“It’s a bad thing to put a watch back, my boy; besides, I rather like keeping mine a little fast.”

“Do you? I say, do you think my watch is a good one?” said Charlie, thrusting me into the hands of his astonished travelling companion.

“I can’t say, my boy. I know nothing about watches. It looks a nice one.”

“Yes, father gave it me. I say, are you going to Randlebury?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know the school? I’m going there.”

“Oh, yes; I know the school. And you are going there, are you?” inquired the gentleman, with interest.

“Yes, I’m a new boy, you know.”

“And how do you like going to school?”

“Oh, all right; only I don’t know what it’ll be like. Eat I say, I don’t suppose there’s many of the boys my age have got watches, do you?”