the Blue, Charles Darling, and beg a thousand pardons for intrusion on

deep learning. But they tell me that your watch is over in some half a

minute. Allow me to ask for the son of an old friend, Blyth Scudamore,

late of the Diomede frigate, but now of this ancient and learned grammar

school. When his labors are over, I would gladly speak with him."

"Boys may go," the head-master pronounced, as the old clock wheezed

instead of striking. "Sir, my valued young coadjutor is advancing from

the fourth form toward you."

The Doctor was nice in his choice of words, and prided himself on

Johnsonian precision, but his young coadjutor's advance was hardly to be

distinguished from a fine retreat. Like leaves before the wind, the

boys rushed out by a back door into the play-ground, while the master

solemnly passed to his house, with a deep slow bow to the ladies; and

there was poor Scudamore--most diffident of men whenever it came to

lady-work--left to face the visitors with a pleasing knowledge that his

neckcloth was dishevelled, and his hair sheafed up, the furrows of his

coat broadcast with pounce, and one of his hands gone to sleep from

holding a heavy Delphin for three-quarters of an hour.

As he came out thus into the evening light, which dazed his blue eyes

for a moment, Miss Dolly turned away to hide a smile, but Faith, upon

her father's introduction, took his hand and looked at him tenderly. For

she was a very soft-hearted young woman, and the tale of his troubles

and goodness to his mother had moved her affection toward him, while

as one who was forever pledged--according to her own ideas--to a hero

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