Whether Mr. Chowdler felt any secret misgivings, it is impossible to say. Probably not. By dint of always speaking of “the empty one” he had persuaded himself that Mr. Flaggon was essentially a weak, unmeritable man who was aping the despot. Besides, Mr. Chowdler was not an adept at self-criticism, and was quite incapable of looking at himself from the outside. Presumably, therefore, he regarded his display of temper as an outburst of passionate but righteousness indignation, a kind of prophetic “Thus saith the Lord.” And, as the day ended without further incident, he may have thought, with Mr. Rankin, that the man Flaggon was “downed.” But, on the morrow, two things happened which brought him face to face with some very unpleasant facts. At first lesson a notice came round to say that in future, on Sunday afternoons, there would be preparation in houses at 4.30 o’clock; and, later on in the morning, he received a letter from the headmaster couched in the following terms: DEAR MR. CHOWDLER, I have put off writing till to-day in the hope that some word from you would enable me to take a course different from the one which the events of yesterday and your subsequent silence compel me to pursue. I hope that I shall never fear honest and outspoken criticism. But there are decencies to be observed without which a headmaster’s position becomes impossible; and your behaviour to myself yesterday leaves me no alternative but to assume that you intended deliberately to challenge my authority as headmaster. It is with a grave sense of responsibility and in no vindictive spirit that I feel obliged to request you to send in your resignation, to take effect at the end of the present Term. Yours faithfully, S. E. FLAGGON. The first effect of this letter on Mr. Chowdler was to make him feel as if the solid ground were crumbling away beneath him; but, the next moment, his combative spirit reasserted itself, and, dashing to his writing-table, he scribbled off what he afterwards described as “a calm and dignified reply.” SIR, I think we may speak to each other in plain English. What you are pleased to call a request for my resignation, _I_ call a notice of dismissal. I shall therefore exercise my right of appeal (see “Statutes,” p. 131, Schedule D, Clause 4). The Council must decide between us. Yours, etc., H. CHOWDLER. Mr. Flaggon verified the reference and found that, by an old and unrepealed regulation, Mr. Chowdler had indeed the right of appeal to the Council against dismissal. He therefore sent the following note: DEAR MR. CHOWDLER,