sition of parent, I honestly declare
that if I did my duty by you, I should get a cane or a rod, and flog you
all severely, but--"

"May I come in?" said a pleasant voice, and the door was slightly
opened.

"Yes, my dear. No! engaged. What is it?"

"That lady and gentleman have driven over from Rye about their sons,"
said Mrs Doctor, coming right in; "and--Oh, my dears! what have you
been doing?"

"There, there, Matilda!" cried the Doctor hastily. "Go back! I'll come
in a few minutes;" and he hurried the pleasant old lady out of the room,
before turning to us.

"There! you see," he cried,--"you see the effect your appearance has
upon one who always takes the greatest of interest in you, and, er--Mr
Rebble, I feel disposed to be lenient this time, as the boys have pretty
well punished themselves. I leave it to you. Moderate impositions.
There, go at once and shut yourselves up in your dormitories. No, more
fighting, mind, or I shall be as severe as the sternest tyrant you read
of in your classic studies."

He hurried out of the library, and the ushers took us all into custody
again, and led us out into the playground.

"There!" said Mr Rebble; "you heard the Doctor's orders. Go to your
rooms. Not you, Hodson. Come to my desk, and I'll set your imposition
at once. Nice and easily you have got off. You can come down to-morrow
morning, I suppose."

The two masters went off with Hodson, and we four made our way to the
back staircase so hurriedly, that we nearly wedged ourselves at the
foot, with the result that we were once more face to face, Mercer and I
against Burr major and Dicksee, as in the fight.

I felt shocked now and more sorry than ever for Burr major, as I fully
realised how terribly I had knocked him about. My hand twitched, and I
was about to raise it, and offer to shake hands, or say something about
being sorry; but he checked it at once by giving me a virulent look, and
saying,--

"Wait a bit; I'll pay you out for all this," and, thrusting me aside, he
sent me staggering against the wall, and rushed up-stairs, but only to
trip and fall sprawling.

"Serve you right," cried Dicksee. "Yah!" Then, turning to us, he held
out his hand. "Here, I'll be friends with you both."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

Nearly a week had gone by before I saw Lomax, and of course there had
been no more riding lessons. Mr Rebble had given us our impositions,
and we had taken our punishment patiently enough,