The president leaned forward in his chair. “We thank you, Mr. Lee,” he said, “for coming to us with this voluntary statement. Is there anything else you wish to say about the matter—any explanation?”
“No, nothing—except,” turning for a moment toward his father, who sat dumb with amazement and grief, “except that I am very sorry, indeed, especially on father’s account.”
Then his lips trembled, his eyes filled with tears; he turned to leave the room, and would have stumbled and fallen had not Tutor Delavan taken him kindly by the arm and led him away.
It soon became known among the students that Parmenter and Lee had been before the faculty in connection with the Van Loan case. The matter was discussed freely at the dinner tables, on the campus, and in the sections; and opinions were many and varied as to the form and severity of the punishment that would be meted out to the offenders.
That evening, as Parmenter sat alone in his room, Tutor Delavan came in with a letter for him. He delivered it with a few courteous words, and retired as quietly as he had come. Parmenter opened the letter and read it. It ran as follows:
“Concord College, May 5th.
“Mr. Alfred B. Parmenter:
“Dear Sir,—The president and members of the faculty have taken into consideration your acknowledged connection with the hazing of Benjamin E. Van Loan on the night of April 12th. We greatly deprecate so serious a breach of college discipline. We desire to be as lenient with you as possible; but it is our duty and wish to banish this class of offenses from the college by any and every means in our power.
“The judgment of the faculty is that your name be stricken from the list of competitors for the Sophomore prize of the present year; and that the competition for honors and prizes in your Junior year be likewise closed to you. It is accordingly so ordered, and of this order you will please take notice.
“Yours with regret,