iable expression of countenance that he looked up, and with
something of a start became aware of the master's presence.

"Sit still, Haviland," said the latter kindly, strolling over to the
desks. "Have you nearly done your imposition?"

"I've done it quite, sir, but you can always reckon on having to do a
third of it over again when it's for the Doctor," he added with intense
bitterness.

"Look here, you mustn't talk like that," rejoined Mr Sefton briskly,
but there was a kindliness underlying his sharp tones which the other's
ear was quick to perceive. They were great friends these two, and many
an informal chat had they had together. It involved no favouritism
either. Let Haviland break any rule, accidentally or not, within Mr
Sefton's jurisdiction, and the imposition entailed was not one line
shorter than that set to anybody else under like circumstances, as he
had reason to know by experience. Yet that made no difference in his
regard for this particular master.

"Well, it's hard luck all the same, sir," he now replied. "However,
this time I've got off cheap with only a couple of hundred over again.
But it has done me out of this afternoon."

Mr Sefton had hoisted himself on to one of the long desks and sat
swinging his legs and his stick.

"What d'you think?" he said. "I've caught half a dozen fellows bathing
just now. The new boy Anthony was among 'em. And he'd nearly drowned
Jarnley--the beggar! What d'you think of that?"

"What, sir? Nearly drowned him?"

"I should think so," pursued the master, chuckling with glee. "Jarnley
lay there gasping like a newly caught fish. It seems he'd been trying
to duck Cetchy, and Cetchy ducked him instead. Nearly drowned him too.
Ha--ha!"

Haviland roared too.

"That chap'll be able to take care of himself, I believe, sir," he said.
"I need hardly have smacked Jarnley's head for bullying him the other
day."

"I know you did," said the other dryly, causing Haviland to stop short
with a half grin, as he reflected how precious little went on in the
school that Sefton didn't know.

"Well, he's got four hundred lines to get through now," went on the
latter. "I let Cetchy off with a hundred."

"I expect the other fellows made him go with them, sir," said Haviland.
"And he's hardly been here a week yet."

"If I let him off them, the other fellows'll take it out of him," said
Mr Sefton, who understood the drift of this remark.

"They'll do that anyhow