"Yes, I think I will. I have let things drift again, I am afraid," added Herbert, "so I shall get a wigging, and no mistake, this time!"
But either the doctor was not in a humour to give him "a wigging" just now, or Herbert's admission that he knew he had not given his full attention to his exercises lately, disarmed the master's anger. For instead of threatening all sorts of punishments if the lessons were not prepared better for the future, he talked, in a very fatherly fashion, of doing the duty that lay nearest to hand; and that in neglecting to prepare the lessons and exercises set by his teacher, he was not only defrauding himself of useful knowledge he had been sent there to gain, but would disappoint his mother, and set a bad example to some of his school-fellows. So, for all these reasons Dr. Staples said he hoped he should not have to complain; and Herbert promised that he would, in future, give more care and thought to the tasks set him to do.
He really felt thankful that Dr. Staples did not ask him what he was thinking of that his papers were so badly done. If he had asked this question, the lad would doubtless have looked very self-conscious, and the doctor would have thought that there was some mischief afoot among the boys, which Herbert had been warned not to tell. Certainly, the matter that occupied his mind could not be disclosed to the doctor.
He could not tell anyone about it, and his mother had forbidden him to write to her about it; and yet the thought pressed upon him continually, that this unknown aunt was in sore need of the money that had been left by his father for her benefit. If he could only have imparted his fears and anxieties to his mother, she would certainly have pushed her enquiries a step further, and discovered whether this Mrs. Winn he had heard about was indeed his aunt, and made sure that she was well provided for. Now it seemed that he must put away all thought of these unknown relatives, and leave them to their fate; for he was neglecting his nearest duty—his school duty; and so, as he walked away from the study to the large schoolroom, he determined to put away resolutely all thought of this Mrs. Winn, until he should return home at Christmas; and having made this resolution, he kept to it, and bent his whole energies to make up for the time he had wasted.
But the effort cost him something, and his friend noticed that before the end of the week, Herbert was looking tired and fagged.
This friend was a weekly boarder, who went home on Saturday afternoons and returned soon after breakfast on Mondays.
When he came the Monday following, he brought a note from his father for Dr. Staples, and then went at once in search of Herbert.
"I say old fellow, you don't look very bright this morning."
"Perhaps not; I have got a headache," answered Herbert, with a yawn.
"Well, my father will have to give you something for it, if it lasts all the week; for the mater says I am to take you home with me next Saturday. The gig will be here for us at two o'clock."