Mr Percival in the playground and touched his cap;
Mr Percival glanced at him contemptuously for a moment, and then turned
his head aside without noticing the salute. It may seem strange, but we
must remember that to all who hear of any wrong act by report only, it
presents itself as a mere naked fact--a bare result without preface or
palliation. The subtle grades of temptation which led to it--the
violent outburst of passion long pent-up which thus found its
consummation--are unknown or forgotten, and the deed itself, isolated
from all that rendered it possible, receives unmitigated condemnation.
All that anyone took the trouble to know or to believe about Walter's
scrape was, that he had broken open a master's private desk, and in
revenge had purposely burnt a most valuable manuscript; and for this,
sentence was passed upon him broadly and in the gross.

Poor Walter! those were dark days for him; but Henderson and Kenrick
stuck fast by him, and little Arthur Eden still looked up to him with
unbounded gratitude and affection, and he felt that the case was not
hopeless. Kenrick, indeed, seemed to waver once or twice. He sought
Walter and shook hands with him at once, but still he was not with him,
Walter fancied, so much as he had been or might have been, till, after a
short struggle, his natural impulse of generosity won the day. As for
Henderson, Walter thought he could have died for him, so much he loved
him for his kindness in this hour of need; and Eden never left his side
when he could creep there to console him by merry playfulness, or to be
his companion when he would otherwise have been alone.

The boys had been truly sorry to hear of Mr Paton's loss; it roused all
their most generous feelings. That evening as they came out of chapel
they all gathered round the iron gates. The intention had been to groan
at poor Walter. He knew of it perfectly well, for Henderson had
prepared him for it, and expressed his determination to walk by his
side. It was for him a moment of keen anguish, and that anguish
betrayed itself in his scared and agitated look. But he was spared this
last drop in the cup of punishment. The mere sight of him showed the
boys that he had suffered bitterly enough already. When they looked at
him they had not the heart to hurt and shame him any more. Mr Paton's
open forgiveness of that which had fallen most severely on himself
changed the current of their feelings. Instead of groaning