"Stop, stop, stop!" said Mr. Huntley. "One at a time. How can I hear,
if you all talk together? Now, what's the grievance?"
They detailed it as rationally and with as little noise as it was in
their nature to do. Huntley was the only senior present, but Gaunt came
up during the conference.
"It's all a cram, Mr. Huntley," cried Tod Yorke. "My brother Gerald
says that Jenkins dreamt it."
"I'll 'dream' you, if you don't keep your tongue silent, Tod Yorke,"
reprimanded Gaunt. "Take yourself off to a distance, Mr. Huntley," he
added, turning to that gentleman, "it is certain that Lady Augusta said
it; and we can't think she'd say it, unless Pye promised it. It is
unfair upon Charming and Huntley."
A few more words given to the throng, upon general matters--for Mr.
Huntley touched no more on the other topic--and then he continued his
way to Lady Augusta's. As he passed the house of the Reverend Mr. Pye,
that gentleman was coming out of it. Mr. Huntley, a decisive,
straightforward man, entered upon the matter at once, after some
moments spent in greeting.
"You will pardon my speaking of it to you personally," he said, when he
had introduced the subject, "In most cases I consider it perfectly
unjustifiable for the friends of boys in a public school to interfere
with the executive of its master; but this affair is different. Is it,
or is it not correct, that there is an intention afloat to exalt Yorke
to the seniorship?"
"Mr.
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