It just shows what an amount of malevolence is hidden away in the depths of human nature.
At the present moment I am scarcely on speaking terms with a single one of my old friends. They all seem to think that I did it on purpose.
[Mr. Harland's Pupils]
I.
Mr. Harland's first pupil from America made his appearance at Mulberry House School under rather peculiar circumstances. Mr. Harland received one morning this tersely-worded note:--
"219, Twentieth Street, New York.
"Sir,--I have the honour to inform you that I am shipping my son, John F. Ernest, to your academy. He will arrive per s.s. Germanic. I have decided to educate him in England. Please acknowledge enclosed bank draft, value two hundred and fifty dollars ($250), in payment of six months' fees. Any sum in excess, to the amount of one hundred dollars ($100), will be paid, on demand, by my agents, Messrs. Rödenheim, of London.
"Yours faithfully,
"J. Bindon.
"P.S.--John F. Ernest to stay the holidays."