Of course, when a boy goes home from school full of the praises of his teacher, his parents are pleased too, and think well of the school, and tell their friends what a nice place it is for boys, and so on.

It is a good advertisement, in fact.

Besides, with Mrs Trimble so lazy, and Jonah himself so unattractive, it would involve a great deal of trouble all round if Jeffreys deserted it.

They knew by experience that young fellows of good education did not as a rule jump at the situation of second usher in Galloway House.

And they knew, also, something of the horrors of a prolonged vacancy in their staff.
Jonah was rather relieved when Jeffreys, immediately after school, shut himself up in his own room, and remained there studying for the rest of the evening.