-had it not necessarily,
or at least from Chawner's point of view, involved a full, true, and
particular account of the misdoings of each and every one; and
consequently, for some time after these professions of misgivings,
Chawner would be surrounded by a little crowd of anxiously obsequious
friends, all trying hard to overcome his scruples or persuade him at
least to omit their names from his revelations.

Sometimes he would affect to be convinced by their arguments and send
them away reassured; at others his scruples would return in an
aggravated form; and so he would keep them on tenterhooks of suspense
for days and weeks, until he was tired of the amusement--for this
practising on the fears of weaker natures is a horribly keen delight to
some--or until some desperate little dog, unable to bear his torture any
longer, would threaten to give himself up and make an end of it.

Then Chawner, to do him justice, always relieved him from so
disagreeable a necessity, and would go softly into the Doctor's study,
and, in a subdued and repentant tone, pour out his general confession
for the public good.

Probably the Doctor did not altogether respect the instruments he saw
fit to use in this way; some would have declined to hear the informer
out, flogged him well, and forgotten it; but Dr. Grimstone--though he
was hardly likely to be impressed by these exhibitions of noble candour,
and did not fail to see that the prospect of obtaining better terms for
the penitent himself had something to do with them--yet encouraged the
system as a matter of policy, went thoroughly into the whole affair, and
made it the cause of an explosion which he considered would clear the
moral atmosphere for some time to come.

I hope that, after this explanation, Chawner's opposition to Mr.
Bultitude's plans will be better understood.

After tea, he made Paul a little sign to follow him, and the two went
out together into the little glass-house beyond the schoolroom; it was
dark, but there was light enough from the room inside for them to see
each other's face.

"Now, sir," began Paul, with dignity, when he had closed the glass door
behind him, "perhaps you'll be good enough to tell me how you mean to
prevent me from seeing Dr. Grimstone, and telling him--telling him what
I have to tell him?"

"I'll tell you, Dickie," said Chawner, with an evil smirk. "You shall
know soon enough."

"Don't stand grinning at me like that, sir," said the angry