o the school-yard. Of this door the rule was that the Doctor and
the gardener should have the only two keys; but the rule may be said to
have become quite obsolete, as the door was never locked. Sometimes the
bigger boys would come through unasked,--perhaps in search of a game of
lawn-tennis with Miss Wortle, perhaps to ask some favour of Mrs. Wortle,
who always was delighted to welcome them, perhaps even to seek the Doctor
himself, who never on such occasions would ask how it came to pass that
they were on that side of the wall. Sometimes Mrs. Wortle would send her
housekeeper through for some of the little boys. It would then be a good
time for the little boys. But this would generally be during the Doctor's
absence.

Here, on the school side of the wall, there was a separate establishment
of servants, and a separate kitchen. There was no sending backwards or
forwards of food or of clothes,--unless it might be when some special
delicacy was sent in if a boy were unwell. For these no extra charge was
ever made, as had been done in the case of young Stantiloup. Then a
strange doctor had come, and had ordered the wine and the carriage. There
was no extra charge for the kindly glasses of wine which used to be
administered in quite sufficient plenty.

Behind the school, and running down to the little river Pin, there is a
spacious cricket-ground, and a court marked out for lawn-tennis. Up close
to the school is a racket-court. No doubt a good deal was done to make
the externals of the place alluring to those parents who love to think
that their boys shall be made happy at school. Attached to the school,
forming part of the building, is a pleasant, well-built residence, with
six or eight rooms, intended for the senior or classical assistant-master.
It had been the Doctor's scheme to find a married gentleman to occupy this
house, whose wife should receive a separate salary for looking after the
linen and acting as matron to the school,--doing what his wife did till he
became successful,--while the husband should be in orders and take part of
the church duties as a second curate. But there had been a difficulty in
this.

CHAPTER II.

THE NEW USHER.

THE Doctor had found it difficult to carry out the scheme described in the
last chapter. They indeed who know anything of such matters will be
inclined to call it Utopian, and to say that one so wise in worldly
matters as our schoolmaster should not have att