Miss Henniker would, I fancy, have laid it on a little harder than the master did.

Still, it was enough to make me smart.
But the smart within was far worse than that without.
"Return to the class-room now, and write at once to your uncle, Mr Jakeman," said Miss Henniker, "and to no one else." I returned to the room, where I found an eager whispered discussion going on.

When a boy was taken off for punishment by the Henniker, those who were left always had a brief opportunity for conversation.
The subject of discussion, I found, was Smith, who sat apart, with no paper before him, apparently exempt from the general task.

As usual, he was looking solemnly round him, but in no way to explain the mystery.
At last Hawkesbury, the "pet" of the school--in other words, the only boy who seemed to get on with Miss Henniker and Mr Ladislaw--had walked up to Mr Hashford's desk, where the usher sat in temporary authority, and had said, "Oh, Smith, the new boy, hasn't any paper, Mr Hashford." "No, I was told not to give him any," said the usher, terrified lest the Henniker should return.
"I wonder why ?" said Hawkesbury.
"Yes, it is strange," replied Mr Hashford; "but please go to your place, Hawkesbury; Miss Henniker will return." Hawkesbury had reported this brief conversation to his fellows, and this was what had given rise to the discussion I found going on when I returned from my caning.

It was soon cut short by the Henniker's reappearance; but the mystery became all the greater when it was seen that no notice was taken of the new boy's idleness, and that at the close of the exercise, when we were all called upon to bring up our letters, his name was distinctly omitted.
My effusion to my uncle was brief and to the point.
Dear Uncle Jakeman,--Miss Henniker wishes me to say that I have had five bad marks to-day.