In these days Jimmy realised that he and I were friends; we understood each other. Now he does not think of trying to understand me; I am an ex-dominie, and that's enough for him. Macdonald is the real dominie; Jimmy must be circumspect when he is about else there will be ructions. I don't count: I have no authority. I should like to hear Macdonald's remarks to Jimmy if the constable came to the school to tell of one of the laddie's escapades. I have lost Jimmy and a hundred others, but I thank heaven for the bairns left to me. They come up nearly every night, and they spend Saturdays and Sundays with me. Last Saturday Macdonald came into the field where we were playing. Janet and the other girls froze at once; all the fun went out of them, and they looked at him timidly. He tried to show that he also could be playful and he tried to romp with them for a while. The romp wasn't a success; they were acting all the time, and when a girl "tigged" him she did so with a woefully apologetic air as if she would say: "Excuse my touching you, sir, but it's only a game, you know. I'll take care not to presume when we meet on Monday morning." Luckily he did not stay long, and the girls resumed their attempt to tie my legs together with grass ropes, their motive being to stuff my mouth with brambles. I invited them down to the bothy for tea, and they rushed off to lay the table. "And we'll look into a' yer drawers and places," cried Jean, "and read a' yer love-letters." "If you could read I believe you _would_ read them," I shouted after her. "Eh! What an insult!" she cried. "Aw'll just go straucht doon to Maggie and tell her no to hae ye!" After tea Gladys suddenly said: "Come on, we'll play at schules, eh?" The idea was hailed with delight, and Annie requisitioned the services of my new braces for a strap, and ranged us round the fire. "Now," she said, "this is playtime and you are all outside, and when I blow the whistle you'll all come in." "Blaw yer bugle," said Jean, "just to mak it like it was when ye were at the schule." So I played the "Fall In" and went out to play. I came in late. "Why are you late?" demanded Annie. I looked round the room vacantly. "Yes!" I said with a nod of enlightenment. The girls giggled, and Annie had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "Where have you been, sir?" "Oh, no!" I cried, "at least I don't think so!" Annie had to sit down and laugh. "That's no fair," she said, "there shud be nae funnin' in the schule." I sat down on the fender and pulled a face that Alfred Lester might have envied. Annie went into fits of laughter. "Tell ye what, Annie," said Ellen, "we'll put the Mester oot, and we'll play oorsells," and I was dismissed the school. After deliberation they agreed to allow me to be an inspector provided I did not say anything. When bairns play school they always put on the fine English. The teacher's main duty is to call erring pupils out and punish them.