One was loyalty to the schoolhouse, the other was loyalty to Parson.

How these two duties could be carried out now, at one and the same time, was a source of much anxiety to the perplexed Augustus.
He too was as indignant about the whole affair as his friend.

But his wrath was aimed first of all against those who dared to insinuate that any schoolhouse boy could have been guilty of the evil deed, and next against the Parretts' authorities for refusing Riddell's and Fairbairn's offer of a new race.
He and his friend had a long and painful discussion of the whole question an evening or two later in the study of the latter.
"It's all very well," said he, "to say it's a schoolhouse chap has done it--" "I tell you a schoolhouse chap _must_ have done it," said Parson.

"Who else would do such a dirty trick ?" "I'll fight you, old man, if you go on like that," observed the schoolhouse fag.
"Oh, beg pardon," said Parson, apologetically.

"I mean who else could have done it, you know ?" "A Welcher might," suggested Telson.
"What would be the good to him?
They hadn't a boat.