How, constable, are you ready ?" The school was fortunately all within doors at the time, so that, except to the few who chanced to be gazing from the windows, the little procession, headed by the doctor and Mr Jarman, with the policeman and Tempest bringing up the rear, passed unobserved.
I was full of apprehensions.

Whatever the result, I knew Tempest well enough to be sure that the effect on him would be bad, and would call out in him all that spirit of insubordination and defiance which had before now threatened to wreck his career.

A strong sense of responsibility was all that had hitherto held it in check.

If that were now shattered--and how could it help being upset by this charge ?--it would break out badly and dangerously.

I was not long in speeding over to Sharpe's, where I found Pridgin just going over to class.
He heard the doctor's message with a groan of weariness.
"What's the use of my going ?--_I_ can't tell them anything," said he.
"You can tell them Tempest never did it," said I.
"If they don't believe him, they won't me.