Fred hesitated again, and then said.
"Well, uncle, I am sorry that you should be so angry about it, but I own that I did not throw any obstacle in the way."
"You did not, sir," Captain Bayley roared, "and why did you not? Are you a fool too? Don't you see that this running away instead of facing matters out cannot but be considered, by people who do not know Frank, as a proof of his guilt, a confession that he did not dare to stay to face his accusers?"
Fred was silent.
"Answer me, sir," Captain Bayley said; "don't stand there without a word to explain your conduct. Do you or do you not see that this cowardly flight will look like a confession of guilt?"
"I did see that, uncle," Fred said, "but I thought that better than a public expulsion."
"Oh! you did, did you?" his uncle said sarcastically, "when you knew that if he had stopped quietly at home we should have proved his innocence in less than no time."
Fred made no reply.
"Do you think we shouldn't have proved his innocence?" roared his uncle.
"I am sorry to say anything which is displeasing to you, uncle, but I fear that you would never have proved Frank's innocence."