like two currants, and a face like a bun.

Bunce made a bow like a scoop upside down.

"Another excellent boy, sir," said Mr Hippetts. "I haven't a fault to
find with him. He is now twelve years old, and he--"

"Won't do," said the doctor crossly.

"Go back, Bunce," cried the master. "Pillett, stand out. Now here,
sir, is a lad whom I am sure you will like. Writes a hand like
copperplate. Age thirteen, and very intelligent."

Pillett came forward eagerly, after darting a triumphant look at Coggley
and Bunce. He was a wooden-faced boy, who seemed to have hard brains
and a soft head, for his forehead looked nubbly, and there were rounded
off corners at the sides.

"Let Dr Grayson hear you say--"

"No, no, Hippetts; this is not an examination," cried the doctor
testily. "That is not the sort of boy I want. He must be a bright,
intelligent lad, whom I can adopt and take into my house. I shall treat
him exactly as if he were my own son, and if he is a good lad, it will
be the making of him."

"Oh! I see, sir," said Mr Hippetts importantly. "Go back, Pillett. I
have the very boy. Gloog!"

Pillett went back, and furtively held up his fist at triumphant Gloog,
who came out panting as if he had just been running fast, and as soon as
he had made the regulation bow, he, from old force of habit, wiped his
nose on his cuff.

"No, no, no, no," cried the doctor, without giving the lad a second
glance, the first at his low, narrow forehead and cunning cast of
features being quite enough.

"But this is an admirably behaved boy, sir," protested Mr Hippetts.
"Mr Sibery here can speak very highly of his qualifications."

"Oh yes, sir," put in the schoolmaster with a severe smile and a distant
bow, for he felt annoyed at not being consulted.

"Yes, yes," said the doctor; "but not my style of boy."

"Might I suggest one, sir!" said Mr Sibery deferentially, as he glanced
at the king who reigned over the whole building.

"To be sure," said the doctor. "You try."

Mr Hippetts frowned, and Mr Sibery wished he had not spoken; but the
dark look on the master's brow gave place to an air of triumph as the
schoolmaster introduced seven boys, one after the other, to all of whom
the visitor gave a decided negative.

"Seems a strange thing," he said, "that out of three hundred boys you
cannot show one I like."

"But all these are excellent lads, sir," said the master deprecatingly.

"Humph!"

"Best of characters.