satisfied with the fit, he bit private marks on their various parts, helped to put on Looney’s waistcoat wrong way before, split Alfred’s shirt down the back to test its age, and with an emphatic remark upon the perversity of mortal things, marched stoically up to the school with the rest of the little band.  Little Lizzie followed with the girls about a hundred yards behind.  Alfred pretended not to see her.  Somehow he was now becoming rather ashamed of having a sister.

The great bell was just ringing for dinner.  Alfred and the other new boys were at once arranged according to height in the phalanx of fours mustered in the yard.  At the word of command the whole solid mass put itself in motion, shortest in front, and advanced towards the hall with the little workhouse shuffle.  Dividing this way and that, the boys filed along the white tables.  At the same moment the girls entered from another door, and the infants from a third.  By a liberal concession, “the sexes” had lately been allowed to look at each other from a safe distance at meals.

A gong sounded:  there was instant silence.  It sounded again:  all stood up and clasped their hands.  Many shut their eyes and assumed an expression of intensity, as though preparing to wrestle with the Spirit.  Clem, having planted both heels firmly on Looney’s foot, screwed up his face, and appeared to wrestle more than any.  A note was struck on the harmonium.  All sang the grace.  The gong sounded:  all sat down.  It sounded again:  all talked.

“Yes, we allow them to talk at meals now,” said the superintendent to a visitor who was standing with him in the middle of the room.  “We find it helps to counteract the effects of over-feeding on the digestion.”

“What a beautiful sight it all is!” said the visitor.  “Such precision and obedience!  Everything seems satisfactory.”

“Yes,” said the superintendent, “we do our very best to make it a happy home.  Don’t we, Ma?”

“We do, indeed,” said the matron.  “You see, sir, it has to be a home as well as a school.”

The superintendent had been employed in workhouse schools for many years, and had gradually worked himself up to the highest position.  On his appointment he had hoped to introduce many important changes in the system.  Now, at the end of nine years, he could point to a few improvements in the steam-laundry, and the substitution of a decent little cap for the old workhouse Glengarry.  At one time he had conceived the idea of allowing the boys brushes and combs instead of having their hair cropped short to the skin.  But in this and other points he had found it better to let things slide rather than throw the whole place out of gear for a trifle.  Changes received little encouragement; and the public didn’t really care what happened until some cruel scandal in the evening papers made their blood boil for half a minute as they went home to dinner in the suburbs.