CHAPTER I.
THE JOURNEY PROPOSED.
THE school—is—dismissed.”
The words fell hesitatingly, and it seemed to us regretfully, from the tutor’s lips.
The dismission was for the spring vacation. It was at the close of a mild March day; there was a peculiar warmth in the blue sky and cloudless sunset; the south winds lightly stirred the pines, and through the open window wandered into the school-room.
“Dismissed!”
Usually at this word, on the last day of the term, every boy leaped to his feet: there would be a brief bustle, then Master Lewis would be seen seated alone amid the silence of the school-room.