A Ghost Again



525



"The names have to be altered, sir. " In return for
which Mr. Pye sternly motioned him to his seat, and
Byxvater favoured the school with a few winks as he
lazily obeyed.
   " Who   could  possibly  have  suspected  Roland
Yorke" exclaimed the master, talking in an undertone
vith Mr. Huntley.
    Nay, if we are to compare merits, he was a far
more likely subject for suspicion than Arthur," was
Mr. Huntley's reply.
  " He was, taking them comparatively.  Whhat I
meant to imply was, that one could not have suspected
that Roland, knowing himself guilty, would suffer
another to lie under the stigma. Roland has his good
points-if that may be said of one who helps himself
to bank-notes," concluded the master.
  " Ay, he is not all bad. \Witness sending back the
money to Galloway; witness his persistent champion-
ship of Arthur; and going away partly to clear him, as
he no doubt has done ! I was as sure from the first that
Arthur Channing was not guilty, as that the sun shines
in the heavens."
  " Did you suspect Roland"
  " No. I had a peculiar theory of my own upon the
matter," said SIr. Huntley, smiling, and apparently
examining closely the grain of the master's desk. ' A
theory, however, which has proved to be worthless; as
so many theories which obtain favour in this world
often are. But I will no long' r detain you, Mr. Pye.
You must have had enough hindrance from your legiti-
mate business for one morning."
  "The hindrance is not at an end vet," was the
master's reply, as he shook hands with Mr. Huntley.
  I cannot think what has possessed the school latterly;
we are always having some unpleasant business or
other to upset it."
  Mr. Huntley wvent out, nodding cordially to Tom as
he passed his desk; and the master turned his eyes and
his attention on Gerald Yorke.
  Lady Augusta had hastened from the college school
as impetuously as she had hastened into it. Her errand
now was to the Channings. She was eager to show
them her grieved astonishment, her vexation-to make