It was a common practice among the Latin school boys, as I suppose among all boys, to amuse themselves by putting a heavy book on the top of a door left partially ajar, and to cry out "Crown him" as the first luckless youngster who happened to come in received the book thundering on his head.

One day, just as the trap had been adroitly laid, Mr.Lawley walked in unexpectedly.

The moment he entered the school-room, down came an Ainsworth's Dictionary on the top of his hat, and the boy, concealed behind the door, unconscious of who the victim was, enunciated with mock gravity, "Crown him! three cheers." It took Mr.Lawley a second to raise from his eyebrows the battered hat, and recover from his confusion; the next instant he was springing after the boy who had caused the mishap, and who, knowing the effects of the master's fury, fled with precipitation.

In one minute the offender was caught, and Mr.Lawley's heavy hand fell recklessly on his ears and back, until he screamed with terror.

At last by a tremendous writhe, wrenching himself free, he darted towards the door, and Mr.Lawley, too exhausted to pursue, snatched his large gold watch out of his fob, and hurled it at the boy's retreating figure.