But what could the doctor want him for?
Was it to tell him he did not consider him equal to the duties of captain, and to relieve him of his office?
Riddell devoutly wished it might be so.

And yet he hardly fancied from the head master's manner this was to be the subject of their interview.
Perhaps it was to cross-examine him as to the boat-race.

That wretched boat-race! Riddell had hardly had a minute's peace since that afternoon.

The burden of the whole affair seemed to rest upon him.

The taunts of the disappointed Parretts, which glanced harmless off minds like Fairbairn's and Porter's, wounded him to the quick, and, until the mystery should be solved, Riddell felt almost like a guilty party himself.