"Crawley overheard me speaking on the subject to Mr Barclay, and has probably told you what it is.

I had, as you all know, given strict orders that the boat was not to be taken on the river by any of the boys, and this morning it was found outside the boathouse tied to a stake.

There is no doubt that one of my boys did this, and the only reparation he can make is to own his fault at once, and take the punishment!" There was dead silence.
One heart in the room was beating like a sledge-hammer against the Eton jacket that enclosed it, but no one spoke.

Only Haggart turned his head, and looked again at the fourth-form boys, and as if they were under a spell, the grey eyes, full of terrified entreaty, were lifted to his.

He tried to forget the look.