The only known product of the literary toil which had had such sad results was a very small English Grammar, of course used in the school, and always referred to by the doctor as "my little compendium." Now and then, Waymark sought refuge from the loneliness of his room in a visit to his colleagues at the Academy.

The masters' sitting-room was not remarkable for cosiness, even when a fire burnt in the grate and the world of school was for the time shut out.

The floor was uncarpeted, the walls illustrated only with a few maps and diagrams.
There was a piano, whereon Herr Egger gave his music lessons.

Few rooms in existence could have excelled this for draughts; at all times there came beneath the door a current of wind which pierced the legs like a knife; impossible to leave loose papers anywhere with a chance of finding them in the same place two minutes after.
When Waymark entered this evening, he found his colleagues seated together in silence.

Mr.Philip O'Gree--"fill-up" was his own pronunciation of the name--would have been worse than insignificant in appearance, but for the expression of good-humour and geniality which possessed his irregular features.