The Doctor did not care to put a direct question to Tom on the matter that was perplexing him. He hoped to draw him out by more indirect means. But he was mistaken if he ever expected it, for Tom, with the perversity of a fellow who _will_ take everything that is said as a rebuke to himself, showed no inclination to follow the lead. The Doctor had, therefore, to ask outright. "What dreadful crime has he committed, Tom, to be treated so severely?" "I don't want to treat him severely," said Tom. "Tom," said the Doctor, half angrily, "you are very foolish. I was not referring to you particularly, but to the whole school." Tom sulked at this more than ever. _He_ wasn't going to be called foolish. The Doctor, however, tried once more. "What has he done to offend you all? Has he missed a catch at cricket, or a kick at football? I hope, whatever it is--" "It isn't me!" once more growled Tom, heartily wishing the meal was over. The Doctor gave it up as a bad job. There was no use trying to get a rise out of Tom. If that ingenuous youth had been trying to shield his Form, he could not have done it better. As it was, he was only stupidly trying to shield himself, and letting his dread of his "Doctor" father get the better of his common sense and good manners. Luckily for Tom, a friend wrote to invite him to spend the last week of the holidays in London, an invitation which that youth, as well as his parent for him, thankfully accepted. Indeed, during the holidays Mrs Senior became so ill that the poor Doctor had no thoughts to spare for anybody or anything but her and her hope of recovery. He watched her night and day through all the vicissitudes of her fever, and when at last the crisis was over, and the doctors said she would recover, they said also that unless Dr Senior wanted to have an illness himself he must go away and get perfect rest and change for a week or two at the very least. The consequence of all this was that Saint Dominic's had to reassemble after the Christmas holidays without the Doctor. To some of the boys this was sorrowful news; others regarded the circumstance with indifference, while one section there was who received the intelligence with positive joy. Strange that that section should contain in it two such opposites as Loman of the Sixth and Bramble of the Fourth Junior. Loman, despite his "run of luck," had spent an uneasy holiday. He had been in constant terror of seeing Cripps every time he ventured outside his house; and he had been in still more terror of Cripps calling up at Saint Dominic's and telling the Doctor all about him directly after the holidays. For now Loman's time was up. Though he had in one way and another paid off all his debt to the landlord of the Cockchafer but eight pounds, still he knew Cripps could make himself quite as unpleasant about eight pounds as about thirty pounds, and probably would.