One glass more, and you are among the sinners."
"I know," said Howard, "and I perceive that I have had the benefit
of your thought-out oration after all!"
Jack smiled rather sheepishly, and then said, "Well, what's to be
done? Am I to be sent down?"
"Not if you do the right thing," said Howard. "You must just go to
Gretton and say you are very sorry you got drunk, and still more
sorry you were impertinent. If you can contrive to show him that
you think him a good fellow, and are really vexed to have been such
a bounder, so much the better. That I leave to your natural
eloquence. But you will be gated, and he will write to your
father."
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.
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