His face was very hard. “Do you want to know the answer I feel like giving to that?”
“I’ve asked for it, haven’t I, Harry?”
“You shall have it. The answer is that I think what the letter says implicates you.”
She preserved her composure. She by now had had practice in preserving her composure. “What’s the matter, Harry?”
“Hammond says—as good as says—that Huggo will have to be withdrawn from Tidborough.”
She knew perfectly well that this was only leading up to something. “May I hear?”
“You may.” He took up the letter and read from it. “‘Apart from that, and it would of course be the reason given—the other, I am confident, is susceptible of change—apart from that, the boy has now twice failed to keep his place in the school. If he does not get his remove in the coming term I shall be compelled to ask you to remove him.’” He put down the letter and looked at her. “That’ll be nice, won’t it?”
She made an appeal. “Harry, don’t. I mean, don’t talk like that. It won’t happen.”
He softened in no degree. He said sternly: “It will happen.”
She persevered. “I’m quite sure it won’t. You’ve only got to talk seriously to Huggo. This coming holidays you can get him some coaching. He’s got brains.”