It might recoil upon themselves; might produce no good to
the question at issue, and only end in making the master their enemy.
On the other hand, the boys were resolved not to submit tamely to a
piece of favouritism so unjust, without doing something. In the midst
of this perplexity, one of them suddenly mooted the suggestion that a
written memorial should be sent to the head-master from the school
collectively, respectfully requesting him to allow the choice of senior
to be made in the legitimate order of things, by merit or priority, but
not by favour.
Lame as the suggestion was, the majority were for its adoption simply
because no other plan could be hit upon. Some were against it. Hot
arguments prevailed on both sides, and a few personal compliments
rather tending to break the peace, had been exchanged. The senior boy
held himself aloof from acting personally: it was his place they were
fighting for. Tom Channing and Huntley were red-hot against what they
called the "sneaking," meaning the underhand work. Gerald Yorke was
equally for non-interference, either to the master or the dean. Yorke
protested it was not in the least true that Lady Augusta had been
promised anything of the sort. In point of fact, there was no proof
that she had been, excepting her own assertion, made in the hearing of
Jenkins. Gerald gravely declared that Jenkins had gone to sleep and
dreamt it.
Affairs had been going on in a cross-grained sort of manner all day.
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