Mr. Huntley heard the tale with incredulity, a smile of ridicule parting his lips. “Suspect Arthur of theft!” he exclaimed. “What next? Had I been in my place on the magistrates’ bench that day, I should have dismissed the charge at once, upon such defective evidence. Channing, what is the matter?” Mr. Channing laid his hand upon his aching brow, and Mr. Huntley had to bend over him to catch the whispered answer. “I do fear that he may be guilty. If he is not guilty, some strange mystery altogether is attached to it.” “But why do you fear that he is guilty?” asked Mr. Huntley, in surprise. “Because his own conduct, relating to the charge, is so strange. He will not assert his innocence; or, if he does attempt to assert it, it is with a faint, hesitating manner and tone, that can only give one the impression of falsehood, instead of truth.” “It is utterly absurd to suppose your son Arthur capable of the crime. He is one of those whom it is impossible to doubt; noble, true, honourable! No; I would suspect myself, before I could suspect Arthur Channing.” “I would have suspected myself before I had suspected him,” impulsively spoke Mr. Channing. “But there are the facts, coupled with his not denying the charge. He could not deny it, even to the satisfaction of Mr. Galloway: did not attempt it; had he done so, Galloway would not have turned him from the office.” Mr. Huntley fell into thought, revolving over the details, as they had been related to him. That Arthur was the culprit, his judgment utterly repudiated; and he came to the conclusion that he must be screening another. He glanced at Mrs. Channing, who sat in troubled silence. “You do not believe Arthur guilty?” he said, in a low tone, suddenly bending over to her. “I do not know what to believe; I am racked with doubt and pain,” she answered. “Arthur’s words to me in private are only compatible with entire innocence; but then, what becomes of the broad facts?--of his strange appearance of guilt before the world? God can bring his innocence to light, he says; and he is content to wait His time.” “If there is a mystery, I’ll try to come to the bottom of it, when I reach Helstonleigh,” thought Mr. Huntley. “Arthur’s not guilty, whoever else may be.” It was impossible to shake his firm faith in Arthur Channing. Mr. Huntley was one of the few who read character strongly and surely, and he _knew_ Arthur was incapable of doing wrong. Had his eyes witnessed Arthur positively stealing the bank-note, his mind, his judgment would have refused credence to his eyes. You may, therefore, judge that neither then, nor afterwards, was he likely to admit the possibility of Arthur’s guilt. “And the college school is saying that Tom shall not stand for the seniorship!” he resumed aloud. “Does my son say it?” “Some of them are saying it; I believe the majority of the school. I do not know whether your son is amongst the number.”