one hardy junior, quite
mistaking the gravity of the occasion, began a low hiss.

Before the infection could spread the doctor suddenly laid down the
letter, and with a voice of thunder demanded, "Who is that? Stand up,
sir, in your place!"

The luckless form of the youthful Lawkins, pale and scared, rose from a
back bench.

"Leave the room, sir!" said the doctor, wrathfully, "and write out your
imposition double, and come to me after third school!"

Poor Lawkins retired, and the assembly, being warned by his awful
example, heard the doctor out without further interruption.

"Mr Cheeseman writes as follows:--

"`Dear Dr Patrick,--I hope I need no apology for writing to you on a
matter affecting the boys under your charge. A large number of these
young politicians, as you are aware, took a somewhat active part in the
recent election, in which it was not my good fortune to be their
favourite candidate. I understand that their crusade into the town was
not only without your permission, but in direct opposition to your
wishes; and I conclude, that being so, the offenders have merited the
punishment due for such escapades. The election, as you know, is now
decided, and I am anxious that one of my first acts in my new capacity
should be one of intercession with you to take as lenient a view as you
can of this schoolboy freak; and if you should find it consistent with
your duty to remit any penalty that may have been inflicted, I shall be
as grateful to you as no doubt your boys will be.'

"`I am, dear doctor,'

"`Yours faithfully,'

"`A. Cheeseman.'"

The doctor laid down the letter amidst ominous silence, which even the
feeble cheers of Bosher, Brown, and a few others barely disturbed.

"In consideration of this generous letter," he continued, "I have
decided to remit the impositions I gave on Saturday, and also to
withdraw the prohibition about the half-holiday. The matter of the
monitors I cannot reconsider. I may suggest that, after what has
happened, it would be a graceful act on the part of the boys to send Mr
Cheeseman a letter of thanks, at any rate, if not of apology. You are
now dismissed."

It was quite evident that the majority of the boys were at a loss how to
take this strange and unexpected announcement. True, they hated the
Radicals, but they also hated impositions and detention, and the
probability is that, if left to themselves, they would quietly have
availed themselves of Mr Cheese