Mr Frampton--he was not even a "Doctor" or a "Reverend," but was a young man with sandy whiskers, and a red tie--had a few ideas of his own on the subject of dry-rot.

He evidently preferred ripping up entire floors to patching single planks, and he positively scared his colleagues and pupils by the way he set to work.
He was young and enthusiastic, and was perhaps tempted to overdo things at first.

When people are being reformed, they need a little breathing time now and then; but Mr Frampton seemed to forget it.
He had barely been in his post a week when two of the under-masters resigned their posts.

Undaunted he brought over two new men, who shared his own ideas, and installed them into the vacancies.

Then three more of the old masters resigned; and three more new men took their places.
Then the "experienced matron" resigned, and Mrs Frampton took her place.