aid the Colonel
stiffly. "I did mean to ask your permission for them to dine with me
once more; but after this morning's meeting I shall not do so. We
mustn't interfere with the discipline of the school boys," he said.
"To-morrow morning I return to town, and probably I shall not see you
again for a couple of months. Good-morning, Doctor; good-morning.--You
will see me to the door, boys?"

The Doctor smiled and bowed, and the two lads walked past Wrench and
then down with the Colonel to the Doctor's gate, where he stood for a
few minutes talking.

"That fellow civil and attentive?" he said, giving his Malacca cane a
wave in the direction of Wrench.

"Yes, father; very nice and obliging."

"Give him that," said the Colonel, slipping a crown-piece into his son's
hand; "and, let's see; you get your month's allowance regularly. Not
overrunning the constable, I hope--not getting into debt?"

The boys shook their heads, and after a few words more the Colonel
marched off, erect and soldierly, while the boys rather slowly and
unwillingly returned to their room to give a finishing touch or two to
their rather hasty morning toilet.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THE PROFESSOR MAKES A REQUEST.

Morris, being off duty, as he termed it, walked down the road to clear
his head a little of mathematical calculations, as well as to devise an
examination paper intended for the improvement of his pupils; not that
he looked upon it in that light, for as soon as he had mentally got it
into shape, ready for committing to paper, he laughed to himself and
rubbed his white hands over and over again in his intense satisfaction.

"That will puzzle their brains," he said maliciously. "That will give
some of them a headache;" and as he spoke, on his way back, he suddenly
awakened to the fact that he was just coming to the damaged hedge, where
a couple of men were for the second time, by Ramball's orders,
restaking, half-cutting through, and bending down for interlacing
purposes sturdy old growths of hawthorn.

The next moment he was conscious of the fact that Professor Barclay, who
looked particularly neat, refined, and clean, was coming up to him with
a most friendly smile and with extended hand.

The Professor was clean-shaven, wore his hair cut very short, and from
his hat to his boots he was spotless; but somehow or other there was a
suggestion that the profession of Sanskrit did not result in the
possession of wealth, for the Profe