Philip had gathered this from a conversation heard during the day between Dr.
Tootle and his wife.
"The light of my life will be gone out," exclaimed O'Gree, "when I am no longer able to catch a glimpse of her as she goes past the schoolroom door.

And I've never even had a chance of speaking to her.
You know the tale of Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth.

Suppose I were to rush out and throw my top-coat on the muddy door-step, just as she's going out; d'ye think she'd say thank you ?" "Probably," muttered Waymark, without knowing what he said.

It was Mr.
O'Gree's habit to affect this violent devotion to each new governess in turn, but Waymark did not seem to find the joke amusing at present.
"Bedad, I'll do it then! Or, rather, I would, if I'd two top-coats.
Hang it! There's no behaving like a gentleman on twenty-five pounds a year." Waymark walked about the streets the greater part of the night, and the next morning came to school rather late.

Dr.Tootle had to consult with him about some matter as soon as he arrived.
"You seem indisposed, Mr.Waymark," the doctor remarked, when he had in vain tried to elicit intelligible replies to his questions.
"I am a little out of sorts," the other returned carelessly.