hospital,) to send for permission, and, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to the Prefect of hall to ask for a “Remedy.” [Illustration: THE OLD CONDUIT—WASHING IN COURT.] After Chapel, all the boys (the Valets laden with their Masters’ goods and chattels) left Chambers for school quad. After this, till about half-past six P.M., Chambers remained deserted. From seven till eight P.M., the boys had to sit at their toys, to learn their lessons, and do their “Vulguses;” quiet was kept, and sometimes one of the Masters looked round. During this period of “Toy-time,” as it was called, the Præfects sat at their washing-stools on each side of the fire; and when from time to time a fresh faggot was put on, and the warmth became oppressive, a Junior was sometimes summoned to stand between their majesties and the blaze. The living screen was obliged to keep continually revolving, and to pull out his trousers from the more fully developed parts of his person, or he ran a risk of being scorched. Fortunately the fierceness of the blaze soon subsided, when the screen was permitted to withdraw. Toy-time over, the Valets set to work to make their Masters’ coffee or tea, (“Mess.”) We used to make the former very good, our plan being to let it simmer for a long time, but on no account to boil over. In Belgium and France, however, where it is still better, I find they never boil the coffee, but simply pour scalding water over it. In summer, the Præfects’ washing-stools were often set out in Quad, under the shadow of the Chapel buttresses, and the repast would consist of “Made beer,” (College swipes bottled with rice, a few raisins, sugar, and nutmeg to make it “up,”) bread, cheese, salad, lobsters, &c. The Juniors got their tea (“Sus”) anyhow,—generally in bed,—and swigged it out of a pint-cup; and how delicious it was! Not unfrequently it was accompanied by a “Thoker,”—_i.e._, the evening ration of bread soaked slightly in water, and then put down to bake near the hot ashes.