“But how do you happen to be in London?” asked Guy. “You haven’t run away from school, have you?”
“Not exactly; but it amounts to the same thing, except that my father is satisfied with my leaving.”
“Tell me all about it.”
“Well, it was this way. After you took Bell away the doctor was fearfully cross. He was ashamed to think we boys had seen his downfall, and as you were not there he vented his anger on us. There were never so many boys flogged in the same length of time before.”
“Did you receive the money Mr. Locke and myself sent you?”
“Yes, and it got me into trouble. You see, the doctor heard of it, and it set him to thinking. Finally he found out, by the help of that sneaking son of his, that I had encouraged Bell to run away. He was almost beside himself with anger, and made up his mind to do what he had never done before; that is, give me a flogging.”
“I hope he didn’t do it,” said Guy, hastily.
“Listen, and I will tell you all about it. He summoned me before the whole school, and made a short speech. ‘James Rawdon,’ he said, ‘I have spared you heretofore on account of your excellent father, but I find that you aided and abetted your schoolmate Bell to run away in defiance of my rightful authority. Did you, or did you not?’
“‘I did,’ I answered. ‘The boy was so brutally treated that he had good reason to run away.’
“‘I never heard such insolence!’ roared the doctor, his eyes blazing. ‘Take off your jacket!’