But, half the school did not understand Lady Augusta. None
understood her fully.
"I beg your ladyship's pardon," said the head-master. "I do not
comprehend what it is that you are talking about."
"Not comprehend!" repeated her ladyship. "Don't I speak plainly? My
unhappy son Roland has confessed that it was he who stole the bank-note
that so much fuss has been made about, and that Arthur Channing was
taken up for. You two may look and frown"--nodding to Gerald and
Tod--"but it was your own brother who was the thief; Arthur Channing
was innocent. I'm sure I shan't look a Channing in the face for months
to come! Tell them about it in a straightforward way, William Yorke."
Mr. Yorke, thus called upon, stated, in a few concise words, the facts
to the master. His tone was low, but the boys caught the sense, that
Arthur was really innocent, and that poor Tom had been degraded for
nothing. The master beckoned Tom forward.
"Did you know of this, Channing?"
"Yes, sir; since the letter came to my brother Arthur last night."
Lady Augusta rushed up impulsively to Tom. She seized his hands, and
shook them heartily. Tom never afterwards was sure that she didn't kiss
him. "You'll live to be an honour to your parents yet, Tom," she said,
"when my boys are breaking my heart with wilfulness."
Tom's face flushed with pleasure; not so much at the words as at the
yearning, repentant faces cast at him from all parts of the room.
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