here, where I have been so long,
but--"

"Well, Mr Rampson, what is it? You wish me to increase your stipend?"

"No, sir, I do not; but I don't want to suddenly find myself supplanted
by another master through the machinations of a brother-teacher."

"Don't speak angrily, Mr Rampson. Pray, who has been trying to
supplant you?"

"Well, sir, I am a blunt man, and I have come to speak out. I am afraid
that Morris--why, I know not--has been introducing this Professor
Barclay to you to try to get him in my post."

"Indeed, Mr Rampson!" said the Doctor, with a smile. "Well, then, let
me set you at your ease at once. Morris did not introduce this
gentleman, for he came to me with an introduction from one of the
professors at Addiscombe, a gentleman I do not know from Adam. I find
that he has been for a few months a resident in the town here, where he
is carrying on some study. Morris seems to know him a little, and tells
me that he has visited him two or three times at his apartments. I
questioned him as to who the man was, and his antecedents, which seemed
to be satisfactory. I did so after his presenting his letter of
introduction and some testimonials. I thought that it would be only
civil to ask him to dinner and explain to him that it was perfectly
hopeless for him to expect anything from me; and, in short, one feels a
little sympathetic towards a cultivated gentleman who is seeking to
obtain an appointment in a none-too-well-paid profession. So now you
see, my dear Mr Rampson, that you have not the slightest cause for
uneasiness."

"Dr Bewley," cried Rampson excitedly, "you don't know how you have
relieved my mind!"

"I am very glad, Rampson; and let me take this opportunity of telling
you that--Bless my heart! what is the meaning of this?"

"Of what, sir?" cried Rampson, startled by the speaker's earnestness.

"Look over yonder beyond the elms. Scandalous! Disgraceful! And after
all that I have said! I will not have it, Rampson."

"But, sir, I--"

"Don't you see that there's a fight going on? Just as if it were a
common school. Come with me at once."

The Doctor set aside his stately march and hurried out through the open
window, bare-headed, and closely followed by his assistant.

There, through the elms and close up to the grey park-fence beyond, the
whole school seemed to have assembled, and plainly enough at intervals
there was the quick movement of two contending figures, while the