When Dr. Fleming was thus disposed of it became necessary to find a successor.  It was contrary to the traditions of the school that one of the lower-masters should be chosen.  The common-room was unanimous in desiring the election of Mr. Watson, headmaster of the preparatory school; he could hardly be described as already a master of King’s School, they had all known him for twenty years, and there was no danger that he would make a nuisance of himself.  But the Chapter sprang a surprise on them.  It chose a man called Perkins.  At first nobody knew who Perkins was, and the name favourably impressed no one; but before the shock of it had passed away, it was realised that Perkins was the son of Perkins the linendraper.  Dr. Fleming informed the masters just before dinner, and his manner showed his consternation.  Such of them as were dining in, ate their meal almost in silence, and no reference was made to the matter till the servants had left the room.  Then they set to.  The names of those present on this occasion are unimportant, but they had been known to generations of school-boys as Sighs, Tar, Winks, Squirts, and Pat.

They all knew Tom Perkins.  The first thing about him was that he was not a gentleman.  They remembered him quite well.  He was a small, dark boy, with untidy black hair and large eyes.  He looked like a gipsy.  He had come to the school as a day-boy, with the best scholarship on their endowment, so that his education had cost him nothing.  Of course he was brilliant.  At every Speech-Day he was loaded with prizes.  He was their show-boy, and they remembered now bitterly their fear that he would try to get some scholarship at one of the larger public schools and so pass out of their hands.  Dr. Fleming had gone to the linendraper his father—­they all remembered the shop, Perkins and Cooper, in St. Catherine’s Street—­and said he hoped Tom would remain with them till he went to Oxford.  The school was Perkins and Cooper’s best customer, and Mr. Perkins was only too glad to give the required assurance.  Tom Perkins continued to triumph, he was the finest classical scholar that Dr. Fleming remembered, and on leaving the school took with him the most valuable scholarship they had to offer.  He got another at Magdalen and settled down to a brilliant career at the University.  The school magazine recorded the distinctions he achieved year after year, and when he got his double first Dr. Fleming himself wrote a few words of eulogy on the front page.  It was with greater satisfaction that they welcomed his success, since Perkins and Cooper had fallen upon evil days:  Cooper drank like a fish, and just before Tom Perkins took his degree the linendrapers filed their petition in bankruptcy.

In due course Tom Perkins took Holy Orders and entered upon the profession for which he was so admirably suited.  He had been an assistant master at Wellington and then at Rugby.