He cast a displeased glance at Yorke,
not speaking; and little Channing, touching his trencher to the doctor,
flew to the place where he had left his books, caught them up, and ran
out of the cloisters towards home.
CHAPTER II.
BAD NEWS.
The ground near the cathedral, occupied by the deanery and the
prebendal residences, was called the Boundaries. There were a few other
houses in it, chiefly of a moderate size, inhabited by private
families. Across the open gravel walk, in front of the south cloister
entrance, was the house appropriated to the headmaster; and the
Channings lived in a smaller one, nearly on the confines of the
Boundaries. A portico led into it, and there was a sitting-room on
either side the hall. Charley entered; and was going, full dash, across
the hall to a small room where the boys studied, singing at the top of
his voice, when the old servant of the family, Judith, an antiquated
body, in a snow-white mob-cap and check apron, met him, and seized his
arm.
"Hush, child! There's ill news in the house."
Charley dropped his voice to an awe-struck whisper. "What is it,
Judith? Is papa worse?"
"Child! there's illness of mind as well as of body. I didn't say
sickness; I said ill news. I don't rightly understand it; the mistress
said a word to me, and I guessed the rest. And it was me that took in
the letter! _Me_! I wish I had put it in my kitchen fire first!"
"Is it--Judith, is it news of the--the cause? Is it over?"
"It's over, as I gathered.
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