ilks," pursued he, "expressed deep contrition for what he had done,
and wished, when leaving, that the school should know of his shame and
sorrow. He left here a softened and, I hope, a changed boy; and I feel
sure this appeal to the generosity of his old schoolfellows will secure
for him what he most desires--your forgiveness."

There was a silence, and every face was grave, as the doctor concluded,
"I wish I could say as much of his companion, and I fear, leader in
wrong--Silk."

There was another start, but less of surprise than assent this time.
For when Gilks had been named as one culprit every one knew the name of
the other.

"I have no message for you from him," said the doctor, with a voice in
which a faint tremble was discernible; "but on his behalf we may at
least hope that in new scenes, and under more favourable conditions, he
may be able to recover the character he lost here. An event like this
carries its own lesson. Do not be too ready to blame them, but let
their example be humbly taken by each one of you as a warning against
the first approach of temptation, from which none of us is free, and
which by God's help only can any of us hope ever to resist or overcome."

The doctor's words did not fail to make a deep impression on those
present. There were not a few whose consciences told them that after
all the difference between them and the expelled boys was not very
great, and it had needed a warning like this to arouse them.

The rest of the day a subdued atmosphere hung over Willoughby. A good
many boys thought more than was their wont, and even the noisiest shrunk
from indulging their high spirits to their customary extent.

But the chief feeling that day was one of relief. Not that two bad boys
had been expelled, but because the hateful boat-race mystery had been
finally cleared up, and with it the reproach on the honour of Willoughby
had been removed. As long as it had hung like a black cloud over the
term, boys had lacked spirit and encouragement to rally for the good of
the school. House had been divided against house, set against set,
captain against captain, and the order and discipline of the school had
gone down to a miserable pitch.

Against all these opposing influences the new captain, as we have seen,
had struggled gallantly, and not wholly without success; but even his
influence could not disperse all the suspicions, and heartburnings, and
jealousies that centred round that