It was a finely-contested battle, and his opinion of Grandcourt rose as he stood and looked on.
It had not occurred to him till he was about to start that his two principal prefects would of course be members of the committee in whose deliberations he was to take part.

But he considered he might safely leave the control of the house during his short absence to the keeping of Stafford and Felgate, who, though neither of them the kind of boy to inspire much confidence, had at least the title to be considered equal to the task.

After all, it was only for an hour.

Possibly no one would know of his absence, and on this the first occasion of his being present at a meeting in whose objects he had so much interest, he felt that his duty to the school had as much claim on him as his duty to his house.
So he ran the risk, and went quietly out at the appointed time, in the comfortable assurance that his house was absorbed in preparation, and would never miss him.
The meeting came up to his expectations.

He was the only master present, and as such was voted to the chair.