He himself proposed this morning that my boy Mark should begin his studies at once; and, indeed, now that the worst is over and he has got rid of the load of care on his shoulders, I hope that we shall have him bright and cheerful again before long." Such was indeed the case.

For some little time Mr.Bastow avoided the village, but John Thorndyke got him to go down with him to call upon Mr.Greg, and afterwards to walk through it with him.

At first he went timidly and shrinkingly, but the kindly greetings of the women he met, and the children stopping to pull a forelock or bob a courtesy as of old, gradually cheered him up, and he soon got accustomed to the change, and would of an afternoon go down to the village and chat with the women, after he had ascertained that his successor had no objection whatever, and was, indeed, pleased that he still took an interest in his former parishioners.

Mark was at first disappointed at the arrangement, for he had looked forward to going to a public school.

His father, however, had no great trouble in reconciling him to it.
"Of course, Mark," he said, "there are advantages in a public school.
I was never at one myself, but I believe that, though the discipline is pretty strict, there is a great deal of fun and sport, and you may make desirable acquaintances.