CHAPTER FOUR.
A FRIENDLY CHAT.
If Mark Railsford had been left with no better guide to his new duties and responsibilities than the few hurried utterances given by Dr Ponsford during their tour through the premises that morning, his progress would have been very slow and unsatisfactory.

It was part of the doctor's method never to do for anyone, colleague or boy, what they could possibly do for themselves.

He believed in piling up difficulties at the beginning of an enterprise, instead of making smooth the start and saving up the hard things for later on.

If a master of his got through his first term well, he would be pretty sure to turn out well in future.

But meanwhile he got as little help from head-quarters as possible, and had to make all his discoveries, arrange his own methods, reap his own experiences for himself.
Grover had good reason to know the doctor's peculiarity in this respect, and took care to give his friend a few hints about starting work, which otherwise he might never have evolved out of his own consciousness.
Amongst other things he advised that he should, as soon as possible, make the acquaintance of the head boys of his house, and try to come to a good understanding with them as to the work and conduct of the term.
Accordingly four polite notes were that evening handed by the house- messenger to Messrs.