Twenty-five years before he had rowed as number seven in the Oxford Eight, with an eye all the while upon a mastership at his old school.

He had taken a first in Greats; he had obtained his mastership; for the last two years he had had a House.

As he had been at the beginning, so he was now, a man without theories but with an instinctive comprehension of boys.

In consequence there were no vacancies in his house, and the Headmaster had grown accustomed to recommend the Rev.Mr.Arthur Pollard when boys who needed any special care came to the school.
He was now so engrossed with the preparations for the term which was to begin to-morrow that for some while the footsteps overhead did not attract his attention.

When he did hear them he just lifted his head, listened for a moment or two, lit his pipe and went on with his work.
But the sounds continued.