“After all,” he said, “it is quite true that Latin and Greek are of very little use to anyone in the City.”
But Mrs. Curtis refused to be convinced.
“I do not care what you say,” she said. “You just wait and see.”
And, sure enough, within a week Mr. Whately had confessed his intention of taking Roland away from Fernhurst at the end of the term.
“And you are going to send him to France?” said Mrs. Curtis.
“I am not quite certain about that,” he said. “I am going to look round first to see if I can’t get him a job at once. We both agree that another year at Fernhurst would be a waste of time.”
Mrs. Curtis smiled pleasantly. As soon as he had gone she expressed herself forcibly.
“I do not believe for a moment,” she insisted, “that Mr. Whately has changed his mind without some pretty strong reason. He was frightfully anxious to see Roland captain of his house. He was so proud of everything he did at Fernhurst. There must be a row or something; unless, of course, he has lost his money.”
But that idea Mr. Curtis pooh-poohed.
“My dear Edith,” he said, “that is quite impossible. You know that Whately’s got a good salaried post in the bank. He has got no private means to lose and he is not the sort of man to live above his income. It is certainly not money. I don’t see why a man should not change his mind if he wants to.”