"He told me of the trick he'd played you. A very unkind and silly trick it was, and so I said to him; but as he told it himself I won't punish him. He told me more, Gratian—of your finding his book and giving it back to him, when you might have done him an ill turn by keeping it."
"I did keep it all one day, sir," said Gratian humbly.
"Ah well, you did give it him in the end," said the master smiling. "I am pleased to see that you did the right thing in face of temptation. And Tony feels it himself. He's an honest-hearted lad and a clever one. He has done that piece of work I gave him well, and no doubt he stands as the head boy"—here the master stopped and seemed to be thinking over something. Then he went on again rather abruptly.
"That was all I wanted to say to you just now, I think. Tony is really grateful to you, and if he can show it, he will. Did your father or mother say anything about coming to see me?"
"Please, sir, mother's coming this afternoon. I'm to wait and go home with her."
"Ah well, that's all right."
But Gratian had plenty to think of while he ate his dinner. He was very much impressed by Tony's having really told.
"I wonder," he kept saying to himself, "I do wonder if perhaps——"