Bywater's Dance                 537
 turned a somersault, and began dancing a hornpipe
 on his head.
   " Bywxater!" uttered the astounded master. " Are
you mad"
   Bywater finished his dance, and then brought himself
to his feet.
   " I am so glad he has turned up all right, sir. I
forgot you were in school."
    I should think you did," significantly returned the
master. But Charles interrupted him.
   " You will not punish them, sir, now I have come
back safe" he pleaded.
   " But they deserve punishment," said the master.
   " I know they have been sorry; Arthur says they
have," urged Charley. " Please do not punish them
now, sir; it is so pleasant to be back !"
    W\ill you promise never to be frightened at their
foolish tricks again" said the master. " Not that
there is much danger of their playing you any: this
has been too severe a lesson. I am surprised that a
boy of your age, Charles, could allow himself to be
alarmed by ' ghosts.' You do not suppose there are
such things, surely "
  " No, sir; but somehow, that night I got too fright-
ened to think. You will forgive them, sir, won't you"
  " Yes ! There ! Go and shake hands with them,"
said 'Mr. Pye, relaxing his dignity. " It is worth
something, Charley, to see you here again."
  The school seemed to think so; and I wvish you had
heard the shout that wvent up from it-the real, true,
if somewhat noisy delight, that greeted Charles.
  Charley, we'll never dress up a ghost again ! We'l
never frighten you in any way !" they cried, pressing
affectionately round him. " Only forgive us!"
    Why are you sitting in the senior's place, Tom"
asked Arthur.
    Because it is his own," said Harry Huntley, with
a smile of satisfaction. " Lady Augusta came in and
set things right for you, and Tom is made senior at
last. Hurrah ! Arthur cleared, Tom senior, Charley
back, and Gerald flogged ! Hurrah !"
  " Hurrah ! If I've were worth a dump, he'd give us
a holiday !" echoed bold Bywater.