ing forward, he quickly gained the porter's side, and brought his hand down twice, vigorously, upon that worthy's shoulder,

d; weight, five stone ten; biceps, eight inches

en he had recovered, he returned the vigorous slaps he had received

ll vaccinate you in four. Don't get practising any of you

ow of the porter; but just before he recovered, a hand came down on his top-hat, and crushe

boy who had crushed it. It was Robert Newall-the boy who had taunted the hunchback. He was a big, s

Newall, with a mocking laugh. "What

essly for his friend Plunger. But now that one of the Senior Form had taken up the baiting, Plunger had been comp

ckles, as though he were testing it. "Yes, genuine article. You're a wonder-a perfect wonder! And what's the biceps! Eight inches!

indignation. He was choking. The tears seemed very near the floodgates. It was only with a s

said?" went on Newall

ek of laughter as the hat was caught, and sent whirling in turn to another part of the throng. This was the finishing stroke to Harry.

a soft!" came fro

wished that the joke which he had begun at Harry's expense should go so far

t brought its bib and tuck and feeding-bottle?" we

he scalding tears, which we

uel brute!" came bu

s got a tongue, and it ca

nother push sent him quickly back again. The sport was only at its commencement, when it was suddenl

it was not till their return to the ground that they caught sight of the throng of boys, of

ng a fresher!"

oung cousin!"

o through in some form or other. But this seemed more than fun-more than a joke. Otherwise, his cousin would not be in tear

es and clenched fists, as he reached th

resenting this intrusion on Stanley's part. "N

of the unsuspecting lad. Newall gave him a sudden push, with the result, of course, that he came to the ground over Viner's back. U

ghly aroused. Before Paul could check him, he sprang at Newall, when he saw w

ley had shot out his arm blindly. It passed over Paul's shoulder

ould have ended; but Mr. Weevil appeared on the scene, just as Newall

an?" he demanded s

the boys. The tumult

ence master, as his eyes went round the group. Dr. Colville, the Head of Garfield, had been taken ill during the vacation, and had been ordered complete rest fro

as silent as before. It seemed as though

t on the master grimly. Then he paused, and fixed his eyes upon Stanley. "M

ruck Newall," a

hy

ewall,

e sharp retort. "Why did you st

time to come was to bring forth a bitter harvest of tares. Ah, boys, beware of the first seeds of hate! Pluck them from you, as you would your hand from the fire. Otherwise they will spring up so quickly that they will wind themselves, like poisonous weeds, round every fibre of your being, blighting and strangling all the better impulses of your nature, killing

d struck Newall he had no wish to implicate him. He began to feel so

peak, Moncrief?" demanded Mr. Weevil ang

allow me to explai

Weevil swung

If he has not yet learned the lesson of obedience, he must begin to learn it. When he has given me his explanation,

ned obstinately silent. Mr.

y because Dr. Colville is away. I must teach you that I mean to be obeyed during

re occasions, a pupil was confined. It was not, as Mr. Weevil had said, a very good commencement for the t

," said Paul, crossing over to where Newall w

l the passion that had been rankling wi

en up. Moncrief was wai

didn't want to speak. All I wanted was to get that blow back that

uch passion and hatred in the words that even the lig

g, fair boy, another of the occupants of Harry's dormitory. "And We

had happened, thought he was alone. But presently he was conscio

ed timidly, for his confidence in himself had

not speaking to you. I'm g

came here. I've made an ass of myself, and got S

ave put you on your guard against Plunger. But it's bad form here to spoil the fun of any one, and that is why I was silent. We sha

pression that had begun to steal over him, and was more cheerful. And all the time he was speaking a strong re