Strong turned in his chair, and sitting sidewise, rested his elbow on the proof-sheets, holding the pencil still in his fingers.
“Well?” he said. “I thought everything was settled.”
“Assuredly.” Judge Garvey rested his folded arms upon the pile of books stacked at the rear of the table, and leaned over them in a friendly way. “Mr. Coakley is to arrive Sunday evening, and will begin the term on Monday morning, to the great satisfaction, I can guarantee, of all concerned. A slight and merely temporary embarrassment has arisen, with respect to which a few words will make it all right. In point of fact, the young woman with whom we previously held correspondence—who, you will remember, broke her engagement with us to take a more advantageous position—is here.”
The Judge stopped for question or comment, but as Strong waited for explanation, he went on:
“She has, it appears, failed after all to secure that, and come here expecting to fall back upon our school, not having heard that it was engaged.”
“Well, that’s unfortunate for her,” said Strong, “but you can’t ship Coakley now.”
“Your views coincide exactly with my own, my dear sir.” The Judge straightened up with some relief. “I have only to ask, then, for a note to the lady to that effect, that my own explanation already given may be corroborated.”
Strong began to look alert and suspicious at this.