Eachyearbegrewmoremoral，moreefficient，morelearned，moregenial。Sohowcouldhefailtobemoreloving？Hedidnotspeaktohimselfasfollows，becauseheneverspoketohimself;butthefollowingnotionsmovedintherecessesofhismind:"Itisnotthefireofyouth。ButIamnotsurethatIapproveofthefireofyouth。Lookatmysister！Onceshehassuffered，twiceshehasbeenmostimprudent，andputmetogreatinconveniencebesides，forifshewasstoppingwithmeshewouldhavedonethehousekeeping。Irathersuspectthatitisanobler，riperemotionthatIamlayingatthefeetofMrs。Orr。"Itnevertookhimlongtogetmuddled，ortoreversecauseandeffect。Inashorttimehebelievedthathehadbeenpiningforyears，andonlywaitingforthisgoodfortunetoasktheladytoshareitwithhim。
　　Mrs。Orrwasquiet，clever，kindly，capable，andamusingandtheywereoldacquaintances。Altogetheritwasnotsurprisingthatheshouldaskhertobehiswife，norverysurprisingthatsheshouldrefuse。Butsherefusedwithaviolencethatalarmedthemboth。Heleftherhousedeclaringthathehadbeeninsulted，andshe，assoonasheleft，passedfromdisgustintotears。
　　Hewasmuchannoyed。TherewasacertainMissHerritonwho，thoughfarinferiortoMrs。Orr，wouldhavedoneinsteadofher。
　　Butnowitwasimpossible。HecouldnotgoofferinghimselfaboutSawston。Havingengagedamatronwhohadthereputationforbeingbrightandmotherly，hemovedintoDunwoodHouseandopenedtheMichaelmasterm。Everythingwentwrong。Thecookleft;theboyshadadiseasecalledroseola;Agnes，whowasstilldrunkwithherengagement，wasofnoassistance，butkeptflyinguptoLondontopushRickie’sfortunes;and，tocrowneverything，thematronwastoobrightandnotmotherlyenough:sheneglectedthelittleboysandwasoverattentivetothebigones。Sheleftabruptly，andthevoiceofMrs。Jacksonarose，prophesyingdisaster。
　　Shouldheavertitbytakingorders？Parentsdonotdemandthatahouse—mastershouldbeaclergyman，yetitreassuresthemwhenheis。Andhewouldhavetotakeorderssometime，ifhehopedforaschoolofhisown。Hisreligiousconvictionswerereadytohand，buthespentseveraluncomfortabledayshuntinguphisreligiousenthusiasms。ItwasnotunlikehisattempttomarryMrs。Orr。Buthispietywasmoregenuine，andthistimehenevercametothepoint。HissenseofdecencyforbadehimhurryingintoaChurchthathereverenced。Moreover，hethoughtofanothersolution:
　　AgnesmustmarryRickieintheChristmasholidays，andtheymustcome，bothofthem，toSawston，sheashousekeeper，heasassistant—master。Thegirlwasagoodworkerwhenonceshewassettleddown;andasforRickie，hecouldeasilybefittedinsomewhereintheschool。Hewasnotagoodclassic，butgoodenoughtotaketheLowerFifth。Hewasnoathlete，butboysmightprofitablynotethathewasaperfectgentlemanallthesame。Hehadnoexperience，buthewouldgainit。Hehadnodecision，buthecouldsimulateit。"Aboveall，"thoughtMr。Pembroke，"itwillbesomethingregularforhimtodo。"Ofcoursethiswasnot"aboveall。"DunwoodHouseheldthatposition。ButMr。Pembrokesooncametothinkthatitwas，andbelievedthathewasplanningforRickie，justashehadbelievedhewaspiningforMrs。Orr。
　　Agnes，whenshegotbackfromthelunchinSoho，wastoldoftheplan。Sherefusedtogiveanyopinionuntilshehadseenherlover。Atelegramwassenttohim，andnextmorninghearrived。
