He attempted to vindicate himself before his fellow-students by setting fire to a haystack on the marsh, belonging to the new principal.

A searching investigation followed, and Shuffles was convicted.

Mr.Lowington wrote to the boy's father, announcing his expulsion.

Mr.Shuffles went to Brockway full of wrath, and threatened the new head of the institution with the loss of a large number of his scholars if he disgraced his son by expelling him.

If the boy had done wrong,--and he supposed he had,--let him be talked to; let him be confined to his room for a day or two; but he must not be expelled; it was a disgrace to the boy.
The principal was as firm as a rock, and Mr.Shuffles was calm when he found that threats were unavailing.