"It's a painful thing to occur in a school," observed the Doctor after a pause. "Most unfortunate," agreed Paul, coughing. "So apt to lead persons who are not acquainted with the facts to imagine that the boy was unhappy under my care," continued the Doctor. "In this case, I assure you, I have no doubts," protested Paul with politeness and (seldom a possible combination) perfect truth. "Very kind of you to say so; really, it's a great mystery to me. I certainly, as I felt it my duty to inform you at the time, came very near inflicting corporal punishment upon him this morning--very near. But then he was pardoned on your intercession; and, besides, the boy would never have run away for fear of a flogging." "Oh, no, perfectly absurd!" agreed Paul again. "Such a merry, high-spirited lad, too," said the Doctor, sincerely enough; "popular with his schoolfellows; a favourite (in spite of his faults) with his teachers." "No, was he though?" said Paul with more surprise, for he had not been fortunate enough to reap much vicarious benefit from his son's popularity, as he could not help remembering. "All this, added to the comforts (or, may I say, the luxuries?) he enjoyed under my supervision, does make it seem very strange and ungrateful in the boy to take this sudden and ill-considered step." "Very, indeed; but do you know, Dr. Grimstone, I can't help thinking--and pray do not misunderstand me if I speak plainly--that, perhaps, he had reasons for being unhappy you can have no idea of?" "He would have found me ready to hear any complaints and prompt to redress them, sir," said the Doctor. "But, now I think of it, he certainly did appear to have something on his mind which he wished to tell me; but his manner was so strange and he so persistently refused to come to the point, that I was forced to discourage him at last." "You did discourage him, indeed!" said Paul inwardly, thinking of those attempted confidences with a shudder. "Perhaps some of his schoolfellows may have--eh?" he said aloud. "My dear sir," exclaimed the Doctor, "quite out of the question!" "Do you think so?" said Paul, not being able to resist the suggestion. "And yet, do you know, some of them did not appear to me to look very--very good-natured, now." "A more manly, pleasant, and gentlemanly set of youths never breathed!" said the Doctor, taking up the cudgels for his boys, and, to do him justice, probably with full measure of belief in his statement. "Curious now that they should have struck you so differently!" "They certainly did strike me very differently," said Paul. "But I may be mistaken." "You are, my dear sir. And, pardon me, but you had no opportunity of testing your opinion." "Oh, pardon me," retorted Paul grimly, "I had indeed!"