　　Hewasverysusceptibletotheweather，andperhapsitwasunfortunatethatthemorningwasfoggy。HistrainhadbeenstoppedoutsideSawstonStation，andtherehehadsatforhalfanhour，listeningtotheunrealnoisesthatcamefromtheline，andwatchingtheshadowyfiguresthatworkedthere。Thegaswasalightinthegreatdrawing—room，andinitsdepressingraysheandAgnesgreetedeachother，anddiscussedthemostmomentousquestionoftheirlives。Theywantedtobemarried:therewasnodoubtofthat。Theywantedit，bothofthem，dreadfully。Butshouldtheymarryontheseterms？
　　"I’dneverthoughtofsuchathing，yousee。WhenthescholasticagenciessentmecircularsaftertheTripos，Itorethemupatonce。"
　　"Therearetheholidays，"saidAgnes。"Youwouldhavethreemonthsintheyeartoyourself，andyoucoulddoyourwritingthen。"
　　"Butwho’llreadwhatI’vewritten？"andhetoldherabouttheeditorofthe"Holborn。"
　　Shebecameextremelygrave。Atthebottomofherheartshehadalwaysmistrustedthelittlestories，andnowpeoplewhoknewagreedwithher。HowcouldRickie，oranyone，makealivingbypretendingthatGreekgodswerealive，orthatyoungladiescouldvanishintotrees？Asparklingsocietytale，fullofverveandpathos，wouldhavebeenanotherthing，andtheeditormighthavebeenconvincedbyit。
　　"Butwhatdoeshemean？"Rickiewassaying。"Whatdoeshemeanbylife？"
　　"Iknowwhathemeans，butIcan’texactlyexplain。Yououghttoseelife，Rickie。Ithinkhe’srightthere。AndMr。Tilliardwasrightwhenhesaidoneoughtn’ttobeacademic。"
　　Hestoodinthetwilightthatfellfromthewindow，sheinthetwilightofthegas。"IwonderwhatAnsellwouldsay，"hemurmured。
　　"Oh，poorMr。Ansell！"
　　Hewassomewhatsurprised。WhywasAnsellpoor？Itwasthefirsttimetheepithethadbeenappliedtohim。
　　"Buttochangetheconversation，"saidAgnes。
　　"Ifwedidmarry，wemightgettoItalyatEasterandescapethishorriblefog。"
　　"Yes。Perhapsthere——"Perhapslifewouldbethere。HethoughtofRenan，whodeclaresthatontheAcropolisatAthensbeautyandwisdomdoexist，reallyexist，asexternalpowers。Hedidnotaspiretobeautyorwisdom，butheprayedtobedeliveredfromtheshadowofunrealitythathadbeguntodarkentheworld。Foritwasasifsomepowerhadpronouncedagainsthim——asif，bysomeheedlessaction，hehadoffendedanOlympiangod。Likemanyanother，hewonderedwhetherthegodmightbeappeasedbywork——
　　harduncongenialwork。Perhapshehadnotworkedhardenough，orhadenjoyedhisworktoomuch，andforthatreasontheshadowwasfalling。
　　"——Andaboveall，aschoolmasterhaswonderfulopportunitiesfordoinggood;onemustn’tforgetthat。"
　　Todogood！Forwhatotherreasonarewehere？Letusgiveupourrefinedsensations，andourcomforts，andourart，iftherebywecanmakeotherpeoplehappierandbetter。Thewomanhelovedhadurgedhimtodogood！Withavehemencethatsurprisedher，heexclaimed，"I’lldoit。"
　　"Thinkitover，"shecautioned，thoughshewasgreatlypleased。
　　"No;Ithinkoverthingstoomuch。"
　　Theroomgrewbrighter。Aboy’slaughterfloatedin，anditseemedtohimthatpeoplewereasimportantandvividastheyhadbeensixmonthsbefore。ThenhewasatCambridge，idlingintheparsleymeadows，andweavingperishablegarlandsoutofflowers。
　　NowhewasatSawston，preparingtoworkabeneficentmachine。
