“I say,” said Bloomfield, “you put your foot into it awfully! She thought you were chaffing her all the time.”
“Did she? What a pity!” replied Fairbairn.
“Of course, we were bound to help you out when you were once in,” continued Bloomfield. “But I don’t fancy we three will be asked up there again in a hurry.”
They came to the schoolhouse gate, and Fairbairn said good-night. Riddell and Bloomfield walked on together towards Parrett’s.
“Oh, Bloomfield!” said the captain, nervously, “I just wanted to tell you that I believe I have been all wrong in my guess about the boat-race affair. The boy I suspected, I now fancy, had nothing to do with it.”
“You are still determined to keep it all to yourself, then?” asked Bloomfield, somewhat coldly.
“Of course,” replied the captain.
At this point they reached Parrett’s. Neither boy had any inclination to pursue the unpleasant topic—all the more unpleasant because it was the one bar to a friendship which both desired.
“Good-night,” said Bloomfield, stiffly.
“Good-night,” replied the captain.