Hickey stood a long moment, open-mouthed, staring.
"Do you mean to say," he said, at last, with an effort, "that I am expelled?"
"Not expelled," said the Doctor, suavely, "we don't like that word; we're going to let you go, that's all."
"For what reason?" said Hickey, defiantly.
"For no reason at all," answered the Doctor, smoothly. "There is no reason, there can be no reason, Hicks. We're just naturally going to make up our minds to part with you. You see, Hicks," he continued, tilting back and gazing reminiscently at the ceiling, "we've had a rather agitated session here, rather extraordinary. The trouble seems to have broken out in the Dickinson about the time of the little surprise party at which Mr. Tapping did not assist! Then a few days later our chapel service was disturbed and our janitor put to considerable trouble; next the school routine was thrown into confusion by the removal of the clapper. We passed a very disagreeable period—much confusion, very little study, and the nerves of the faculty were thrown into such a state that even you, Hicks, were suspected.
"'He hadn't any proof,' he said, brokenly, 'no proof—damn him!'"