unt. Yet the sight of him brought back
to Harry's mind the recollection of all that had occurred at school on
the last occasion he had seen William's obese person. The crib found
in his desk, the fight, the caning, and then--then, back came the
recollection that he was indeed alone.

"Good-bye, my dear, good-bye," said Mrs Valentine; "be sure you come
and see me when you can. Papa'll be home soon, maybe," though she
feared she was but holding out false hopes in this.

"There, that'll do, missis," said William, interrupting the moist
embraces of the good farmer's wife; and he flicked the fat pony across
his sleek shoulder; and, with Harry and his boxes, was soon away down
the lane, Mrs Valentine gazing after them, her long print apron at her
eyes.

"Just like his father, dear boy, as brave and composed like. But 'tis
harder a'most for all that." And who would say that her moralising was
wrong?

As a special favour, and "in consideration of his late deplorable
affliction," as Miss Parker, the matron, phrased it, Harry was to have
his tea in Doctor Palmer's study that night, a favour Harry by no means
saw in the light intended. He would far rather have had his tea with
the rest; though, for the matter of that, he didn't want any tea at
all. He was too miserable to eat. But his face was quiet and composed
when he reached Doctor Palmer's hall, and was ushered into the study.

The tea was all ready,--two cups, two saucers, two plates,--so Harry
was prepared for a _tete-a-tete_ with the Doctor. Everything looked
very nice and tempting, at least, it would have looked so on any other
occasion; but now there was that numerical horror staring him in the
face; those two cups, those two saucers, those two plates! It must be
for Doctor Palmer and himself that all the preparations were made. But
he was not left long in doubt, for, at that moment, the Doctor entered.
He greeted Harry most kindly, and told him to take a seat at the table,
which Harry did in silence; and then the Doctor poured out a cup of tea
for him, and helped him to some cold meat. Harry watching every motion
the while; and then, taking a cup for himself, drank it standing.

Harry hated all this kindness. He would almost have preferred angry
words; but he ate what he had, and enjoyed it, though he said nothing
more than "yes," or "no, thank you," or "please," to the Doctor's
various remarks.

It was becoming unbearable, and he longed for the dist