Only later that evening, when prayers were over and supper-time at hand, did the subject of their former teacher and his successor come up again.
"A pale, thin, rather starved-looking young man came into the schoolroom desiring them to put away their books, which they were arranging for next morning.

His manner was short but ill-assured, and he spoke with a slightly peculiar accent.

None of the boys seemed in any hurry to obey him.
"'Cod-faced idiot!' muttered one.
"'French frog!' said another.
"'Is that the new junior ?' said Jack, looking up from the pile of books before him.
"'Yes; did you ever see such a specimen ?' replied a tall boy beside him, who had arrived the day before.

'And what a fellow to come after Wyngate too.' "'He can't help his looks,' said Jack quietly; 'perhaps he's better than they are.' "'Hallo, here's old Berkeley going to stick up for that nice specimen Sawyer!' called out the boy, caring little apparently whether Mr.Sawyer, who had only just left the room, was still within ear-shot or not.
"Jack took it in good part.
"'I'm not 'sticking up' for him, nor 'not sticking up' for him,' he said.

'All I say is, wait a bit till you see what sort of a fellow he is himself, whatever his looks are.' "'And most assuredly they're _not_ in his favour,' replied the tall boy.
"From this Jack could not honestly dissent; Mr.Sawyer's looks were not, in a sense, in his favour.