　　Nomanworksfornothing，andRickietrustedthattohimalsobenefitsmightaccrue;thathiswoundmighthealashelaboured，andhiseyesrecapturetheHolyGrail。
　　XVII
　　InpracticalmattersMr。Pembrokewasoftenagenerousman。HeofferedRickieagoodsalary，andinsistedonpayingAgnesaswell。Andashehousedthemfornothing，andasRickiewouldalsohaveasalaryfromtheschool，themoneyquestiondisappeared——ifnotforever，atalleventsforthepresent。
　　"Icanworkyouin，"hesaid。"Leaveallthattome，andinafewdaysyoushallhearfromtheheadmaster。
　　Heshallcreateavacancy。Andoncein，westandorfalltogether。Iamresolvedonthat。"
　　Rickiedidnotliketheideaofbeing"workedin，"buthewasdeterminedtoraisenodifficulties。Itissoeasytoberefinedandhigh—mindedwhenwehavenothingtodo。Buttheactive，usefulmancannotbeequallyparticular。Rickie’sprogrammeinvolvedachangeinvaluesaswellasachangeofoccupation。
　　"Adoptafranklyintellectualattitude，"Mr。Pembrokecontinued。
　　"Idonotadviseyouatpresenteventoprofessanyinterestinathleticsororganization。Whentheheadmasterwrites，hewillprobablyaskwhetheryouareanall—roundman。Boldlysayno。A
　　bold’no’isattimesthebest。Takeyourstanduponclassicsandgeneralculture。"
　　Classics！AsecondintheTripos。Generalculture。AsmatteringofEnglishLiterature，andlessthanasmatteringofFrench。
　　"Thatishowwebegin。Thenwegetyoualittlepost——saythatoflibrarian。Andsoon，untilyouareindispensable。"
　　Rickielaughed;theheadmasterwrote，thereplywassatisfactory，andinduecoursethenewlifebegan。
　　Sawstonwasalreadyfamiliartohim。Butheknewitasanamateur，andunderanofficialgazeitgroupeditselfafresh。Theschool，ablandGothicbuilding，nowshowedasafortressoflearning，whoseoutworksweretheboarding—houses。Thosestragglingroadswerefullofthehousesoftheparentsoftheday—boys。Theseshopswereinbounds，thoseout。HowoftenhadhepassedDunwoodHouse！Hehadonceconfuseditwithitsrival，CedarView。Nowhewastolivethere——perhapsformanyyears。Ontheleftoftheentrancealargesaffrondrawing—room，fullofcosycornersanddumpychairs:heretheparentswouldbereceived。Ontherightoftheentranceastudy，whichhesharedwithHerbert:heretheboyswouldbecaned——hehopednotoften。
　　Inthehallaframedcertificatepraisingthedrains，thebustofHermes，andacarvedteakmonkeyholdingoutasalver。SomeofthefurniturehadcomefromShelthorpe，somehadbeenboughtfromMr。Annison，someofitwasnew。Butthroughoutherecognizedacertaindecisionofarrangement。Nothinginthehousewasaccidental，ortheremerelyforitsownsake。HecontrasteditwithhisroomatCambridge，whichhadbeenajumbleofthingsthatheloveddearlyandofthingsthathedidnotloveatall。
　　NowthesealsohadcometoDunwoodHouse，andhadbeendistributedwhereeachwasseemly——SirPercivaltothedrawing—room，thephotographofStockholmtothepassage，hischair，hisinkpot，andtheportraitofhismothertothestudy。
　　AndthenhecontrasteditwiththeAnsells’house，towhichtheirresoluteill—tastehadgivenunity。Hewasextremelysensitivetotheinsideofahouse，holdingitanorganismthatexpressedthethoughts，consciousandsubconscious，ofitsinmates。Hewasequallysensitivetoplaces。HewouldcompareCambridgewithSawston，andeitherwithathirdtypeofexistence，towhich，forwantofabettername，hegavethenameof"Wiltshire。"
