“I don’t think so. I think he’s just trying to do the right thing.”
It was unfortunate for Irving that later in the afternoon Carter of the Fifth Form—who played in the banjo club with Westby—was passing the Study building just as Westby was coming out from his confinement.
“Hello, Wes!” said Carter. “Thought you were in for three sheets; how do you happen to be at large so soon?”
“Kiddy made it one and a half—without my asking him,” said Westby.
“And Collingwood the same?”
“He made his only a sheet.”
“That’s it,” said Carter shrewdly. “I was waiting to see the rector this morning; the door was open, and he had Kiddy in there with him. I guess he was lecturing him on those reports; I guess he told him he’d have to take off a couple of sheets.”
“I shouldn’t wonder,” said Westby. “I don’t believe old Hoopo would have interfered much on my account,—but I guess he couldn’t stand for Lou Collingwood getting three sheets. And Kiddy, the fox, tried to make us think he was being magnanimous!”
Westby chuckled over his humorous discovery, and as soon as possible imparted it to Collingwood.
“Oh, well, what if the rector did make him do it?” said Collingwood. “The way he did it shows he’s all right—”