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It was the doctor's turn to look astonished. "Disgraced? Branscombe was always one of our model boys." "Until last term," said the father. "I don't understand you," said the doctor. "Surely, Dr Ponsford, you know by this time my son's offence. I do not attempt to excuse it. He voluntarily took the only right step to take in his position by confessing."
It's as well, perhaps, you are not expected to know the chief offenders. One or two of them belong to your house." Railsford looked uncomfortable. It had not occurred to him till now that the proceeding which had so moved his interest and amusement was a breach of discipline. "I hope I shall not be called upon to deal with it," said he. "No. I hear Ponsford has the matter in hand himself."
"Yes, it is trying for you," said the injured master, drily. "Excuse me, though; I want my breakfast." It was not easy to feel cordial sympathy with a man like this. However, there was nothing for it but to go and lay his case before the doctor, and Railsford entered accordingly. Dr Ponsford was at breakfast, and asked his visitor to take a seat.
It would be as rough as you like for him if it came out. But I believe in assistant un boiteux chien au travers de la stile; so I'm keeping it all dark. Ponsford has been down on us like a sack of coals. They've shoved forward our dinner-hour to one o'clock, so we're regularly dished over the sports, especially as Saturday afternoon has been changed into morning.
Dr Ponsford rarely, if ever, put in an appearance on such occasions; he had the greatest faith in holding himself aloof from detail, and not making himself too accessible either to master or boy. Only when the boys could not settle a matter for themselves, or the masters could not settle it for them, he interfered and settled it without argument and without appeal.
In fact, it is about it that I am here to see Dr Ponsford at present." At that moment the doctor entered the room. The other two naturally gave way to the visitor, who accordingly advanced and greeted the head- master. "Allow me to introduce myself, Dr Ponsford; I dare say you do not remember me. My name is Branscombe. You know, of course, the painful business on which I have come."
If Mark Railsford had been left with no better guide to his new duties and responsibilities than the few hurried utterances given by Dr Ponsford during their tour through the premises that morning, his progress would have been very slow and unsatisfactory. It was part of the doctor's method never to do for anyone, colleague or boy, what they could possibly do for themselves.
"Dear Mr Railsford," wrote Miss Violet, "will you and Miss Herapath join us at lunch before the speeches? I should so like to make her acquaintance. "Yours truly, "Violet Ponsford." So Railsford, armed with this authority, sallied forth boldly to recapture his Daisy. He thought he knew where to find her, and was not mistaken.
"Probably," said the bolder spirit within him; "but keep your feet, Railsford, my brave fellow, as long as you can." So he braced himself up to the ordeal, and walked across at the appointed time, calm and collected, determined to "die game," if die he must. It was a full meeting, but, to everybody's surprise, most of all Railsford's, Dr Ponsford was not present.
Dr Ponsford had suggested, in terms which amounted to a mandate, that the new master might find it convenient to arrive at Grandcourt a day before the school returned, in order to take possession of his quarters and acquaint himself with the details of his coming duties.
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