"I once read of a French teacher," said Ernest Wynn, "who used to travel with his scholars in the neighboring countries, during vacations." "Wouldn't it be just grand if we could travel with Master Lewis during our summer vacation!" said Tom Toby, who, although the dullest scholar in the school, always became unexpectedly bright over any plan that promised an easy time. "We might visit some country in Europe," said Ernest. "We should then be learning geography and history, and so our education would go on." "It would help us also in the study of modern languages," said Frank Gray. Tom Toby's sudden brightness of face seemed to be eclipsed by these last remarks. "I think we had better travel in places nearer home, then." "Why?" asked Frank. "I was seasick once: it was _orful_." "The sickness is a short and healthy one," said Frank. "You will find it a healthy one, if you ever are rolling on the Atlantic, with 'Twice a thousand miles behind you, and a thousand miles before.' I wouldn't be sick in that way again for any thing. I tell you 'twas _orful_!" Master Lewis laughed at Tom's pointed objection. "As to learning the languages," continued Tom, "I've noticed all the Frenchmen and Germans I have tried to talk with speak their own language very poorly." Tom's percentages in the modern languages were the lowest of his class, and Master Lewis could not restrain a smile. "I once tried to make a Frenchman understand that I thought Napoleon Bonaparte was the greatest man that ever lived. He kept saying, _Cela va sans dire, cela va sans dire!_ [That is a matter of course.] I never knew what he meant, to say: all I could make of it was, _That goes without saying any thing_." "The French teacher of whom I spoke," said Ernest Wynn, "used to allow his pupils to travel much on foot, and to visit such places as their love of history, geography, and natural science, made them most wish to see. So they journeyed in a zigzag way, and published a book called '_Voyages en zigzag_.'" "I would not object to learning history, geography, and natural science in that way," said Tom Toby. "I should rather walk after history than study it the way I do now. I should prefer _riding_ after it to walking, however. I wouldn't be cheated out of having a real good time during my summer vacation for any thing." A shadow fell on Master Lewis's face, as though his feelings were hurt by something implied in Tom's remarks. Tom saw it. "But--but I should have a real good time if I were with you, Master Lewis, even if it were on the Atlantic, or studying French in France." "I have often thought I would like to travel with my boys abroad. I could take my first class, if I could secure their parents' consent, the coming summer." "Good!" Every boy joined in the exclamation. Tom's voice, however, was a little behind the others,--"-o-d."