Jack whistled.  “I say, can’t you stop that?” he said.  “Father will be fearfully upset.”

“No, I can’t,” said Howard, “and I wouldn’t if I could.  This is the music, and you have got to face it.”

“Very well,” said Jack rather glumly, “I suppose I must pay the score.  I’ll go and grovel to Gretton.  I was simply beastly to him.  My frank nature expanded in his presence.”

Howard laughed.  “Well, be off with you!” he said.  “And I will tell you what.  I will write to your father, and tell him what I think.”

“Then it will be all right,” said Jack, greatly relieved.  “Anything to stop the domestic howl.  I’ll write too.  After all, it is rather convenient to have a cousin among the Dons; and, anyhow, you have had your innings now.  I was a fool, I admit.  It won’t happen again.”

Howard wrote at once to the Vicar, and was rewarded by a long and grateful letter.  “It is a disreputable affair,” he wrote, “and it has upset me very much, and Maud even more.  But you have put it in the right light, and I am very grateful to you for your good offices.  I couldn’t have believed it of Jack, but I look back to dear old Pembroke, and I remember there was one occasion—­but I need not revive ancient memories, and I am sufficiently versed in human nature not to waste indignation over a boyish escapade.  I have ventured to address letters to Mr. Gretton and the Master on the subject, apologising for Jack’s misdemeanour, and saying how much I appreciate the excellence of the tone that prevails in the College.”

What, however, pleased Howard still more was that Gretton spoke to him after Hall and said, “I am much obliged to you, Kennedy, for your prompt action.  Sandys came and apologised to me in a very proper manner, and entirely removed the disagreeable impression from my mind.  I owe this to your kindly intervention; and I must honestly say that I thought well of Sandys.  He did not attempt to excuse himself, or to extenuate his fault.  He showed very good feeling, and I believe that henceforth his influence will be on the side of order.  I was really pleased with him.”

Howard spoke to Jack again the following day, and said he was glad he had done the thing thoroughly.

“Thoroughly?” said Jack; “I should think I did.  I fairly licked the old man’s boots.  We had quite an affecting scene.  I rather think he gave me his blessing, and I went away feeling that I had been almost recommended to repeat my performance.  Gretton’s a sensible man.  This is a good College.  The thing would have been mismanaged anywhere else; but now I have not only an unblemished character, but I am like gold tried in the furnace.”

“One more thing,” said Howard; “why not get your people to come up for two or three days?  It will clear off the whole affair.  I think they would like to be asked, and I should be very glad to help to look after them.”