He made no question as to the propriety of the decision, but rather felt his own unworthiness, and was completely humbled and downcast.

When a note came from Mrs.Anderson, saying that she was convinced that it could not have been Dr.May's wish that she should be exposed to the indignity of a practical joke, and that a young lady of the highest family should have been insulted, no one had spirits to laugh at the terms; and when Dr.May said, "What is to be done ?" Harry turned crimson, and was evidently trying to utter something.
"I see nothing for it but for him to ask their pardon," said Dr.May; and a sound was heard, not very articulate, but expressing full assent.
"That is right," said the doctor.

"I'll come with you." "Oh, thank you!" cried Harry, looking up.
They set off at once.

Mrs.Anderson was neither an unpleasing nor unkind person--her chief defect being a blind admiration of her sons and daughters, which gave her, in speaking of them, a tone of pretension that she would never have shown on her own account.
Her displeasure was pacified in a moment by the sight of the confused contrition of the culprit, coupled with his father's frank and kindly tone of avowal, that it had been a foolish improper frolic, and that he had been much displeased with him for it.
"Say no more--pray, say no more, Dr.May.We all know how to overlook a sailor's frolic, and, I am sure, Master Harry's present behaviour; but you'll take a bit of luncheon," and, as something was said of going home to the early dinner, "I am sure you will wait one minute.

Master Harry must have a piece of my cake, and allow me to drink to his success." Poor Mr.May! to be called Master Harry, and treated to sweet cake! But he saw his father thought he ought to endure, and he even said, "Thank you." The cake stuck in his throat, however, when Mrs.Anderson and her daughters opened their full course of praise on their dear Harvey and dearest Edward, telling all the flattering things Dr.Hoxton had said of the order into which Harvey had brought the school, and insisting on Dr.
May's reading the copy of the testimonial that he had carried to Oxford.
"I knew you would be kind enough to rejoice," said Mrs.Anderson, "and that you would have no--no feeling about Mr.Norman; for, of course, at his age, a little matter is nothing, and it must be better for the dear boy himself to be a little while under a friend like Harvey, than to have authority while so young." "I believe it has done him no harm," was all that the doctor could bring himself to say; and thinking that he and his son had endured quite enough, he took his leave as soon as Harry had convulsively bolted the last mouthful.
Not a word was spoken all the way home.