ncil-cases and pocket-knives, and so forth, until they drove
Paul nearly to desperation. However, he succeeded in dispelling their
fears after some hot arguments, and had just sent away the last
suppliant, when he saw Jolland too rise and come towards him.

Jolland leaned across Paul's desk with folded arms and looked him full
in the face with his shallow light green eyes. "I don't know what you've
said to all those chaps," he began; "they've come back looking precious
glum, but they won't tell me what you said," (Mr. Bultitude had in
satisfying their alarm taken care to let them know his private opinion
of them, which was not flattering), "but I've got something to say to
you, and it's this. I never thought you would quite come down to this
sort of thing!"

"What sort of thing?" said Paul, who was beginning to have enough of it.

"Why, going up and letting on against all of us--it's mean, you know. If
you have got bashed about pretty well since you came back, it's been
all your own fault, and you know it. Last term you got on well
enough--this time you began to be queer and nasty the very first day you
came. I thought it was one of your larks at first, but I don't know what
it is now, and I don't care. I stood up for you as long as I could, till
you acted like a funk yesterday. Then I took my share in lamming you,
and I'd do it again. But if you are cad enough to pay us all out in this
way, I'll have no more to do with you--mind that. That's all I came to
say."

This was an unpalatable way of putting things, but Paul could not help
seeing that there was some truth in it. Jolland had been kind to him,
too, in a careless sort of way, and at some cost to himself; so it was
with more mildness than temper that he answered him.

"You're on the wrong tack, my boy, the wrong tack. I've no wish to tell
tales of anyone, as I've been trying to explain to your friends. There's
something the matter with me which you wouldn't understand if I told
you."

"Oh, I didn't know," said Jolland, mollified; "if it's only physic you
want."

"Whatever it is," said Paul, not caring to undeceive him, "it won't
affect you or anyone here, but myself. You're not a bad young fellow, I
believe. I don't want to get you into trouble, sir; you don't want much
assistance, I'm afraid, in that department. So be off, like a good
fellow, and leave me in peace."

All these interviews had taken time. He was alarmed on looking at the
clock to see that