oubts whether your offence can be expiated by a mere flogging--whether
that is not altogether too light a retribution."

"He can't want to _torture_ me," thought Paul.

"Yes," said the Doctor again, "the doubt has prevailed. On a mind so
hardened the cane would leave no lasting impression. I cannot allow your
innocent companions to run the risk of contamination from your society.
I must not permit this serpent to glide uncrushed, this cockatrice to
practise his epistolary wiles, within my peaceful fold. My mind is made
up--at whatever cost to myself--however it may distress and grieve your
good father, who is so pathetically anxious for you to do him credit,
sir. I must do my duty to the parents of the boys entrusted to my care.
I shall not flog you, sir, for I feel it would be useless. I shall expel
you."

"What!" Paul leaped up incredulous. "Expel me? Do I hear you aright, Dr.
Grimstone? Say it again--you will expel me?"

"I have said it," the Doctor said sternly; "no expostulations can move
me now" (as if Mr. Bultitude was likely to expostulate!) "Mrs. Grimstone
will see that your boxes are packed the first thing to-morrow morning,
and I shall take you myself to the station and consign you to the home
you have covered with blushes and shame, by the 9.15 train, and I shall
write a letter to-night explaining the causes for your dismissal."

Mr. Bultitude covered his face with his hands, to hide, not his shame
and distress, but his indecent rapture. It seemed almost too good to be
true! He saw himself about to be provided with every means of reaching
home in comfort and safety. He need dread no pursuit now. There was no
chance, either, of his being forced to return to the prison-house--the
Doctor's letter would convince even Dick of the impossibility of that.
And, best of all, this magnificent stroke of good luck had been obtained
without the ignominy and pain of a flogging, without even the unpleasant
necessity of telling his strange secret.

But (having gained some experience during his short stay at the school)
he had the duplicity to pretend to sob bitterly.

"But one night more, sir," continued the Doctor, "shall you pass beneath
this roof, and that apart from your fellows. You will occupy the spare
bedroom until the morning, when you quit the school in disgrace--for
ever."

I said in another chapter that this Sunday would find Paul, at its
close, after a trying course of emotions, in a state of delicious