“Have you noticed anything, Barnworth?”
“There’s a draught in the big dormitory, sir,” replied Barnworth seriously.
“Indeed, we must have that seen to. Of course, what I mean is as to the conduct of the boys, and so on. Are the rules pretty generally obeyed?”
It was Stafford’s turn, and his report was disconcerting too.
“No, sir, not very much.”
The new master put down the poker.
“I am sorry to hear that; for discipline must be maintained. Can you suggest anything to improve the state of the house?”
“No, sir,” replied Felgate.
This was getting intolerable. The new master’s patience was oozing away, and his wits, strange to say, were coming in.
“This is rather damping,” he said. “Things seem pretty right, there’s a draught in the big dormitory, the rules are not very much obeyed, and nothing can be suggested to improve matters.”