He chained him to the spot with his glance for a minute or two, and then said slowly, and with a deep sigh-- "Very well; I _hope_ you have spoken the truth; but whether you have or no, we shall soon discover.

The school, and especially the upper boys, will remember what I have said.

I shall now tear down the insulting notice, and put it into your hands, Avonley, as head of the school, that you may make further inquiries." He left the room, and the boys resumed their usual avocation till twelve o'clock.

But poor Eric could hardly get through his ordinary pursuits; he felt sick and giddy, until everybody noticed his strange embarrassed manner, and random answers.
No sooner had twelve o'clock struck, than the whole school broke up into knots of buzzing and eager talkers.
"I wonder who did it," said a dozen voices at once.
"The writing was undoubtedly Williams'," suggested some.
"And did you notice how red and pale he got when the Doctor spoke to him, and how he hung his head ?" "Yes; and one knows how he hates Gordon." "Ay; by the bye, Gordon set him a Georgic only on Thursday, and he has been swearing at him ever since." "I noticed that he stayed in after all the rest last night," said Barker.
"Did he?
By Jove, that looks bad." "Has any one charged him with it ?" asked Duncan.
"Yes," answered one of the group: "but he's as proud about it as Lucifer, and is furious if you mention it to him.

He says we ought to know him better than to think him capable of such a thing." "And quite right, too," said Duncan.