The analyses of a text #2

The narrator recalls his childhood.
Mr. Wickfield is the master of his boarding house, one of his grand aunt's friends, and a lawyer.
Doctor Strong is the head master of the school he will newly go to.
Doctor Strong had asked Mr. Wickiled to get a job for his young wife's cousin.

"Yes, I know," said Mr. Wickfield, "at home or abroad."
"Ay!" replied the Doctor, apparently wondering why he emphasized those words so much. "At home or abroad."
"Your own expression, you know," said Mr. Wickfield. "Or abroad."
"Surely," the Doctor answered. "Surely. One or other."
"One or other? Have you no choice?" asked Mr. Wickfield.
"No? returned the Doctor.
"No?" with astonishment.
"Not the least."
"No motive," said Mr. Wickfield, "for meaning abroad, and not at home?"
"No," returned the Doctor.

"I am bound to believe you, and of course I do believe you," said Mr. Wickfield. "It might have simplified my office very much, if I had known it before. But I confess I entertained another impression."

Doctor Strong regarded him with a puzzled and doubting look, which almost immediately subsided into a smile that gave me great encouragement, for it was full of amiability and sweetness, and there was a simplicity in it, and indeed in his whole manner, when the studious, pondering frost upon it was got through, very attractive and hopeful to a you scholar like me.

[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]

1. I'd like to know if "the studious" is the subject of "pondering"
2. If so, I was wondering what "the studious" means here and why there is a comma before "pondering."
3. I'd like to know "it" refers to " a smile."
4. And I'd like to know "very attractive and hopeful to a you scholar like me" modifies "his whole manner."
Thank you in advance for your help.