“How do you mean?”
“Why, first of all, I wasn’t going to hear animals like Mackworth abuse you; and next, but for you I should have continued my old selfish way of keeping aloof from all school concerns. It cost me an effort to conquer my shyness, but I remembered our old talk on Appenfell, Walter.”
Walter smiled gratefully, and Power continued, “But I’ve come to tell you both a bit of news.”
“What’s that?” they asked eagerly.
“Why, there’s a notice on the board, signed by Somers, to say that ‘All the school are requested to stay in their places after the master has left the room at two o’clock calling-over.’”
“Whew! what a row we shall have!” said Henderson.
“How I wish I were well enough to be out now,” said Walter. “I hate to be shut up while all this is going on.”
“Poor fellow, with that face?” said Power. “No; you must be content to wait and get well.”
“It isn’t the face that keeps me in, Power; it’s the bang on the head, Keith says.”
“Yes, and Keith says that he doesn’t know when you will be well if these young chatterboxes stay with you,” said the good-humoured doctor, entering at the moment. “Vanish both of you!”