　　Itmustnotbethoughtthatheisgoingtowastehistime。Thesecontrastsandcomparisonsnevertookhimlong，andheneverindulgedinthemuntiltheseriousbusinessofthedaywasover。
　　And，astimepassed，heneverindulgedinthematall。
　　TheschoolreturnedattheendofJanuary，beforehehadbeensettledinaweek。Hishealthhadimproved，butnotgreatly，andhewasnervousattheprospectofconfrontingtheassembledhouse。Alldaylongcabshadbeendrivingup，fullofboysinbowlerhatstoobigforthem;andAgneshadbeensuperintendingthenumberingofthesaidhats，andtheplacingofthemincupboards，sincetheywouldnotbewantedtilltheendoftheterm。Eachboyhad，orshouldhavehad，abag，sothatheneednotunpackhisboxtillthemorrow，Oneboyhadonlyabrown—paperparcel，tiedwithhairystring，andRickieheardthefirmpleasantvoicesay，"Butyou’llbringabagnextterm，"andthesubmissive，"Yes，Mrs。Elliot，"ofthereply。Inthepassageheranagainsttheheadboy，whowasalarminglylikeanundergraduate。Theylookedateachothersuspiciously，andparted。Twominuteslaterheranintoanotherboy，andthenintoanother，andbegantowonderwhethertheyweredoingitonpurpose，andifso，whetherheoughttomind。Asthedayworeon，thenoisesgrewlouder—trampingsoffeet，breakdowns，jollylittlesquawks——andthecubicleswereassigned，andthebagsunpacked，andthebathingarrangementspostedup，andHerbertkeptonsaying，"Allthisisinformal——allthisisinformal。Weshallmeetthehouseateightfifteen。"
　　Andso，ateightten，Rickieputonhiscapandgown，——hithertosymbolsofpupilage，nowtobesymbolsofdignity，——theverycapandgownthatWiddringtonhadsorecentlyhunguponthecollegefountain。Herbert，similarlyattired，waswaitingforhimintheirprivatedining—room，wherealsosatAgnes，ravenouslydevouringscrambledeggs。"Butyou’llwearyourhoods，"shecried。Herbertconsidered，andthemsaidshewasquiteright。Hefetchedhiswhitesilk，Rickiethefragmentofrabbit’swoolthatmarksthedegreeofB。A。Thusattired，theyproceededthroughthebaizedoor。Theywerealittlelate，andtheboys，whoweremarshalledinthepreparationroom，weregettinguproarious。One，forgettinghowfarhisvoicecarried，shouted，"Cave！HerecomestheWhelk。"Andanotheryoungdevilyelled，"TheWhelk’sbroughtapetwithhim！"
　　"Youmustn’tmind，"saidHerbertkindly。"Wemastersmakeapointofnevermindingnicknames——unless，ofcourse，theyareappliedopenly，inwhichcaseathousandlinesisnottoomuch。"Rickieassented，andtheyenteredthepreparationroomjustastheprefectshadestablishedorder。
　　HereHerberttookhisseatonahigh—leggedchair，whileRickie，likeaqueen—consort，satnearhimonachairwithsomewhatshorterlegs。Eachchairhadadeskattachedtoit，andHerbertflungupthelidofhis，andthenlookedroundthepreparationroomwithaquickfrown，asifthecontentshadsurprisedhim。SoimpressedwasRickiethathepeepedsideways，butcouldonlyseealittleblotting—paperinthedesk。Thenhenoticedthattheboyswereimpressedtoo。Theirchatterceased。Theyattended。
　　Theroomwasalmostfull。Theprefects，insteadoflollingdisdainfullyinthebackrow，wererangedlikecouncillorsbeneaththecentralthrone。ThiswasaninnovationofMr。
