My School Day. 53

begun, and you'll be a ornament to the place you
moves in.”

With that he sat down, put his hands in his
pockets, and looked round grinning to receive the
applause of the whole school. The master had
passed on, scemingly without hearing Tommy’s
speech. Presently Tommy looked up with pre-
tended surprise. “ Be ye there still, Razzy? You
may go back to your work, we don’t want you here
no more.”

And Razzy retired, without having uttered a word.

My greatest trial began when twelve o’clock
struck. I was carried headlong out of doors by
the rush of scholars, and joke and question hailed
thick upon me. “ Whatever are you doing here,
Miss Benny ? this is nota girls’ school.” “ Where’s
the cow, my dear? How didn’t you bring her with
you?” “No,no; she had ought to go to a girls’
school too.” “ Benny’s given over caring for th’
ould black cow; he’s his lady’s pet, he is.” This
last remark was made by Simon Williams, the
biggest boy in the school, and one of the most
backward.

“Don't,” said I, turning away.

Simon put himself in front of me again, saying,
“ Did the big boys tease it, a dear ; and would it run
and tell on ’em to its lady?”