But for once in a way the bird was too early for the worm, and Bloomfield prowled about for a good quarter of an hour before the aspiring youth of Willoughby mustered at the wickets.
It was during this early prowl, while the hands of the clock were between half-past six and seven, that he received something like a shock from seeing the captain alight at the school gate from the town omnibus.
"Why, whatever's up?
Where have you been ?" inquired Bloomfield.
"I have just been to see poor Gilks off," said the captain.
"What! then it was true ?" "Yes, I hadn't time to tell you yesterday.

He's been expelled." "The cad!" cried Bloomfield.

"It's lucky for him he was able to slink off unnoticed." "Oh! don't be too down on him," said the captain.

"You'd have been sorry for him if you'd have seen how cut up and ashamed he was.

After all, he was little better than a tool in somebody else's hands." "Silk's you mean ?" said Bloomfield.