, and I find that in that department Government exercises no control whatever, and the inspectors ask no questions concerning it."

"I think the report to which we have just listened is very satisfactory as far as it goes," observed Mr. Remy; "but the reporter omitted to inform us how far schools are benefited or otherwise pecuniarily."

"I beg your pardon. I thought you were already in possession of all necessary information on that point. Government pays for results, as shown in annual examinations. Each child is examined in reading; if he pass, his school receives two shillings and eightpence, and the same for each of the other two subjects, writing and arithmetic."

"So that the sum paid is eight shillings for each child who successfully passes in all the subjects?"

"Yes; that is, if the child has attended a certain number of times, and is over six years of age. If he be younger, the sum paid for him is six and sixpence."

"That would amount to a round sum of money in a large school!"

"Yes; but even that is not all. attendance of the children."

Something is allowed on the

"Well, friends, it seems to me that we cannot do better than avail ourselves of this help. We should be able to build larger rooms, we could pay our masters and mistresses better, we might have a number of young people in training as pupil teachers, and I do not see why we should not have one of the largest and best schools in the country."

"I think," said Mr. Remy, in reply to this suggestion of Mr. Watergate, "that we pay our teachers quite handsomely enough already."

Sir," said the little lady in black, "there are two classes of persons whom we cannot pay too well, and they are ministers and teachers."

Dr. Nobles looked as if he wanted and yet did not want to call the ladies and gentlemen to order, but further discussion on that point was stopped for the present by some person moving and another seconding the proposition that a select committee be ap

pointed to forthwith make all necessary arrangements for placing the school under Government inspection and aid. Some one proposed as an amendment that this committee consider it undesirable to appeal to Government to do that which they are well able to do themselves. The amendment was lost by a large majority; and the Bolstone school would, henceforward be in receipt of a large sum towards its expenses.

The next thing was the appointment of the master.

Mr. Winterset spoke warmly on behalf of Arthur Dalebury. He told the story of the boy's eager craving after knowledge, and his persistent efforts to acquire it. He spoke, too, of his character as one who knew him to be honest, truthful, upright, persevering, brave, and self-controlled. "The clever man," Mr. Remy, also spoke a good word for him. The college authorities had sent a letter, not only giving the candidate unequivocal praise, but recommending the committee for their own sakes at once to secure his valuable services. There was, therefore, no difficulty with reference to the selection, no other candidate having the favour which was accorded to Dalebury, who was elected without opposition.

Next arose the question of his salary.

"Let it be liberal," said the lady in black.

"But not too handsome," suggested one of the gentlemen. "Eighty pounds would be sufficiently liberal," said another. "Let his salary depend upon his success in the school," said good Mr. Rosemary.

"Not altogether," replied Miss Robin. "I think he should have enough to live on guaranteed, so that he may not be worried about it, and then he might, in addition, have a share in the school pence, and also in the Government grant."

This suggestion was adopted, and the meeting separated.

CHAPTER VI.-MISS HESHBON.

"Papa, are you going into Fleet Street, this morning?" "Yes, Angie."

"Will you take me with you?"

"My dear, I am going on business, but I will get it concluded as quickly as possible, and I shall then be quite at your service if you are disposed for a drive."

"But it is into Fleet Street that I want to go."

Mr. Heshbon looked at his daughter.

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"Is not that rather a strange fancy, Angie? Several times lately you have chosen to go with me into that noisy street. Now I should have thought the park or the Green Lanes would be far more to your liking."

Miss Heshbon could not quite keep the colour from her face as she replied.

"But I like Fleet Street, papa, both for its own sake and its associations. I like to pass under Temple Bar and think of the wonderful pageants and striking scenes which the old place has witnessed. But that is not the only reason for my wishing to go. I like the busy streets that are so full of life and activity. It pleases me to watch the vehicles and the many different faces which are to be seen there, and though it is very beautiful to be among the fields, I really think the streets are better.".

"Well, my dear, I will take you with me, with pleasure, though I can scarcely understand this newly-developed taste of yours. It is very well for a merchant to feel some affection for the City, but it does not seem to me exactly the place for young ladies."

'Papa, dear, I am afraid you would almost rather not have me go."

There was the slightest possible tremor in the voice of the young lady as she said the words, and that brought the whole matter to a conclusion.

"My dear Angie, I would rather have you with me wherever I go, and since you prefer Fleet Street, I hope you will come with me as often as you please."

"Thank you, papa; I will come every day if it will not inconvenience you."

Miss Heshbon had gained her point, and felt a little triumphant. But triumph is not always peace, and she could not conquer a feeling of disturbance which had taken possession of her.

After talking with her father she went to her own room to await him. But something had changed the Angie of former times.

