THE QUARREL. 159

reflections; and he was not sorry his in-
disposition precluded him from partaking
in the feast. It was a relief to him when
the table was cleared and grace said; but
as the boys got up, at its conclusion, to
leave the dining-room, Dr. Young desired
him to remain behind. ‘You may all
go,” said he, “excepting Henry Mertoun;
I wish to say a few words to him.”
Now it happened, not unfrequently,
that the Doctor detained a boy for a few
minutes after dinner, when he had re-
ceived a letter from his parents or friends;
or when he wished to make any slight
change in the arrangements for the day ;
or had anything to say respecting the
school in general, which he did not think
of sufficient importance to announce to
all the boys publicly. This was particu-
larly the case towards the end of the