　　Pembroke’s。Carruthers，theheadboy，satinthemiddle，withhisarmroundLloyd。ItwasLloydwhohadmadethematrontoobright:
　　henearlylosthiscoloursinconsequence。Thesetwoweregrownup。BesidethemsatTewson，asaintlychildinthespectacles，whohadrisentothisheightbyreasonofhisimmenselearning。
　　He，liketheothers，wasaschoolprefect。Thehouseprefects，aninferiorbrand，werebeyond，andbehindcametheindistinguishablemany。Thefacesalllookedalikeasyet——exceptthefaceofoneboy，whowasinclinedtocry。
　　"School，"saidMr。Pembroke，slowlyclosingthelidofthedesk，——"schoolistheworldinminiature。"Thenhepaused，asamanwellmaywhohasmadesucharemark。Itisnot，however，theintentionofthisworktoquoteanopeningaddress。Rickie，atallevents，refusedtobecritical:Herbert’sexperiencewasfargreaterthanhis，andhemusttakehistonefromhim。Norcouldanyonecriticizetheexhortationstobepatriotic，athletic，learned，andreligious，thatflowedlikeafour—partfuguefromMr。Pembroke’smouth。Hewasapractisedspeaker——thatistosay，heheldhisaudience’sattention。Hetoldthemthatthisterm，thesecondofhisreign，wasTHEtermforDunwoodHouse;thatitbehoovedeveryboytolabourduringitforhishouse’shonour，and，throughthehouse，forthehonouroftheschool。Takingawiderrange，hespokeofEngland，orratherofGreatBritain，andofhercontinentalfoes。Portraitsofempire—buildershungonthewall，andhepointedtothem。Hequotedimperialpoets。HeshowedhowpatriotismhadbroadenedsincethedaysofShakespeare，who，forallhisgenius，couldonlywriteofhiscountryas——
　　"ThisfortressbuiltbynatureforherselfAgainstinfectionandthehandofwar，Thishazybreedofmen，thislittleworld，Thispreciousstonesetinthesilversea。"
　　AnditseemedthatonlyashortladderlaybetweenthepreparationroomandtheAnglo—Saxonhegemonyoftheglobe。Thenhepaused，andinthesilencecame"sob，sob，sob，"fromalittleboy，whowasregrettingavillainGuildfordandhismother’shalfacreofgarden。
　　Theproceedingterminatedwiththebroaderpatriotismoftheschoolanthem，recentlycomposedbytheorganist。Wordsandtunewerestillamatterfortaste，anditwasMr。Pembroke（andheonlybecausehehadthemusic）whogavetherightintonationto"Perisheachlaggard！LetitnotbesaidThatSawstonsuchwithinherwallshathbred。"
　　"Come，come，"hesaidpleasantly，astheyendedwithharmoniesinthestyleofRichardStrauss。"Thiswillneverdo。Wemustgrapplewiththeanthemthisterm——you’reastunefulas——asday—boys！"
　　Heartylaughter，andthenthewholehousefiledpastthemandshookhands。
　　"Buthowdiditimpressyou？"Herbertasked，assoonastheywerebackintheirownpart。Agneshadprovidedthemwithatrayoffood:themealswerestillanyhow，andshehadtoflyatoncetoseeaftertheboys。
　　"Ilikedthelookofthem。"
　　"Imeantrather，howdidthehouseimpressyouasahouse？"
　　"Idon’tthinkIthought，"saidRickierathernervously。"Itisnoteasytocatchthespiritofathingatonce。Ionlysawaroomfulofboys。"
　　"MydearRickie，don’tbesodiffident。Youareperfectlyright。
　　Youonlydidseearoomfulofboys。Asyetthere’snothingelsetosee。Thehouse，liketheschool，lackstradition。LookatWinchester。LookatthetraditionalrivalrybetweenEtonandHarrow。Traditionisofincalculableimportance，ifaschoolistohaveanystatus。WhyshouldSawstonbewithout？"
