Mr Bruff’s Present.
That boating trip formed a topic of conversation in the study morning after morning when the rector was not present—a peculiar form of conversation when Distin was there—which was not regularly, for the accident on the river served as an excuse for several long stays in bed—but a free and unfettered form when he was not present. For Macey soon freed Vane from any feeling of an irksome nature by insisting to Gilmore how he had been to blame.
Gilmore looked very serious at first, but laughed directly after.
“I really thought it was an accident,” he said; “and I felt the more convinced that it was on hearing poor old hot-headed Distie accuse you, Vane, because, of course, I knew you would not do such a thing; and I thought Macey blamed himself to save you.”
“Thought me a better sort of fellow than I am, then,” said Macey.
“Much,” replied Gilmore, quietly. “You couldn’t see old Weathercock trying to drown all his friends.”
“I didn’t,” cried Macey, indignantly. “I only wanted to give Distie a cooling down.”
“And nicely you did it,” cried Gilmore.
“There, don’t talk any more about it,” cried Vane, who was busy sketching upon some exercise paper. “It’s all over, and doesn’t bear thinking about.”
“What’s he doing?” cried Macey, reaching across the table, and making a snatch at the paper, which Vane tried hurriedly to withdraw, but only saved a corner, while Macey waved his portion in triumph.