"No one could be more diligent than my daughter," Mrs. Heshbon used often to say, with a mother's pride. But lately the girl had seemed to have no heart for her work; and books, pencils, brushes, and embroidery were alike forgotten. Her hands were idle, and her voice was silent, where a few months ago it had been full of song. And although she could not be other than gentle and kind, ready to wait upon her mother with all tender ministries of love, and eager for the conversation and companionship of her father, yet there was in the girl already a greater change than even she herself knew. She was naturally imaginative, and she would now sit for a long time together, dreaming of scenes and circumstances which might never happen, but which seemed to her as real as life. For the last day or two, however, they had not brought her uninterrupted repose and joy. She was a good, conscientious girl, and she began to fear that she was not altogether ingenuous. She did not acknowledge to herself how often one face

came before her in her dreams; and yet she felt that the only romantic incident of her young life was connected with that stolen visit to Fleet-street, which was the commencement of her love for the busy district. And on this day, while she waited for her father's summons the thought that troubled her was simply this"I ought to tell them, and I am sure that I never, never can.” "Mr. Heshbon's love, Miss, and please are you ready?" The next moment Angie was by her father's side, and the carriage rolled away.

"It is so kind of you to have me with you, father dear."

"I do not think mamma quite approves of your coming into the City so often, Angie, but she was busy this morning, and I did not trouble her about it."

"She would not mind, as I am with you, papa. I will try to be good. Do you want to think? Because if you do I will not bore you with my talk."

"Oh, no. Do not be silent, little one, if you have anything to say, though if not, and you will excuse me, I have a few calculations to make."

So Angelina Heshbon was left to her own thoughts, during almost the whole of the drive.

"I wonder if I shall ever see him again? I am almost sure I shall, and yet I do not know how it can be. He is a real nobleman, I have no doubt of that, and yet I shall never meet him in any of the houses of my friends. The world is very large, and there are too many people in it, and yet I have heard that those who want to meet can always do so. He has my card, but what is the use of that? Miss Heshbon' will tell him no more thanArthur Dalebury' tells me. I think I will have my name printed on the title page of my novel after all, though perhaps he will never read it. I wonder if he does read novels, and if he would be pleased with mine ?"

Miss Heshbon did not dream while she passed through Fleet Street. She was very wide awake indeed, and her eyes looked keenly into the faces of the many people whom she passed, and there was a little sigh of disappointment when presently the carriage stopped at the end of the journey. That sigh however recalled her to herself, and brought the hot blood to her cheeks.

"What am I doing? I will not be so foolish! I am so much ashamed that I feel as if I hate myself," she thought indignantly. When Mr. Heshbon's business was finished, and he and his daughter were going home, he thought he had never known her more entertaining. She scarcely glanced at the people in Fleet Street, but amused him with all sorts of imaginary stories of the buildings which they passed, and made him feel much more glad

that his daughter was so winsome and well, than any good news about business could possibly make him. When they were almost home however, she grew more serious.

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Papa," she said, supposing that when we were in Fleet Street just now, I had stepped from the carriage for some purpose, and you had happened not to be near, and I had got into the crowd, and a horse had knocked me down-"

"My dear Angie, I am not going to suppose anything so dreadful."

"Well, but if it had happened, and a gentleman had stepped forward and rescued me, how should you feel toward him?"

"I should feel as if I could never thank him sufficiently." "But suppose that I kept the whole thing a secret from you and mamma, and never told you a word about it ?"

"I am not imaginative as you are, Angie, and my powers of fancy are not great enough to enable me to suppose such a case. I know it could never happen. You are a wonderful young lady, of course, but there is just one thing you could not do, and that is, keep a secret from your parents.'

Miss Heshbon was particularly silent during the remainder of the drive.

CHAPTER VII.-THE FIRST DAY IN SCHOOL.

Arthur Dalebury had to learn that an intelligent, well-educated, and even clever man is not necessarily a good teacher; but he was taught this lesson so very effectually on the first day that he spent in the Bolstone British School, that he will certainly never forget it.

He was very much elated by the success which he had achieved, and eager to begin what he thought of as the great work of his life, and he therefore arose in the morning with many bright hopes in his heart, and not a single misgiving as to his ability to fill satisfactorily the position to which he had been elevated. At the present time the whole system of education has been considerably developed. Girls and boys are apprenticed in this as in other professions, and those who have been pupil-teachers and have served five years, have received not only excellent instruction from the masters and mistresses, which is tested by annual examination, but have also had the best possible training as teachers by being constantly at work in the school. Defective management, inability to preserve order or to impart instruction, and all similar faults are therefore detected, and patiently grappled with, until they are overcome; so that the candidate has mastered the most important part of his duties before he enters the training college at all.

It was unfortunate for Dalebury that this advantage had not been his. It is true that he had taught classes of boys in the model school connected with the college; but that is a very different thing from having a whole school under his own control. He had managed fairly with the children when he knew that there was always the head-master to appeal to in case of insubordination. And besides this, the children who are well drilled by masters and students in a model school are different in their behaviour from those of the ordinary public schools.