The school will go to destruction now--they'll get their way, and all I have been striving for is utterly undone." "You setting a bad example! Dr.Hoxton little knows what you have been doing.

It is a mockery, as I have always said, to see that old fellow sit wrapped up in his pomposity, eating his good dinners, and knowing no more what goes on among his boys than this umbrella! But he will listen to me--and we'll make those boys confess the whole--ay, and have up Ballhatchet himself, to say what your traffic with him was; and we will see what old Hoxton says to you then, Norman." Dr.May and his son felt keenly and spoke strongly.

There was so much of sympathy and fellow-feeling between them, that there was no backwardness on Norman's part in telling his whole trouble, with more confidence than schoolboys often show towards their fathers, and Dr.May entered into the mortification as if he were still at school.

They did not go into the house, but walked long up and down the garden, working themselves up into, if possible, stronger indignation, and concerting the explanation for to-morrow, when Dr.May meant to go at once to the head-master, and make him attend to the true version of the story, appealing to Harvey Anderson himself, Larkins, and many others, for witnesses.

There could be hardly a doubt that Norman would be thus exculpated; but, if Dr.
Hoxton would not see things in their true light, Dr.May was ready to take him away at once, rather than see him suffer injustice.
Still, though comforted by his father's entire reliance, Norman was suffering severely under the sense of indignity, and grieved that Dr.
Hoxton and the other masters should have believed him guilty--that name of May could never again boast of being without reproach.