he boy."

"Certainly, sir. But he has a very bad record."

"Humph! Tells the truth, though," said the doctor. "Here, sir, what's
your name?"

"Obed Coleby."

"_Sir_!" cried the master.

"Obed Coleby, _sir_," said the boy quickly, correcting himself.

"What a name!" ejaculated the doctor.

"Yes, ain't it? I hates it, sir."

"Oh! you do?"

"Yes; the boys all make fun of it, and call me Bed, and Go-to-bed, and
Old Bedstead, and when they don't do that, they always call me Old Coal
bag or Coaly."

"That will do, sir. Don't chatter so," said Mr Sibery reprovingly.

"Please, sir, he asked me," said the boy in protest; and there was a
frank, bluff manner in his speech which took with the doctor.

"Humph!" he said. "Would you like to leave this place, and come and
live with me!"

The boy puckered up his face, took a step forward, and the master made a
movement as if to send him back; but the doctor laid his hand upon his
arm, while the boy gazed into his eyes for some moments with wonderfully
searching intentness.

"Well?" said the doctor. "Will you?"

The boy's face smoothed; a bright light danced in his eyes; and, as if
full of confidence in his own judgment, he said eagerly--

"Yes; come along;" and he held out his hand.

"And leave all your schoolfellows!" said the doctor.

The boy's bright face clouded directly, and he turned to gaze back at
the crowd of closely cropped heads.

"He'll be glad enough to go," said the schoolmaster.

"Yes," said Mr Hippetts; "a most ungrateful boy."

The little fellow--stunted of his age--swung sharply round; and they saw
that his eyes were brimming over as he looked reproachfully from one to
the other.

"I didn't want to be a bad un, sir," he said. "I did try, and--and--
and--I'll stop here, please, and--"

He could say no more, for his face was working, and, at last, in shame
and agony of spirit, he covered his face with his hands, and let himself
drop in a heap on the stone floor, sobbing hysterically.

"Coleby! Stand up, sir!" cried the master sternly.

"Let him be, Mr Hippetts, if you please," said the doctor, with
dignity; and he drew in a long breath, and remained for some moments
silent, while the whole school stared with wondering eyes, and the two
masters exchanged glances.

"Strange boy," said Mr Hippetts.

Then the doctor bent down slowly, and laid his hand upon the lad's
shoulder.

The little fellow started up, flinching as if from a