The boys will never like me, and I may do harm where I would wish to do good.

I must try something else.' "Two or three weeks later--a month perhaps--the boys were one day surprised by the appearance of a strange face at what had been Mr.
Sawyer's desk.

And on inquiry the new comer proved to be a young curate accidentally in the neighbourhood, who had undertaken to fill for a few weeks the under-master's vacant place.

The occurrence made some sensation--it was unusual for any change of the kind to take place during a term.

'Was Sawyer ill ?' one or two of the boys asked, as there came before them the recollection of the young man's pale and careworn face, and they recalled with some compunction the Pariah-like life that for some time past had been his.
"No, he was not ill, they were informed, but he had requested the head-master to supply his place and let him leave, for private reasons, as soon as possible.
"What were the private reasons?
The head-master and his colleagues had tried in vain to arrive at them.