"This makes the second week it has poured down, with not a single bright day all the time."
"It would not be a bad plan if it only rained at night, and not during the day, for play and work could go on quite nicely then," remarked Lynch, who was copying out his twenty lines.
"It is rather fortunate for you and Ross, that all this rain has come during your punishment month."
"Yes," chimed in Leslie, "with the exception of the daily task of twenty lines, our last fortnight has not been much of a punishment, for I assure you I have had no desire to go out."
"Always your fortune," said Hall, who was manifestly in an ill humour; "now, if I had been punished instead of you, the weather would have been a marvel of fineness, sunny all day and starry all night."
"Well, don't get cross, Hall, the holidays will soon be here; another ten days, and good-bye books, slates, and masters."
"Yes, there is some consolation in that," said Hall; "but you two, Ross and Lynch, just step here and see how it comes down."
"One moment," said Lynch, "I am finishing my last line; there, the doctor ought to give me three good marks, and set me up as an example of clever penmanship before the whole school."
"How quick you write, Johnnie," said Leslie, looking up from his task, as his friend waved his paper round his head, "here I have six more lines to copy."
"Courage, my dear fellow, courage; remember this is our last day, our punishment is now ended."