　　"Yes。Traditionisofincalculablevalue。AndIenvythoseschoolsthathaveanaturalconnectionwiththepast。OfcourseSawstonhasapast，thoughnotofthekindthatyouquitewant。
　　Thesonsofpoortradesmenwenttoitatfirst。Sowouldn’titstraditionsbemorelikelytolingerintheCommercialSchool？"heconcludednervously。
　　"Youhaveagreatdealtolearn——averygreatdeal。Listentome。
　　WhyhasSawstonnotraditions？"Hisround，ratherfoolish，faceassumedtheexpressionofaconspirator。Bendingoverthemutton，hewhispered，"Icantellyouwhy。Owingtotheday—boys。Howcantraditionsflourishinsuchsoil？Picturetheday—boy’slife——athomeformeals，athomeforpreparation，athomeforsleep，runninghomewitheveryfanciedwrong。Thereareday—boysinyourclass，and，markmywords，theywillgiveyoutentimesasmuchtroubleastheboarders，late，slovenly，stoppingawayattheslightestpretext。Andthenthelettersfromtheparents！’Whyhasmyboynotbeenmovedthisterm？’’Whyhasmyboybeenmovedthisterm？’’Iamadissenter，anddonotwishmyboytosubscribetotheschoolmission。’’Canyouletmyboyoffearlytowaterthegarden？’RememberthatIhavebeenaday—boyhouse—master，andtriedtoinfusesomeespritdecorpsintothem。
　　Itispracticallyimpossible。Theycomeasunits，andunitstheyremain。Worse。Theyinfecttheboarders。Theirpestilential，critical，discontentedattitudeisspreadingovertheschool。IfIhadmyownway——"
　　Hestoppedsomewhatabruptly。
　　"Wasthatwhyyoulaughedattheirsinging？"
　　"Notatall。Notatall。Itisnotmyhabittosetonesectionoftheschoolagainsttheother。"
　　Afteralittletheywenttherounds。Theboyswereinbednow。
　　"Good—night！"calledHerbert，standinginthecorridorofthecubicles，andfrombehindeachofthegreencurtainscamethesoundofavoicereplying，"Good—night，sir！""Good—night，"heobservedintoeachdormitory。
　　Thenhewenttotheswitchinthepassageandplungedthewholehouseintodarkness。Rickielingeredbehindhim，strangelyimpressed。InthemorningthoseboyshadbeenscatteredoverEngland，leadingtheirownlives。Now，forthreemonths，theymustchangeeverything——seenewfaces，acceptnewideals。They，likehimself，mustenterabeneficentmachine，andlearnthevalueofespritdecorps。Goodluckattendthem——goodluckandahappyrelease。Forhisheartwouldhavethemnotinthesecubiclesanddormitories，buteachinhisowndearhome，amongstfacesandthingsthatheknew。
　　Nextmorning，afterchapel，hemadetheacquaintanceofhisclass。Towardsthathefeltverydifferently。Espritdecorpswasnotexpectedofit。ItwassimplytwodozenboyswhoweregatheredtogetherforthepurposeoflearningLatin。Hisdutiesanddifficultieswouldnotliehere。Hewasnotrequiredtoprovideitwithanatmosphere。Theschemeofworkwasalreadymappedout，andhestartedgailyuponfamiliarwords——
　　"Pan，oviumcustos，tuasitibiMaenalacuraeAdsis，OTegaee，favens。"
　　"Doyouthinkthatbeautiful？"heasked，andreceivedthehonestanswer，"No，sir;Idon’tthinkIdo。"HemetHerbertinhighspiritsinthequadrangleduringtheinterval。ButHerbertthoughthisenthusiasmratheramateurish，andcautionedhim。
　　"Youmusttakecaretheydon’tgetoutofhand。Iapproveofalivelyteacher，butdisciplinemustbeestablishedfirst。"
