CHAPTER NINE.
HOW I REPLIED TO AN ADVERTISEMENT AND WAITED FOR THE ANSWER.
The day that witnessed my departure from Stonebridge House found me, I am bound to confess, very little improved by my year or two's residence under that dull roof.

I do not blame it all on the school, or even on Miss Henniker, depressing as both were.
There is no reason why, even at a school for backward and troublesome boys, a fellow shouldn't improve, if he gave his mind to it.

But that is just where I failed.

I didn't give my mind to it.

In fact, I made up my mind it was no use trying to improve, and therefore didn't try.
The consequence was, that after Jack Smith left, I cast in my lot with the rest of the backward and troublesome boys, and lost all ambition to be much better than the rest of them.
Flanagan, the fellow I liked best, was always good-humoured and lively, but I'm not sure that he would have been called a boy of good principles.