CHAPTER XX.
PRIMUS TO HIS UNCLE.
[Illustration] Though we all pretended to be glad when Primus went, we spoke of him briefly at times, and I read his letters aloud at our evening meetings.
Here is a series of them from my desk.

Primus was now a year and a half older and his spelling had improved.
I.
_November 16th._ DEAR UNCLE:--Though I have not written to you for a long time I often think about you and Mr.Gilray and the rest and the Arcadia Mixture, and I beg to state that my mother will have informed you I am well and happy but a little overworked, as I am desirous of pleasing my preceptor by obtaining a credible position in the exams, and we breakfast at 7:30 sharp.

I suppose you are to give me a six-shilling thing again as a Christmas present, so I drop you a line not to buy something I don't want, as it is only thirty-nine days to Christmas.

I think I'll have a book again, but not a fairy tale or any of that sort, nor the "Swiss Family Robinson," nor any of the old books.

There is a rattling story called "Kidnapped," by H.Rider Haggard, but it is only five shillings, so if you thought of it you could make up the six shillings by giving me a football belt.