id their case before him. He,
as is usual with gentlemen of his type, said it was very hard and
unjust, and they would do quite right in resisting and defying everybody
all round. But he did not offer to go instead of them to the doctor, so
that his general observations on the situation were not particularly
comforting.

Arthur proposed telegraphing to Railsford something in this form:

"Ainger says Smiley's against rules. Wire him you allow."

But when the form was filled up and ready to send, the chance of it
succeeding seemed hardly worth the cost.

Finally they went down sadly after tea to the school farm and hired a
kennel, and arranged for the board and lodging of their exiled pets at
so much a week.

Next morning, in doleful dumps, they presented themselves before the
doctor. Arthur could hardly help remembering how, a short time ago, he
had pictured himself standing in that very room, demanding the hand of
Miss Violet. Now, Smiley minor, squeaking and grunting, as he hung by
his one tooth to his mother's tail, down there in the school farm, was
worth half a dozen Miss Violets to him.

And his once expected uncle--!

The doctor dealt shortly and decisively with the miscreants. He caned
them for defying their house-captain, and reprimanded them for imagining
that dogs could be permitted under the school roof.

On being told that Mr Railsford had known all about Smiley last term,
he declined to argue the matter, and concluded by a warning of the
possible consequences of a repetition of the offence.

They went back to their place, sore both in body and mind. To be caned
during the first week of the term was not quite in accordance with their
good resolutions, and to be bereft of the Smileys was a cruel outrage on
their natural affections. They owed both to Ainger, and mutually
resolved that he was a cad of the lowest description. For all that they
attended to his injunctions for the next few days with wonderful
punctuality, and decided to defer, till Railsford's return, their own
revenge and his consequent confusion.

Altogether, it was getting to be time for Railsford to turn up. The
evening before, the first master's session for the term had been held,
and the doctor, for a wonder, had been present. Towards the end of the
meeting, after the discussion of a great deal of general business, Mr
Bickers rose and asked leave to make a statement. The reader can guess
what that statement was.

He