of them the best in the school. But
just because they are in some ways pretty mature, don't be--don't be
self-effacing."

"I understand," said Irving. He sat on the edge of his chair, and
crumpled his handkerchief nervously in his hands. And all the time--with
his singular clearness of intuition--he was aware of the doubt and
distrust passing through Dr. Davenport's mind.

"Don't be afraid of the boys or show embarrassment or discomfort before
them," continued Dr. Davenport, "and on the other hand don't try to
cultivate dignity by being cold and austere. Be natural with them--but
always be the master.--There!" he broke off, smiling, for he saw that
Irving looked worried and seemed to be taking all this as personal
criticism--"that's the talk that I always give to a new master; and now
I'm done. Here is a printed copy of the rules and regulations which I
advise you to study; you must try to familiarize yourself with our
customs before any of the boys arrive. To-morrow the new boys will come,
and you will report for duty at the Gymnasium, where the entrance
examinations will be held. You will find your room in the Sixth Form
dormitory, at the Upper School. I hope you will like the life here, Mr.
Upton--and I wish you every possible success in it."

The rector gave him an encouraging handshake and another friendly smile.
But Irving departed feeling depressed and afraid. He had seen that the
rector was disappointed in him--in his appearance, in his manner. And
the rector's little speech had given him the clue. Until now, he had not
much considered how large a part of his work would be in the management
and the discipline of the boys; the mere teaching of them was what had
been in his mind, and for that he felt perfectly competent. In college,
that was all that the tutoring, in which he had been so successful,
meant. But, confronted by the necessity of establishing and maintaining
friendly human relations with a lot of strange boys, Irving for the
first time questioned his qualifications, realizing that the rector too
was questioning them.

He became more cheerful the next day, when the new boys began to arrive
and he found himself at once with work to do. He had mastered pretty
thoroughly the names of the buildings and the geography of the place,
and it was rather pleasant to be able to give information and directions
to those younger and more ignorant than himself.

It was pleasant, too, to have one mother who was wa