How pleasantly they live again in my memory! Happy, magical Past, in whose fairy atmosphere even Conway, mine ancient foe, stands forth transfigured, with a sort of dreamy glory encircling his bright red hair! With the old school formula I commence these sketches of my boyhood.

My name is Tom Bailey; what is yours, gentle reader?
I take for granted it is neither Wiggins nor Spriggins, and that we shall get on famously together, and be capital friends forever..