Cooper looked far from hopeful.
"She'll have to pull herself up, as it were, or else leave altogether, Sir Julian. Otherwise I don't see what's to prevent the staff from getting talking."
Sir Julian perceived that no amount of words would remove from Mr. Cooper his conviction of the inevitability of the calamity which he described as the "getting talking" of his fellow-workers.
"I shall think the matter over. Certainly we can't have this sort of atmosphere in the place. It's upsetting everyone."
"That is so, Sir Julian. It's the talk that's doing the harm," said Mr. Cooper solemnly.
"Certainly it is. I hope there will be no more of it."
Sir Julian's hope was uttered for rhetorical purposes merely. His never very sanguine outlook had been in no way illuminated by the eloquence of Mr. Cooper.
"Don't let me keep you any longer, Cooper; I know you're busy."
"Thank you, Sir Julian. If you'll excuse me. My watch—ten minutes past—then I'll go straight to Classroom III—up the stairs."
Mr. Cooper hurried away, taking two steps at a time.