It was not worse than a good many masters' houses, and had even its good points.
And yet just now it was admitted to be in a bad way.

The doctor had his eye on it, and there is nothing more adverse to reform than the consciousness that one has a bad name.

The late master, Mr Moss, moreover, had notoriously found the place too hot for him, and had given it up.

That again tells against the reputation of a house.

And, lastly, although it had a few good scholars and athletes, who won laurels for the school, there seemed not enough of them to do anything for the house, which had steadily remained at the bottom of the list for general proficiency for several terms.
If you inquired how all this came about, you would hear all sorts of explanations, but the one which found most favour in the delinquent house itself was summed up in the single word "Bickers." The origin of the deadly feud between the boys of Railsford's and the master of the adjoining house was a mystery passing the comprehension even of such as professed to understand the ins and outs of juvenile human nature.