Just at this juncture Eric came in, having been delayed by Mr. Gordon while he rigidly inspected the imposition.  As he took his seat, Montagu, who was next him, whispered—­

“I say, have you seen the notice-board?”

“No.  Why?”

“Why, some fellow has been writing up an opinion of Gordon not very favorable.”

“And serve him right, too, brute!” said Eric, smarting with the memory of his imposition.

“Well, there’ll be no end of a row; you’ll see.”

During this conversation, Dr. Rowlands came in with Mr. Rose.  He read the paper, frowned, pondered a moment, and then said to Mr. Rose—­“Would you kindly summon the lower school into the hall?  As it would be painful to Mr. Gordon to be present, you had better explain to him how matters stand.”

“Halloa! here’s a rumpus!” whispered Montagu; “he never has the lower school down for nothing.”

A noise was heard on the stairs, and in flocked the lower school.  When they had ranged themselves on the vacant forms, there was a dead silence and hush of expectation.

“I have summoned you all together,” said the Doctor, “on a most serious occasion.  This morning, on coming into the school-room, the masters found that the notice-board had been abused for the purpose of writing up an insult to one of our number, which is at once coarse and wicked.  As only a few of you have seen it, it becomes my deeply painful duty to inform you of its purport; the words are these—­’Gordon is a surly devil.’”—­A very slight titter followed this statement, which was instantly succeeded by a sort of thrilling excitement; but Eric, when he heard the words, started perceptibly, and colored as he caught Montagu’s eye fixed on him.

Dr. Rowlands continued—­“I suppose this dastardly impertinence has been perpetrated by some boy out of a spirit of revenge.  I am perfectly amazed at the unparalleled audacity and meanness of the attempt, and it may be very difficult to discover the author of it.  But, depend upon it, discover him we will, at whatever cost.  Whoever the offender may be, and he must be listening to me at this moment, let him be assured that he shall not be unpunished.  His guilty secret shall be torn from him.  His punishment can only be mitigated by his instantly yielding himself up.”

No one stirred, but during the latter part of this address Eric was so uneasy, and his cheek burned with such hot crimson, that several eyes were upon him, and the suspicions of more than one boy were awakened.

“Very well,” said the head master, “the guilty boy is not inclined to confess.  Mark, then; if his name has not been given up to me by to-day week, every indulgence to the school will be forfeited, the next whole holiday stopped, and the coming cricket-match prohibited.”

“The handwriting may be some clue,” suggested Mr. Ready.  “Would you have any objection to my examining the note-books of the Shell?”