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His son is to be new here this term, and his father rang from King ’ s Lynn. He tells me that, finding himself unexpectedly in the district again, he would like to call for a talk, as the last time he came he was interviewed and shown round only by my secretary. What have you to say to that ?’
    Verity swallowed on coldness. She could only agree, ‘ Yes, I did see him and show him round alone. ’
    ‘ But wasn ’ t I given to understand that Mr. D ysart had handled all the parent interviews which I hadn ’ t? ’
    ‘ This was before we knew you were to be appointed. ’
    ‘ That makes no difference. On this occasion and on others, for all I know, you deputized for Mr. D ysart. Why? ’
    ‘ Because he asked me to. ’ Verity added in her own defence, ‘ I think I was able to tell Captain Bellamy all he wanted to know. He seemed satisfied. ’
    ‘ I ’ ve no doubt you were. I ’ m not questioning your know-how about everything to do with the school. That makes itself apparent daily. But that ’ s not the point at issue. Every parent, particularly those of our newcomers, should have been seen by Mr. Dysart in person—or by myself after I did arrive. Why, anyhow, had he to get you to stand in for him with Captain Bellamy? ’
    Verity made a mental note to warn Nicholas Dysart of the wrath in store. ‘ Because, if I remember, he thought he might be too busy himself, ’ she told Daniel Wyatt.
    ‘ I see. ’ A pause. Then, ‘ Well, I ’ ve made my appointment with Captain and Mrs. Bellamy for four o ’ clock, so will you see we ’ re not disturbed ?’
    That closed the subject, but as soon as she was able Verity played truant from her office and walked over to West House where she was admitted by Mrs. Dysart , a thin-faced, tight-lipped woman whose lean angularity was the complete foil to her husband ’ s chubby roundness of figure. They were opposites in other things too. Jane Dysart made no secret of her ambitions for Nicholas. Nicholas, for his part, had none, claiming he had no wish to move out or up from where he found himself. He was popular with staff and school alike; she was not, and in the boys ’ frank opinion ‘ Old Nick ’ had taken on a grossly unfair handicap when he had chosen ‘ Mrs. Old Nick ’ as his life ’ s partner.
    Her greeting to Verity was a frigid, ‘ Well? ’ and when she had fetched her husband she stayed while Verity explained her errand.
    Nicholas ’ s reaction was merely a fat chuckle. ‘ Not to worry, ’ he assured Verity. ‘ I admit I seem to remember I had a golfing date I didn ’ t want to break, and I ’ ll plead guilty. But hang it, it was vacation, and aren ’ t I entitled to as much of that as anyone else? ’
    ‘ Of course you are, though Father saw parents all through vacation, ’ Verity demurred.
    ‘ That ’ s different. Bless his memory, R. L. ’ —the staff ’ s affectionate abbreviation for Mr. Lytton — ‘ was dedicated—among all the other lovable thing s he was. I ’ m a lesser chap altogether and I like such freedom as I consider I ’ ve earned. Besides, who better than you, my dear, to do the honours of the place for this man Bellamy? Which, you may be very sure, I ’ ll point out to our respected High when he has me on the carpet. ’
    Verity said drily, ‘ You needn ’ t bother. He allowed I was probably—adequate. I thought you should be warned, all the same, that he is distinctly “ not amused .” ’ But before Nicholas could reply his wife cut in.
    “ On the carpet ”! “ Not amused ”!’ she echoed, her needle stabbing viciously at the hem she was stitching. ‘ Nicholas, really! How can you be so — so craven, when, if you had played your cards properly, there ’ s no reason at all why you shouldn ’ t be just where Wyatt is now !’ At Verity ’ s sudden movement of distaste she threw the girl a semi - apologetic ‘ Of course, I mean, if your father hadn ’ t died ,’ then returned to the attack. ‘ Well,