l and
seated themselves at their desks; the members of the Sixth Form, who
were privileged to study in their rooms and therefore had no desks in
the schoolroom, occupied the stalls along the wall under the big clock.
Last of all the rector entered and, mounting the platform, read the
"reports" for the day--that is, the names of those who had transgressed
and the penalties imposed. After the reading, the Sixth Form went
upstairs to their Latin class with Mr. Barclay, and the day's work
began.

On the morning following his encounters with Westby and with
Collingwood, Irving as usual took charge of the Study. The boys
assembled; Irving rang the bell, reducing them to quiet; Dr. Davenport
came in, mounted the platform, and took up the report book--in which
Irving had just finished transcribing his entries.

Dr. Davenport began reading in his clear, emphatic voice, "Out of
bounds, Mason, Sterrett, Coyle, one sheet; late to study, Hart,
McQuiston, Durfee, Stratton, Kane, half a sheet; tardy to breakfast--"
and so on. None of the offenses were very serious; and the rector read
them out rapidly. But at last he paused a moment; and then, looking up
from the book, he said, with grave distinctness, "Disorderly in class
and insolent, Westby, three sheets; disorderly in dormitory and
insolent, Collingwood, three sheets."

He closed the book; a stir, a thrill of interest, ran round the room.
For a Sixth Former to be charged with such offenses and condemned to
such punishment was rare: for Collingwood, who was in a sense the leader
of the school, to be so charged and punished was unprecedented.

Collingwood, sitting directly under the clock, and facing so many
curious questioning eyes, turned red; Westby, standing by the door,
looked at him and smiled. At the same time, Dr. Davenport, closing the
report-book, leaned towards Irving and said quietly in his ear,--

"Mr. Upton, I should like to see you about those last two
reports--immediately after this study hour."

Irving reddened; the rector's manner was not approving.

Dr. Davenport descended from the platform and walked slowly down the
aisle. As he approached, he looked straight at Westby; and Westby
returned the look steadily--as if he was ashamed of nothing.

The rector passed through the doorway; the Sixth Form followed; the
day's work began.

CHAPTER V

MASTER TURNS PUPIL

The rector received Irving with a smile. "Well," he said, "I think you
must be a bel