As Sir Toady says, the golden rule is a first-rate thing--when you leave school. Even with a little addition, it flourishes there too. But you don't want to set up as a Christian martyr at school, I can tell you. It was very noble in the time of St. Francis, and Dr. Livingstone, and these people, and now-a-days there are people to whom we have to send our sixpences--people we never see. Perhaps I shall be one when I am older, but at school--these are Sir Toady's words--you find out what boy has a down on you _and down him first_! It saves trouble. Afterwards you can be as sweet and child-like as possible, and go about the world taking people in with blue Madonna eyes all your life. But at school, if you don't want to have the life of a dog, it has got to be different. Hugh John, of course, says that the principle of school life is for everybody to obey one person. But, you see, that person is Hugh John. If they don't, most likely he will hammer them. And afterwards he will prove how they were wrong. He will do it at length, and at breadth, and at depth, and unto the fourth dimension, till even fellows who can stand up to his fists give in to him so as not to get lectured--or "jawed" as they ignorantly call it. For really what Hugh John says could be taken down and printed right off in a book. And you have got to believe it, too. For he is always ready to support his opinion, in the same manner as the Highland chief in _Kidnapped_. "If any gentleman is not preceesely satisfied, I shall be proud to step outside with him." Joined to this faculty for laying down the law, he possesses an admirable barbaric power of enforcing it, which would have been invaluable in feudal times, and is not without its uses even now. Well, three days after I went and called on Mrs. Donnan. It came about quite naturally. She is a first-class person to call upon. No fuss or anything--only you have to catch her on the hop. This time I saw her in the garden gathering gooseberries, and in a moment she had her sunbonnet half off her head, and the basket dropped in the furrow, but I was upon her before she could get away. "Oh, Mrs. Donnan, do let me help you!" I said. "But, Miss----" she began, not knowing how to go on. "I should love it," I added quickly, "and I promise not to eat a single one. In fact I shall whistle all the time!" "Oh, miss," she said, all in a flurry, "you know it is not that! You or any of your family are only too welcome to come, and take as many as they like." "If you want to keep any for the preserving pot," I said, smiling at her, "I should advise you not to say that to my entire family. There are certain members of it who are capable of cleaning up the branches as your dog Toby there would clean a bone!"