F. Anstey

“ Chawner and the others might return at any moment—a ring at the bell; they were there! all was over now—no, he was saved, that was Dr. Grimstone's voice in the hall—what an unconscionable time he was taking off his great coat and gloves.
But all comes to the man who waits. In another moment the Doctor looked in, singled out Mr. Bultitude with a sharp glance, and a, 'Now, Bultitude, I will hear you!' and led the way to his study. ”

“ I think I ought to be here too.'
'It's a lie!' shouted Paul, 'What a villain that boy is! Don't believe a word he says, Dr. Grimstone; it's all false—all!'
'This is very suspicious,' said the Doctor; 'if your conscience were good, Bultitude, you could have no object in preventing me from hearing Chawner. Chawner, in spite of some obvious defects in his character,' he went on, with a gulp (he never could quite overcome a repulsion to the boy) , 'is, on the whole, a right-minded and, ah, conscientious boy. ”

“ I'm vastly obliged to you.'
'I was, though,' said Biddlecomb. 'I, I was led away by the other fellows—I always liked you, you know, Bultitude.'
'You've a very odd way of showing your affection,' remarked Mr. Bultitude; 'but go on, let me hear all you have to say.'
'It isn't much,' said Biddlecomb, quite broken down; 'only don't sneak of me this time, Dick, let me off, there's a good fellow. I'll stick up for you after this, I will really. You used not to be a fellow for sneaking once. It's caddish to sneak!'
'Don't be alarmed, my good friend,' said Paul ”

“ To this none would have had any right to object—had it not necessarily, or at least from Chawner's point of view, involved a full, true, and particular account of the misdoings of each and every one; and consequently, for some time after these professions of misgivings, Chawner would be surrounded by a little crowd of anxiously obsequious friends, all trying hard to overcome his scruples or persuade him at least to omit their names from his revelations.
Sometimes he would affect to be convinced by their arguments and send them away reassured ”

“ It would give me real pleasure to hire someone to kick him.'
The evening passed quietly; the boys left at home sat in their places, reading or pretending to read. Mr. Blinkhorn, left in charge of them, was at his table in the corner noting up his diary. Paul was free for a time to think over his position.
At first he was calm and triumphant; his dearest hopes, his long-wished-for opportunity of a fair and unprejudiced hearing, were at last to be fulfilled—Chawner was well out of the way for the best part of two hours—the Doctor was very unlikely to be detained nearly so long over one call ”

“ The theory was that every right-minded boy ought to feel himself in such a fiduciary position towards his master, that it became a positive duty to acquaint him with any delinquencies he might happen to observe among his fellows ”

“ That no man enter till my tale be done.'
Very possibly Chawner's interference in Mr. Bultitude's private affairs has surprised others besides the victim of it; but the fact is that there was a most unfortunate misunderstanding between them from the very first, which prevented the one from seeing, the other from explaining, the real state of the case. ”