It was easy to guess the reason, and Riddell felt baffled and dispirited as he thought about it.

To save young Wyndham from his bad friends would be worth to him more even than to secure the order of Willoughby, or to discover the perpetrator of the boat-race outrage.
In this troubled state of mind Riddell passed the day till the time arrived for him to present himself at the doctor's.
He entered warily and suspiciously, as though not quite sure whether, after all, the two ladies might be lying in ambush somewhere for him.
But no, there was no deception, only the doctor was there, and he, unrestrained by the presence of his usual bodyguard, was most friendly and cordial.
"Ah, Riddell, glad to see you.

Sit down.

You find me a bachelor, you see, for once in a way." Riddell was soon at his ease.

The doctor chatted pleasantly over their tea about various Willoughby topics, giving his opinion on some and asking the captain's opinion on others, and so delicately showing his sympathy for the boy in his difficulties and his approval of his efforts for the good of the school, that Riddell was quite won over, and prepared for the serious matter which the doctor presently broached.
"Yes," said the latter, in reply to some reference by Riddell to the Welchers.