" This last relapse into duty was caused by the
sudden entrance of the Doctor, who stood at the door looking on for some
time with a general air of being intimately acquainted with Schiller as
an author, before suggesting graciously that it was time to dismiss the
class.

Wednesday was a half-holiday at Crichton House, and so, soon after
dinner, Paul found himself marshalled with the rest in a procession
bound for the football field. They marched two and two, Chawner and
three of the other elder boys leading with the ball and four goal-posts
ornamented with coloured calico flags, and Mr. Blinkhorn and Mr. Tinkler
bringing up the rear.

Mr. Bultitude was paired with Tom Grimstone, who, after eyeing him
askance for some time, could control his curiosity no longer.

"I say, Dick," he began, "what's the matter with you this term?"

"My name is not Dick," said Paul stiffly.

"Oh, if you're so particular then," said Tom: "but, without humbug, what
is the matter?"

"You see a change then," said Paul, "you do see a difference, eh?"

"Rather!" said Tom expressively. "You've come back what I call a beastly
sneak, you know, this term. The other fellows don't like it; they'll
send you to Coventry unless you take care."

"I wish they would," said Paul.

"You don't talk like the same fellow either," continued Tom; "you use
such fine language, and you're always in a bait, and yet you don't stick
up for yourself as you used to. Look here, tell me (we were always
chums), is it one of your larks?"

"Larks!" said Paul. "I'm in a fine mood for larks. No, it's not one of
my larks."

"Perhaps your old governor has been making a cad of himself then, and
you're out of sorts about it."

"I'll thank you not to speak about him in that way," said Paul, "in my
presence."

"Why," grumbled Tom, "I'm sure you said enough about him yourself last
term. It's my belief you're imitating him now."

"Ah," said Paul, "and what makes you think that?"

"Why, you go about strutting and swelling just like he did when he came
about sending you here. I say, do you know what Mums said about him
after he went away?"

"No," said Paul, "your mother struck me as a very, sensible and
agreeable woman--if I may say so to her son."

"Well, Mums said your governor seemed to leave you here just like they
leave umbrellas at picture galleries, and she believed he had a
large-sized money-bag inside him instead of a heart."

"Oh!" said Paul, with great dis