"_Next_ year I hope to visit Switzerland and Italy, with all the members of the school who can go, if this proposed journey should prove a success. I say this, so that the second and third classes may feel that they, too, have an interest in this general plan." There was a burst of applause by the whole school. [Illustration: COLONNADE OF THE LOUVRE.] "I thank the boys of the first class for their letters and suggestions about the route to be decided upon. I think I have a plan that will be acceptable to you all. We will go first to Glasgow, will journey _en zigzag_ to London; will there take the steamer for Antwerp, and will make a zigzag tour from Ghent to St. Malo, taking a glance at Belgium, a view of the whole of Normandy and the picturesque part of Brittany, including a visit to Paris and a view of its beautiful palaces and parks. "As a preparation for this tour, I shall require the class to give special attention to the French language and to English and French history during the term." Every thing that Master Lewis said or did was popular with the boys, but no decision ever received more emphatic applause. Tom Toby was busy at once, forming his secret society. He called a meeting of the boys on the evening of the very first schoolday, in his room. The Wynns entered willingly into his plan, and George Howe and Leander Towle warmly supported it. Frank Gray, however, treated the matter rather indifferently, a circumstance that Tommy quickly observed. "The first question to be decided," said Tommy, when the boys had met in his room, "is, Shall we organize a secret society?" The Wynns asked Frank Gray his opinion. "I should prefer to hold my opinion in reserve, until I understand what the object of the society is to be." "It is to have a grip just like _that_," said Tommy, seizing Frank by the hand, "one that takes the conceit all out of you, and makes you remember who are your friends for ever." "Then I do not think I shall care to join," said Frank, rubbing his crushed hand on his knee. "I shall probably remember you as long as I shall care to, without making any such arrangement." "I think a school society is a good thing," said Ernest Wynn, mildly. "It promotes lasting friendships"-- "Good for you!" said Tommy. "That's just what I wanted to say. 'It promotes lasting friendship,' and, like a salve, it takes the conceit"-- "It stimulates one to do his best, and"-- "That's it exactly," said Tommy. "I hope you all hear." "Let's quit joking," said George Howe, in a matter-of-fact way. "A society for the purpose of reading and studying about the places we are to visit and for correspondence with each other, when a part of us are abroad, would be an excellent thing. I hope we may have such a society, and shall make our very best boy President of it." "Who may that be?" said Frank. "I," said Tommy, teasingly. "I thought you knew." "I believe it is decided to call the society the Zigzag Travellers," said George.