SCHOOL DAYS
couldn't say. Tom hurried over his own breakfast, and went first to Martin's study and then to his own, but no signs of the missing boys were to be found. He felt half angry and jealous of Martin—where could they be gone?
He learned second lesson with East and the rest in no very good temper, and then went out into the quadrangle. About ten minutes before school Martin and Arthur arrived in the quadrangle, breathless; and, catching sight of him, Arthur rushed up, all excitement, and with a bright glow on his face.
"Oh, Tom, look here!" cried he, holding out three moor-hen's eggs; "we've been down the Barby road to the pool Martin told us of last night, and just see what we've got."
Tom wouldn't be pleased, and only looked out for something to find fault with.
"Why, young un," said he, "what have you been after? You don't mean to say you've been wading?"
The tone of reproach made poor little Arthur shrink up in a moment and look piteous, and Tom, with a shrug of his shoulders, turned his anger on Martin.
"Well, I didn't think, Madman, that you'd have been such a muff as to let him be getting wet through at this time of day. You might have done the wading yourself."
"So I did, of course, only he would come in too, to see the nest. We left six eggs in; they 'll be hatched in a day or two."
"Hang the eggs!" said Tom; "a fellow can't turn his back for a moment but all his work's undone. He'll be laid up for a week for this precious lark, I'll be bound."
"Indeed, Tom, now," pleaded Arthur, "my feet ain't wet, for Martin made me take off my shoes and stockings and trousers."
"But they are wet and dirty, too—can't I see?" answered Tom; "and you'll be called up and floored when the master sees what a state you're in. You haven't looked at second lesson, you know." Oh, Tom, you old humbug! you to be upbraiding any one with not learning his lessons! If you hadn't been floored your-
[ 259 ]
