“I know why you feel rather down in the mouth just now. You have (to use a phrase in athletics) lost your first wind, and haven’t yet got your _second_ wind. The novelty of excitement of school life has gone off, and you are too new to it yet to enjoy what there is enjoyable in it. Courage! I know your feelings well, having experienced them myself. So has Herbert: so, in short, has everyone who has ever been at school. You will soon get over it all, and like your school life, although of course it is not so pleasant as home. Most schoolboys are selfish and bad-mannered, and there are always plenty of snobs and bullies amongst them; but there is always a minority of nice fellows. I am inclined to believe that as you go so often to Arnold’s, you have not made much acquaintance with your schoolfellows. Perhaps it would be better to cultivate their acquaintance more. Don’t be afraid about not getting into Rugby. You ought to have heard Herbert’s doleful forebodings about never being able to get out of lower school: he was much more doleful than you, but if you were to remind him of it, he would probably not remember it at all; neither will you a year hence. If you are hungry, can’t you buy grub in the town? I mean something like sausage-rolls, or hard eggs. I will give you the money for it; or can you suggest any way in which we can supply you? What do you do on Sundays? and to what church do you go? I wish we could have you with us occasionally, just as much as you do. All are well, and join in best love. God bless you. “Yours most affectionately, “G. E. HUGHES.” “OFFLEY. “DEAREST OLD BOY, “I believe your mamma has written to you, but I must give you a few lines to say how much we were pleased with your report which came this morning. There is no happiness in this world so great to us as the assurance that you and your brothers are doing well. I am very sorry that you were down in the mouth at my departure. I should like to have you always with me, but you (being a boy of good sense) must know very well that it cannot be: you must (like all others) fly from the nest some time or other, and school is the preparation for a longer flight. I have no doubt that now you are all right again. You won’t be down-hearted long, if you only work well and do your duty. At your age the spirits are very elastic, and soon recover any depression. “We shall be anxious to hear about your cough and Sharp’s opinion. God bless you, “Yours most affectionately, “G. E. H.” “OFFLEY, _Sunday, Nov. 26th, 1871_. “DEAREST OLD BOY,