Part 45 (1/2)
”Certainly not,” said the doctor.
”And may I come out here to fish by and by!”
”Certainly,” said the doctor. ”If you are a good boy.”
”No, I think not,” said Helen, making a shadow cross the boy's countenance. ”Dexter cannot come out fis.h.i.+ng alone; I will come with him.”
Dexter gave her a meaning look, as he understood why she had said that; and then walked quietly home with the doctor and his daughter to a far more agreeable meal than he would have enjoyed at the baronet's house.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
A RECORD OF CARES.
”Hang his impudence!” said the doctor. ”What do you think he told me?”
”Sir James?”
”Yes, my dear. Told me I was a regular modern Frankenstein, and that I had made a young monster to worry me to death. Such insolence!
Dexter's growing a very nice lad, and I feel as if I could make a n.o.bleman of him if I liked, but I think I'll send him to a good school for a bit. You see, he's full of promise, Helen.”
”Yes, papa,” said Helen, suppressing her mirth.
”Ah! now you are laughing at me. I mean full of the promise that will some day mean performance. But--yes, I will send him to a good school.”
A good school was selected, and Dexter duly sent down to it, leaving Helen very unwillingly, but holding up manfully, and the doctor said he would come back at the holiday-time vastly improved.
In six weeks Dr Grayson received a letter asking him to fetch Dexter away to save him from being expelled.
The Doctor looked very angry as he went down to Cardley Willows, and the inquiries took a stern, rather bitter turn.
”Has the boy been a young blackguard?” he said.
”No,” said the princ.i.p.al.
”Dishonest?”
”Oh dear no!”
”Well, what is it then--disobedient!”
”Oh dear no! He'll promise anything.”
”Humph! yes,” said the doctor to himself.
”I'm very sorry, Dr Grayson,” continued the princ.i.p.al; ”but the boy is incorrigible, and you must take him away.”
The doctor took the boy away, and he had a very stern talking-to at home.
Two months pa.s.sed away.