"
"Why do you talk of lucky chances?" said the master. "I don't know that
there are any such things in the world; at any rate, there was neither
luck nor chance in that matter."
Tom looked at him inquiringly, and he went on. "Do you remember when the
Doctor lectured you and East at the end of one half-year, when you were
in the shell, and had been getting into all sorts of scrapes?"
"Yes, well enough," said Tom; "it was the half-year before Arthur came."
"Exactly so," answered the master. "Now, I was with him a few minutes
afterwards, and he was in great distress about you two. And after some
talk, we both agreed that you in particular wanted some object in the
School beyond games and mischief; for it was quite clear that you never
would make the regular school work your first object. And so the Doctor,
at the beginning of the next half-year, looked out the best of the new
boys, and separated you and East, and put the young boy into your study,
in the hope that when you had somebody to lean on you, you would
begin to stand a little steadier yourself, and get manliness and
thoughtfulness. And I can assure you he has watched the experiment ever
since with great satisfaction. Ah! not one of you boys will ever know
the anxiety you have given him, or the care with which he has watched
over every step in your school lives."
Up to this time Tom had never given wholly in to or understood the
Doctor.
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