the school, he'd make me pay for it. I suggested
that we should leave that an open question,
and came to the conclusion that I could
not stand much more.

That day I was on duty, so little Mr. Forfar
took a walk in the evening, and did not return
until after supper. He then happened to be
rather thirsty, and took the liberty of asking
for a glass of beer. The confidential servant
thereupon went scuttling up to the doctor, and
communicated to him the startling request.
I should mention, that the only place we had
to sit in was the large school dining-room.
Little Mr. Forfar took off his useful Wellington
boots, put on his carpet slippers, put
his little feet up in a chair, and began telling
me where he had been, when the door
opened, and Dr. Clackmannan's stomach
entered, followed by Dr. Clackmannan himself.
He stood a mass of dignity, glaring through his
enormous spectacles at my poor little companion,
who grew nervous under the glance,
fidgeted in his chair, and put his feet to the
ground. He then took out his handkerchief,
and began to rub his nose.

"Well, I'm sure," at last said Dr. Clackmannan,
"are we in America, gentlemen?"

"No, sir, South Aberdeen," answered poor
little Mr. Forfar, approaching the great man,
and quivering from head to foot.

"Look here, Mr. Forfar," said the doctor.
"I've come down to tell you that I keep neither
a lodging-house, nor a public-house, and that if
you're not in at meals you'll just go without.
That's all I have to say to you."

The door closed, and we were alone.

The next morning at breakfast my poor little
friend was again in dire trouble. "I can assure
you, sir, that's the reason," he was saying, as I
took my seat.

"Don't tell me anything of the kind. Mr.
Forfar."

"Well, sir, I should really have been down in
time if it hadn't been for that: you can ask the
boys if it is not so."

"The fact is, Mr. Forfar, that I consider you
such a despicable little liar, and so utterly
devoid of honour, that I wouldn't believe you on
your oath!"

That was what Dr. Clackmannan said. I am
detailing actual experience, without colouring or
inventing any incident. Poor little Forfar looked
indeed the picture of penitent misery.

"Well, sir," said he, "I'm sorry that you
should have formed that opinion of me."

I must confess that I was startled as much
by the reply as by the insult.

Mr. Forfar was evidently becoming very ill,
and in a highly nervous state. The constant
insult preying upon his weak mind made him
totally unfit for work. His friends advised him
"to give warning." The doctor, however, had
such terrors for him that he had not the courage
to say he would not stop. At last he wrote a
notice, with the help of a relation who was a
lawyer's clerk. It was a strictly legal document,
and elaborately worded, looking very lengthy and
formidable. The thing to do, however, was to
deliver it. That was the push. The poor little
man lay awake all night with the heavy business
on his mind, and in the morning looked like
a person in the last stage of consumption. He
was "all of a twitter." When the doctor came
in and said "Good morning," I saw a cap and
gown bolt fairly out of the room.

Mr. Forfar did not reappear; so, after breakfast,
I made a pilgrimage to find him. He had
thrown himself on his bed. His movable eye
was wandering round the room in search of
something; probably the "happy land of Canaan."
I rushed to my room for some brandy, as he
seemed in a fit; and, having poured some down
his throat, his eye came to anchor, and he recognised
me. At length Mr. Forfar returned to duty.

A few evenings after, I was walking round
the playground, when I perceived some one
running rapidly across the fields towards me.
He presently threw himself at my feet on the
grass. He was a "parlour boarder," a fellow as
big as myself, and nearly as old. He asked me
if I would kindly give him rny advice. I said
that as far as was consistent with my position I
should not object to do so.

It appeared that he had met in the village a
young lady of "considerable personal attractions,"
to whom he ventured to give looks of
admiration and a sweet smile. This mode of
proceeding having been noticed by a couple of
heavy brothers in attendance, they assaulted
and drove him away, much discomfited. I
looked grave, said it was a foolish affair
altogether, and, as to advice, that he must make
the best of a bad job.

The first time the doctor went out he heard
of the whole affair. Now it so happened that
the father of this young fellow was in India,
and, moreover, did not pay up, so he was liable
to the penalties of his misconduct. The doctor
came fuming in, and gave me a full account of
the discovery he had made. He presently asked
me if I had heard anything of the matter. I
replied that I had. Upon which I was attacked
for not having repeated it. One or two remarks
followed, when Dr. Clackmannan observed:

"If I did as I ought, I should horsewhip
you, sir."

I controlled my immediate impulse, and told
him that if he were inclined for real "business"
in that line, I would put down five pounds on
the event. He thanked me in an altered tone,
and said that he didn't want to appear in the
papers. I said that I would keep it very quiet
if we could come to terms. I then wrote him
a notice, which I forwarded at once.

The next day he did not wish me good morning,
and looked remarkably black as we sat down
to breakfast. There happened to be a cold roast
round of beef before him, which he set about
carving. He helped every one but myself, and
then filled his own plate. I sat very quietly
for a few minutes, until I saw the first mouthful
go into his capacious mouth, when it became
evident that he meant me to go without. This
was unpleasant, to say the least of it.