ally that he was preparing
his sermon for the Sunday. Such, no doubt, might be the case now; but
there was a feeling among the boys that he was kept away by some other
reason. It was known that during the hour of morning school Mr. Peacocke
had been occupied with that uncouth stranger, and some of the boys might
have observed that the uncouth stranger had not taken himself altogether
away from the premises. There was at any rate a general feeling that the
uncouth stranger had something to do with the Doctor's absence.

Mr. Peacocke did his best to go on with the work as though nothing had
occurred to disturb the usual tenor of his way, and as far as the boys
were aware he succeeded. He was just as clear about his Greek verbs, just
as incisive about that passage of Caesar, as he would have been had Colonel
Lefroy remained on the other side of the water. But during the whole time
he was exercising his mind in that painful process of thinking of two
things at once. He was determined that Caesar should be uppermost; but it
may be doubted whether he succeeded. At that very moment Colonel Lefroy
might be telling the Doctor that his Ella was in truth the wife of another
man. At that moment the Doctor might be deciding in his anger that the
sinful and deceitful man should no longer be "officer of his." The
hour was too important to him to leave his mind at his own disposal.
Nevertheless he did his best. "Clifford, junior," he said, "I shall never
make you understand what Caesar says here or elsewhere if you do not give
your entire mind to Caesar."

"I do give my entire mind to Caesar," said Clifford, junior.

"Very well; now go on and try again. But remember that Caesar wants all
your mind." As he said this he was revolving in his own mind how he would
face the Doctor when the Doctor should look at him in his wrath. If the
Doctor were in any degree harsh with him, he would hold his own against
the Doctor as far as the personal contest might go. At twelve the boys
went out for an hour before their dinner, and Lord Carstairs asked him to
play a game of rackets.

"Not to-day, my Lord," he said.

"Is anything wrong with you?"

"Yes, something is very wrong." They had strolled out of the building,
and were walking up and down the gravel terrace in front when this was
said.

"I knew something was wrong, because you called me my Lord."

"Yes, something is so wrong as to alter for me all the ordinary ways of my