I knew it was foul play!" Once again the shout drowned his voice.
"Who did it ?" shrieked a voice, before Parson could resume.
Parson glared round wrathfully for the speaker.
"I don't know," he replied.

"Sorry for him if I did!" This valiant invective from the honest little fag failed even to appear ludicrous in the midst of the general excitement.

Further words were now interrupted by the appearance of the Parretts' crew coming slowly up the walk.
This was the signal for a general cheer and rush in their direction, in the midst of which the defeated heroes with difficulty struggled up to the school.

Wrath and indignation were on all their faces.

In reply to the hundred inquiries showered upon them they said nothing, but forced their way through the press sullenly, heedless of the cheers of their sympathisers or the silence of their opponents.
The crowd slowly fell back to let them pass, and watched them disappear into the school.