But we school boys who are keenly ambitious of taking high honours in the cricket-field, or who pride themselves upon their rowing or athletic sports; and so, because some healthyminded vigorous boys give a name to their school for pluck and exercise, we are quite satisfied that public-school life is essentially a manly and healthy existence. forget that a school is a very big place, and we forget the numerous boys who take no part in outdoor sports, but who— young, pliant, and with principles unformed, and with little or no restraint upon themselves, and out of school hardly at all looked after-soon get into irretrievable mischief. Young plants require a deal of nurture, and schools are far from being, in my opinion, a safe nursery.' 'I am looking out for a tutor now at Can you assist me ?' this very moment. said Lady Trevennis. 'I should hardly think my assistance necessary, when so many men are anxious for such an appointment; but I will bear your wish in mind,' replied I. We had now arrived at the house, and after the ladies had again promised to pay my studio a visit, I took my departure; Lady Trevennis, however, insisting on her coachman driving me back to Weedoncliffe. As I drove back to the hotel, my thoughts were full of Lady Trevennis. Her attentive kindness had made almost as much impression on my mind as her winning beauty; and I began to torture myself by all kinds of reflections upon my behaviour towards her, and whether I had so acted as to leave also an agreeable impression upon her. Already I was yearning for the time when we should meet again, and everything connected with my future, which was not associated with her, looked cold and cheerless. 'Is this something more than friendship that I feel?' thought I. O, Plato! CHAPTER V. LORD EDGEWARE. 'And he became The slave of low desires; A man who, without self-control, N my return to Weedoncliffe I saw the hall-door of my hotel smok ing a cigar. He had a black deer-stalker's hat on his head, and was dressed in a brown velveteen coat with monogram buttons, and knickerbockers with dark blue stockings. He was tall, and what is termed 'aristocratic-looking' that is to say, his complexion was white, his hair light and curly, his nose aquiline, his eyes blue, and his hands and feet small and well-shaped. Had it not been for the hard sensual mouth and the cold treacherous-looking eyes, he Iwould have been considered a handsome man; and indeed, notwithstanding thesc drawbacks, he was by many regarded as almost an Adonis. He was about thirty years of but the tired look in his eyes, the lines that dissipation had drawn around his mouth, gave him a much older appear ance. age; I recognised him at once as the Earl of Edgeware. When I was studying at Rome, I had heard much of him; indeed, his fabulous wealth, his ancient lineage, and the lofty position his family had occupied on many occasions in the state, made him the lion of the season. He had only lately succeeded to the title and to his vast es tates, and all society was at his feet. No |