The odour which now filled the refectory was scarcely more appetising than that which had regaled our nostrils at breakfast: the dinner was served in two huge tin-plated vessels, whence rose a strong steam redolent of rancid fat.

I found the mess to consist of indifferent potatoes and strange shreds of rusty meat, mixed and cooked together.

Of this preparation a tolerably abundant plateful was apportioned to each pupil.

I ate what I could, and wondered within myself whether every day's fare would be like this.
After dinner, we immediately adjourned to the schoolroom: lessons recommenced, and were continued till five o'clock.
The only marked event of the afternoon was, that I saw the girl with whom I had conversed in the verandah dismissed in disgrace by Miss Scatcherd from a history class, and sent to stand in the middle of the large schoolroom.

The punishment seemed to me in a high degree ignominious, especially for so great a girl--she looked thirteen or upwards.