"Ay, he is not all bad. Witness sending back the money to Galloway;
witness his persistent championship of Arthur; and going away partly to
clear him, as he no doubt has done! I was as sure from the first that
Arthur Channing was not guilty, as that the sun shines in the heavens."
"Did you suspect Roland?"
"No. I had a peculiar theory of my own upon the matter," said Mr.
Huntley, smiling, and apparently examining closely the grain of the
master's desk. "A theory, however, which has proved to be worthless; as
so many theories which obtain favour in this world often are. But I
will no longer detain you, Mr. Pye. You must have had enough hindrance
from your legitimate business for one morning."
"The hindrance is not at an end yet," was the master's reply, as he
shook hands with Mr. Huntley. "I cannot think what has possessed the
school lately: we are always having some unpleasant business or other
to upset it."
Mr. Huntley went out, nodding cordially to Tom as he passed his desk;
and the master turned his eyes and his attention on Gerald Yorke.
Lady Augusta had hastened from the college school as impetuously as she
had entered it. Her errand now was to the Channings. She was eager to
show them her grieved astonishment, her vexation--to make herself the
_amende_ for Roland, so far as she could do so. She found both Mr. and
Mrs. Channing at home. The former had purposed being in Guild Street
early that morning; but so many visitors had flocked in to offer their
congratulations that he had hitherto been unable to get away.
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