The examination-days were not looked forward to with joy by Dr Bewley's
pupils; and, sad to say, Morris's days were liked least. In fact, his
was the only joyous countenance upon the morning after he had prepared
the theatre, when he glanced round at the heavy expressions that
pervaded the breakfast-tables. But possibly the most severe face in the
room that morning was the Doctor's, as he paid his customary visit, and
he took it with him afterwards into the theatre, which he entered
punctually at ten o'clock, when the boys were all assembled in their
places, while the masters were all at their desks, ready under Morris's
leadership to sit out the examination, using their eyes, and making
perfectly certain that no pupil whispered a question, furtively passed a
piece of paper to another, or dipped down into his desk in search of a
so-called helping "crib."