　　"Ifeltmyselfalearner，notateacher。IfI’mwrongoverapoint，ordon’tknow，Imeantotellthematonce。"
　　Herbertshookhishead。
　　"It’sdifferentifIwasreallyascholar。ButIcan’tposeasone，canI？Iknowmuchmorethantheboys，butIknowverylittle。Surelythehonestthingistobemyselftothem。Letthemacceptorrefusemeasthat。That’stheonlyattitudeweshallanyofusprofitbyintheend。"
　　Mr。Pembrokewassilent。Thenheobserved，"Thereis，asyousay，ahigherattitudeandalowerattitude。Yethere，assooften，cannotwefindagoldenmeanbetweenthem？"
　　"What’sthat？"saidadreamyvoice。Theyturnedandsawatall，spectacledman，whogreetedthenewcomerkindly，andtookholdofhisarm。"What’sthataboutthegoldenmean？"
　　"Mr。Jackson——Mr。Elliot:Mr。Elliot——Mr。Jackson，"saidHerbert，whodidnotseemquitepleased。"Rickie，haveyouamomenttospareme？"
　　Butthehumanistspoketotheyoungmanaboutthegoldenmeanandthepinchbeckmean，adding，"YouknowtheGreeksaren’tbroadchurchclergymen。Theyreallyaren’t，inspiteofmuchconflictingevidence。BoyswillregardSophoclesasakindofenlightenedbishop，andsomethingtellsmethattheyarewrong。"
　　"Mr。Jacksonisaclassicalenthusiast，"saidHerbert。"Hemakesthepastlive。Iwanttotalktoyouaboutthehumdrumpresent。"
　　"AndIamwarninghimagainstthehumdrumpast。"That’sanotherpoint，Mr。Elliot。ImpressonyourclassthatmanyGreeksandmostRomanswerefrightfullystupid，andiftheydisbelieveyou，readCtesiphonwiththem，orValeriusFlaccus。Whateveristhatnoise？"
　　"Itcomesfromyourclass—room，Ithink，"snappedtheothermaster。
　　"Soitdoes。Ah，yes。IexpecttheyareputtingyourlittleTewsonintothewaste—paperbasket。"
　　"Ialwayslockmyclass—roomintheinterval——"
　　"Yes？"
　　"——andcarrythekeyinmypocket。"
　　"Ah。But，Mr。Elliot，IamacousinofWiddrington’s。Hewrotetomeaboutyou。Iamsoglad。Willyou，firstofall，cometosuppernextSunday？"
　　"Iamafraid，"putinHerbert，"thatwepoorhousemastersmustdenyourselvesfestivitiesintermtime。"
　　"Butmayn’thecomeonce，justonce？"
　　"May，mydearJackson！Mybrother—in—lawisnotababy。Hedecidesforhimself。"
　　Rickienaturallyrefused。Assoonastheywereoutofhearing，Herbertsaid，"Thisisalittleunfortunate。WhoisMr。
　　Widdrington？"
　　"IknewhimatCambridge。"
　　"Letmeexplainhowwestand，"hecontinued，afterapause。
　　"Jacksonistheworstofthereactionarieshere，whileI——whyshouldIconcealit？——havethrowninmylotwiththepartyofprogress。Youwillseehowwesufferfromhimatthemasters’
　　meetings。Hehasnotalentfororganization，andyetheisalwaysinflictinghisideasonothers。Itwaslikehisimpertinencetodictatetoyouwhatauthorsyoushouldread，andmeanwhilethesixth—formroomlikeabear—garden，andaschoolprefectbeingputintothewaste—paperbasket。MygoodRickie，there’snothingtosmileat。Howistheschooltogoonwithamanlikethat？Itwouldbeacaseof’quickmarch，’ifitwasnotforhisbrilliantintellect。That’swhyIsayit’salittleunfortunate。Youwillhaveverylittleincommon，youandhe。"
　　Rickiedidnotanswer。HewasveryfondofWiddrington，whowasaquaint，sensitiveperson。AndhecouldnothelpbeingattractedbyMr。Jackson，whosewelcomecontrastedpleasantlywiththeofficialbreezinessofhisothercolleagues。Hewondered，too，whetheritissoveryreactionarytocontemplatetheantique。
