one of the new boys."

"Silence!" thundered the Doctor. "You know my rules, and that I have
forbidden fighting. Here, somebody, one of the high form boys--you,
Burney, let me hear what you have to say. Speak out, sir. Ah, you have
been seconder, I suppose?"

"Yes, sir," faltered the lad, whose hands showed unpleasant traces of
what he had been doing.

"Ah," continued the Doctor.--"Mr Rampson, see that not a boy dares to
move.--Now, Burney, let me hear the whole truth of this from beginning
to end. No suppression, sir, from favour or fear. I want the
straightforward truth. Who began this disgraceful business?--Stop! Mr
Rampson, here. Is that boy Slegge much hurt?"

"A bit stunned, sir, and stupid with his injuries, but he's all right,
sir; he's coming round," and in proof thereof Slegge, with the
assistance of the master's hands, struggled to his feet, and stood
shaking his head as if he felt a wasp in his ear, and then promptly sat
down again.

"Now, Burney," cried the Doctor, "speak out. Who began this?"

The boy addressed glanced at the Doctor and then at Slegge, while his
lips parted; but he uttered no sound.

"Do you hear me, sir?" roared the Doctor.

"Big Tom Slegge, sir," came from the shrill little fellow who had before
spoken.

The Doctor frowningly held up one big white finger at the little
speaker, who shrank back amongst his fellows.

"I saw that look of yours, Burney," said the Doctor sternly, "and I read
its meaning, sir. It seemed to appeal to your older schoolfellow, one
of the principals in this disgraceful encounter, asking him if you might
speak out. I'll answer for him. Yes, sir; and beware lest you, as a
gentleman's son, lower your position in my eyes by making any
suppression. What was the cause of the quarrel?"

Burney's face was working, for after the excitement of the fight and its
sudden ending he felt hysterically emotional, and in a broken voice the
truth came pouring forth.

"I can't help it, sir, and if he bullies me afterwards for speaking I
must tell all. Slegge's been jealous of both the new boys ever since
they came. He's been as disagreeable and spiteful as could be, and
forced us all to take his side."

"Yes, yes; go on," cried the Doctor, for the boy stopped with a gasp;
but he spoke more calmly afterwards. "He's been working it up, sir, for
a fight for days, out of jealousy because he thought more was made of
Singh and Severn than of him."

"Indee