Dr Ponsford rarely, if ever, put in an appearance on such occasions; he had the greatest faith in holding himself aloof from detail, and not making himself too accessible either to master or boy.

Only when the boys could not settle a matter for themselves, or the masters could not settle it for them, he interfered and settled it without argument and without appeal.

It was never pleasant when the doctor had to be called in, and the feeling against such a step contributed very largely to the success of the school's self-government.
Railsford by this time knew most of his fellow-masters to speak to, but this was the first occasion on which he had met them in their corporate capacity, and had he not been personally interested in the proceedings he would felt a pleasant curiosity in the deliberations of this august body.
Mr Bickers was already there, and nodded in a most friendly way to the Master of the Shell on his arrival.

Grover and Mr Roe welcomed their new colleague warmly, and began at once to compare notes as to school- work.

A few minutes later Monsieur Lablache, a little smarter than usual, came in, and having bowed to the company generally--a salute which no one seemed to observe--subsided on a retired seat.