“Yes; that is, I saw him coming out of the Doctor’s study with it.”
“You did?”
“Yes; that is, of course he must have had it; and he says so himself.”
“What, Greenfield says he took the paper?” exclaimed Loman, in utter astonishment.
“Yes; that is, he doesn’t say he didn’t; and all the fellows are going to cut him dead, but we mean to hush it up if we can.”
“Hush yourself up, that’s what you’d better do,” said Loman, turning his back unceremoniously on his informant, and proceeding, full of this strange news, on his solitary walk. What was in his mind as he went along I cannot tell you. I fancy it was hardly sorrow at the thought that a schoolfellow could stoop to a mean, dishonest action, nor, I think, was it indignation on Wraysford’s or his own account.
Indeed, the few boys who passed Loman that afternoon were struck with the cheerfulness of his appearance. Considering he had been miserably beaten in the scholarship examination, this show of satisfaction was all the more remarkable.
“The fellow seems quite proud of himself,” said Callonby to Wren as they passed him.
“He’s the only fellow who is, if that’s so,” said Wren.
Loman stopped and spoke to them as they came up.