n bullock-carts and palanquins, on
horses and elephants, which stood in the window-recess. It was the very
room to which he had been shown when he first called about sending his
son to the school. He had little thought then that the time would come
when he would attend there for the purpose of being flogged; few things
would have seemed less probable. Yet here he was.

But his train of thought was abruptly broken by the entrance of the
Doctor. He marched solemnly in, holding out the offending missive. "Look
at this, sir!" he said, shaking it angrily before Paul's eyes. "Look at
this! what do you mean by receiving a flippant communication like this
in a sacred edifice? What do you mean by it?"

"I--I didn't receive it," said Paul, at his wits' end.

"Don't prevaricate with me, sir; you know well enough it was intended
for you. Have the goodness to read it now, and tell me what you have to
say for yourself!"

Paul read it. It was a silly little school-girl note, half slang and
half sentiment, signed only with the initials C.D. "Well, sir?" said the
Doctor.

"It's very forward and improper--very," said Paul; "but it's not my
fault--I can't help it. I gave the girl no encouragement. I never saw
her before in all my life!"

"To my own knowledge, Bultitude, she has sat in that pew regularly for a
year."

"Very probably," said Paul, "but I don't notice these matters. I'm past
that sort of thing, my dear sir."

"What is her name? Come, sir, you know that."

"Connie Davenant," said Paul, taken unawares by the suddenness of the
question. "At least, I--I heard so to-day." He felt the imprudence of
such an admission as soon as he had made it.

"Very odd that you know her name if you never noticed her before," said
the Doctor.

"That young fellow--what's-his-name--Jolland told me," said Paul.

"Ah, but it's odder still that she knows yours, for I perceive it is
directed to you by name."

"It's easily explained, my dear sir," said Paul; "easily explained. I've
no doubt she's heard it somewhere. At least, I never told her; it is not
likely. I do assure you I'm as much distressed and shocked by this
affair as you can be yourself. I am indeed. I don't know what girls are
coming to nowadays."

"Do you expect me to believe that you are perfectly innocent?" said the
Doctor.

"Yes, I do," said Mr. Bultitude. "I can't prevent fast young ladies from
sending me notes. Why, she might have sent _you_ one!"

"We won't go int