Then the Rector entered, followed by Cyril, who sauntered into the room with a careless air, nodding at first one and then another, till his eyes met those of Luke Ross, when he started slightly, but returned the keen fixed gaze with one full of angry resentment before looking down. Then there was a little bustle and settling down in seats as the Rector took the chair. The vestry clerk opened a big calf-skin covered book, stuck a new quill pen behind his ear, and drew the ink a little nearer to him, when there was a breathless pause, during which all who could looked from Luke Ross, the young, to Humphrey Bone, the old, as if they were the champions of the two causes assembled here, and as though they were expected to come forward in front of the Rector's chair and do battle manfully for the post. Then the Rector quietly announced that the meeting that day was for the purpose of confirming the appointment of the new master to the boys' school, and also to accept the resignation of the late master, Mr Humphrey Bone. "Never resigned," shouted that individual; and he involuntarily wiped his mouth, as if to remove all traces of his having been seeking for support at the King's Head bar. Mr Mallow frowned slightly, and there was a low buzz of satisfaction on one side of the room. "Didn't resign, and don't want to resign," said Humphrey Bone more loudly, being encouraged by the looks of approbation he received. "And to confirm the dismissal of Mr Humphrey Bone from the office of master of the school," said the Rector, firmly. "I beg pardon, gentlemen, I was under the impression that Mr Bone had resigned. I may add, gentlemen, that the preliminaries have been settled at the former meeting, and all that is requisite now is for a majority of the governors to sign the minute that the clerk to the vestry will prepare. If any gentleman has a remark or two he would like to make, we shall be most happy to hear him." "Yes, that's easy enough to say," whispered Warton to Smithson. "He's used to speaking in public. I always feel as if my heart's getting into my mouth." "Mr Fullerton, I think, wishes to address you, gentlemen," said the Rector, smiling and sitting down. Mr Fullerton looked as if he would have liked to strangle the Rector for that smile. It was a perfectly innocent smile, in no wise directed at the would-be speaker, but it seemed to Fullerton that the Rector was ridiculing him, and it put him off his text for the moment, but he recovered himself, and in a very florid speech, full of wanderings from the point, opposed the appointment of a new master on the ground that Humphrey Bone having been duly nominated and appointed, unless he had in some special way become unfit for his post, the Rector had no right to dismiss him. Mr Bone uttered a very loud "Hear, hear!"