"Please may I have something to eat ?" "Help yourself to the bread and butter there," said Mr Halgrove, pointing to the remains of his own tea, "and see if you can squeeze anything out of the coffee-pot.

If not, ring for some more hot water.
Lie down, Julius!" Jeffreys ate the bread and butter ravenously, and drank what was left in the coffee-pot and milk-jug.
Mr Halgrove went on with his cigar, watching his ward curiously.
"The roads are rough for walking this time of the year," observed he.
"Yes," said Jeffreys; "I've walked all the way." "Good exercise," said Mr Halgrove.

"How long did it take you ?" "I left Bolsover at half-past four this morning." Mr Halgrove looked at his watch.
"Fifteen hours--a fairly good pace," said he.
A silence ensued, during which time guardian and ward remained eyeing one another, the one curiously, the other anxiously.
"Why not sit down," said Mr Halgrove, when it became evident his ward was not going to open the conversation, "after your long walk ?" Jeffreys dropped heavily into the chair nearest to him and Julius came up and put his head between his knees.
"Do you often take country walks of this sort ?" said the guardian.
"No, sir; I've run away from Bolsover." Mr Halgrove raised his eyebrows.
"Indeed! Was it for the fun of the thing, or for any special reason ?" "It was because I have killed a boy," said Jeffreys hoarsely.
It spoke volumes for Mr Halgrove's coolness that he took this alarming announcement without any sign of emotion.
"Have you ?" said he.

"And was that for fun, or for any special reason ?" "I didn't mean it; it was an accident," said Jeffreys.
"Is the story worth repeating ?" asked the guardian, knocking the ash off the end of the cigar, and settling himself in his chair.
Jeffreys told the story in a blundering, mixed-up way, but quite clearly enough for Mr Halgrove.
"So you meant to run at him, though you didn't mean to kill him ?" said he, when the narrative was ended.
"I did not mean to kill him," repeated the boy doggedly.
"Of course it would not occur to you that you were twice his size and weight, and that running over him meant--well manslaughter." "I never thought it for a moment--not for a moment." "Was the accident fatal, at once, may I ask ?" "No, sir; he was brought to the school insensible, and remained so for more than twelve hours.

Then he became conscious, and seemed to be doing well." "A temporary rally, I suppose ?" observed the guardian.
Jeffreys' mouth worked uneasily, and his pale brow became overcast again.
"No, I believe if it hadn't been for me he might have recovered." "Indeed," said the other, once more raising his eyebrows; "what further attention did you bestow on him--not poison, I hope ?" "No, but I went to his room in the middle of the night and startled him, and gave him a shock." "Yes; playing bogey is liable to alarm invalids.