But at its best the offence was a grave one, and Oliver more than once felt anxious at the sight of the head master’s long face during the narrative. However, when it was all over his fears were at once dispelled by the doctor saying, “Well, Greenfield, you’ve done a very proper thing in telling me all this; it is a straightforward as well as a brotherly act. Your brother seems to have been very foolish, but I have no doubt he has got a lesson. You had better send him to me after morning service.”
And so, much relieved, Oliver went off and reported to the grateful Stephen the success of his mission, and the two boys went off to the school chapel together a good deal more happy than they had been the previous day.
“I say,” said Stephen, as they went along, “I suppose you didn’t say anything about Loman, did you?”
“Of course not! he’s no concern of mine,” said Oliver, rather tartly. “But look here, young ’un, I’m not going to let you fag any more for him, or have anything to do with him.”
“All right!” said Stephen, who had no desire to continue his acquaintance with his late “proprietor.”
“But the captain will row me, won’t he?”
“If he does I’ll make that square. You can fag for Wraysford if you like, though, he wants a fellow.”
“Oh, all right!” cried Stephen, delighted, “that’ll be jolly! I like old Wray.”
“Very kind of you,” said a voice close by.
It was Wraysford himself, who had come in for this very genuine compliment.