Miss Farmer began to sidle towards the door. Her companion followed her, but was inspired to turn round and add an unnecessary rider to her last observation.
"Mr. Easter is always here so late in the evenings now, too," she remarked artlessly, as she went out of the room.
Sir Julian heard a nervous giggle as the door closed behind them both, and he thought that Miss Farmer ejaculated something that sounded like, "However you could, Sandiloe!"
"If Miss Marchrose has been up against that sort of thing for the last week...." was his unformulated thought.
A further example of "that sort of thing" confronted him in the entrance hall, where he presently betook himself restlessly.
Three girls, all of them pupil-teachers of the College, with young Cooper, the Financial Secretary, stood near the notice-board. Their necks were craned forward, and their eyes, expressive of curiosity, suspicion and a certain excitement, were unanimously following the tall, slight figure of Miss Marchrose as she disappeared towards a distant classroom.
"Good morning," said Sir Julian, with extreme abruptness, and in tones not usually associated with a morning greeting.
Everyone jumped violently.
The three pupil-teachers disappeared with celerity, and Mr. Cooper turned a brick-red countenance upon his chief.
"Just looking at the notice-board," he said, in an affable manner.