　　"ItistruethatIvoteConservative，"pursuedMr。Pembroke，apparentlyconfrontingsomeobjector。"Butwhy？BecausetheConservatives，ratherthantheLiberals，standforprogress。Onemustnotbemisledbycatch—words。"
　　"Didn’tyouwanttoaskmesomething？"
　　"Ah，yes。YoufoundaboyinyourformcalledVarden？"
　　"Varden？Yes;thereis。"
　　"Droponhimheavily。Hehasbrokenthestatutesoftheschool。
　　Heisattendingasaday—boy。Thestatutesprovidethataboymustresidewithhisparentsorguardians。Hedoesneither。Itmustbestopped。Youmusttelltheheadmaster。"
　　"Wheredoestheboylive？"
　　"AtacertainMrs。Orr’s，whohasnoconnectionwiththeschoolofanykind。Itmustbestopped。Hemusteitherenteraboarding—houseorgo。"
　　"ButwhyshouldItell？"saidRickie。Herememberedtheboy，anunattractivepersonwithprotrudingears，"Itisthebusinessofhishouse—master。"
　　"House—master——exactly。Herewecomebackagain。Whoisnowtheday—boys’house—master？Jacksononceagain——asifanythingwasJackson’sbusiness！Ihandedthehousebacklastterminamostflourishingcondition。Ithasalreadygonetorackandruinforthesecondtime。ToreturntoVarden。Ihaveunearthedaput—upjob。Mrs。JacksonandMrs。Orrarefriends。Doyousee？Itallworksround。"
　　"Isee。Itdoes——ormight。"
　　"Theheadmasterwillneversanctionitwhenit’sputtohimplainly。"
　　"ButwhyshouldIputit？"saidRickie，twistingtheribbonsofhisgownroundhisfingers。
　　"Becauseyou’retheboy’sform—master。"
　　"Isthatareason？"
　　"Ofcourseitis。"
　　"Ionlywonderedwhether——"Hedidnotliketosaythathewonderedwhetherheneeddoithisfirstmorning。
　　"Bysomemeansorotheryoumustfindout——ofcourseyouknowalready，butyoumustfindoutfromtheboy。Iknow——Ihaveit！
　　Where’shishealthcertificate？"
　　"Hehadforgottenit。"
　　"Justlikethem。Well，whenhebringsit，itwillbesignedbyMrs。Orr，andyoumustlookatitandsay，’Orr——Orr——Mrs。
　　Orr？’orsomethingtothateffect，andthenthewholethingwillcomenaturallyout。"
　　Thebellrang，andtheywentinforthehourofschoolthatconcludedthemorning。Vardenbroughthishealthcertificate——apompousdocumentassertingthathehadnotsufferedfromroseolaorkindredailmentsintheholidays——andforalongtimeRickiesatwithitbeforehim，spreadopenuponhisdesk。Hedidnotquitelikethejob。Itsuggestedintrigue，andhehadcometoSawstonnottointriguebuttolabour。DoubtlessHerbertwasright，andMr。JacksonandMrs。Orrwerewrong。Butwhycouldtheynothaveitoutamongthemselves？Thenhethought，"Iamacoward，andthat’swhyI’mraisingtheseobjections，"calledtheboyuptohim，anditdidallcomeoutnaturally，moreorless。
　　HithertoVardenhadlivedwithhismother;butshehadleftSawstonatChristmas，andnowhewouldlivewithMrs。Orr。"Mr。
　　Jackson，sir，saiditwouldbeallright。"
　　"Yes，yes，"saidRickie;"quiteso。"HerememberedHerbert’sdictum:"Mastersmustpresentaunitedfront。Iftheydonot——thedeluge。"Hesenttheboybacktohisseat，andafterschooltookthecompromisinghealthcertificatetotheheadmaster。Theheadmasterwasatthattimeeasilyexcitedbyabreachoftheconstitution。"Parentsorguardians，"hereputed——"parentsorguardians，"andflewwiththosewordsonhislipstoMr。Jackson。