"Not I," said Mr. Yorke. "I know that, whoever it may have been
deserves a sound flogging, if he did it willfully."

"Then, sir, why do you suppose I know?"

"I met Hurst just now, and he stopped me with the news that he was sure
Charley Channing could put his hand upon the offender, if he chose to
do it. It was not yourself, was it Charley?"

Mr. Yorke laughed as he asked the question. Charley laughed also, but
in a constrained manner. Meanwhile the others, to whom the topic had
been as Sanscrit, demanded an explanation, which Mr. Yorke gave, so far
as he was cognizant of the facts.

"What a shame to spoil a surplice! Have you cause to suspect any
particular boy, Charley?" demanded Hamish.

"Don't ask him in my presence," interrupted Tom in the same hurried
manner that he had used in the cloisters. "I should be compelled in
honour to inform the master, and Charley would have his life thrashed
out of him by the school."

"Don't _you_ ask me, either, Mr. Yorke," said Charles; and the tone of
his voice, still unconsciously to himself, bore a strange serious
earnestness.

"Why not?" returned Mr. Yorke. "I am not a senior of the college
school, and under obedience to its head-master."