ed lightly
in a more than usually well-filled ink-well, the result being an inky
trail, which, however, dried rapidly in the warm theatre, and was not
likely to excite notice upon unpainted desk-lids which were dotted with
the blots and smudges made by hundreds of boys.

But sometimes great discoveries come from very small things, and
Wrench's Tom played his part in one of the little comedies of life,
those of Terence and Plautus not being intended here.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

SOMETHING UNPLEASANT.

The examination-days were not looked forward to with joy by Dr Bewley's
pupils; and, sad to say, Morris's days were liked least. In fact, his
was the only joyous countenance upon the morning after he had prepared
the theatre, when he glanced round at the heavy expressions that
pervaded the breakfast-tables. But possibly the most severe face in the
room that morning was the Doctor's, as he paid his customary visit, and
he took it with him afterwards into the theatre, which he entered
punctually at ten o'clock, when the boys were all assembled in their
places, while the masters were all at their desks, ready under Morris's
leadership to sit out the examination, using their eyes, and making
perfectly certain that no pupil whispered a question, furtively passed a
piece of paper to another, or dipped down into his desk in search of a
so-called helping "crib."

To use the schoolboy phrase popular at Plymborough--"What was up?"

The Doctor rose deliberately upon his throne-like place at the end of
the theatre, coughed sonorously, settled his plump chin in his very
stiff white cravat, and then gazed frowningly through his spectacles at
the assembled pupils.

There was silence for quite a couple of minutes, and every boy present
felt that the Doctor was singling him out and was about to speak to him
about the committal of some fault, while internally he asked himself
what it could be.

At last the great brain-ruler put an end to the suspense by addressing
his pupils collectively; and every individual but one drew a breath of
relief.

"Young gentlemen," he said, "in my long career of tuition of the boys
who have been entrusted to my charge it has been my great desire to
inculcate honour."

The three masters glanced at each other, making suggestive grimaces as
if questioning what was to come, and at the same time expressing
ignorance.

"Now, I regret very much to have to tell you that this morning I have
been made