She was so sharp, Tom averred, that she could smell a "dun," experience having so increased the natural keenness of her scent.
Sometimes, too, Tom said, when Dr Hellyer could get no credit with the butcher, they lived on Australian tinned mutton, which he got wholesale from the importers, as long as three months at a stretch; and once, he pledged me his word, when the baker likewise failed to supply any more bread by reason of that long-suffering man's bill not having been paid for a year, Dr Hellyer, not to be beaten, went off to Portsmouth and bought a lot of condemned ship biscuits at a Government sale in the victualling yard, returning with this in triumph to the school, and serving it out to the pupils in rations, the same as if they had been at sea! In the midst of all these interesting disclosures, a terrible drumming, buzzing noise filled the air.
"What's that din ?" I asked Tom.
"Oh, that's the tea-gong," he replied.

"We must go in now, as we'll get none if we are late, for the Doctor teaches punctuality by example." "He told me he had `a way of his own' for making his pupils obey him," said I.
"Did he?
Ah, you'll soon find out what a brute he is! Let us look at your nose, though, Martin, before you go in.

You recollect what he said about not fighting, eh ?" "Yes; does it look all right now ?" I asked, anxiously.
"Pretty well," said Tom, critically examining the damaged organ.

"A little bit puffy on the off side but I think it will pass muster, and you'll escape notice if that sneak Slodgers doesn't split about his eye--which I believe you've pretty nicely marked for him." "Do you think he'll tell ?" I whispered to Tom as we ascended the steps and he turned the handle of the door leading into the house.
"More than likely, if the Doctor pitches on to him! He will spin a fine story about your having attacked him, too, to excuse himself; for he's a liar as well as a cur and a bully.

But, come on, Martin, look sharp! There's the second gong, and if we're not at table in our seats before it stops, it'll be a case of pickles!" With these words, Tom dashed into the passage with me after him; and, after racing up a bare, carpetless flight of stairs, I found myself in a wide large room, which, the evening having closed in, was lighted up only by a single gas-burner.