d
by the fight that one of them flew out, and sent the miserable cur
staggering against Mercer's chest.

Then I stood upon my guard, but the boy only held his hand to his face,
while the others set up a cheer, and I turned to Burr major, who was
still seated on the floor.

"I'm very sorry, Burr," I said apologetically. "I didn't want to knock
you about so much. You'll shake hands, won't you?"

He looked up at me with rather an ugly expression upon his face, but he
made no movement to take my hand, only turned away.

"Help me up, Stewart," he said huskily. "I want to go to my room and
wash, and--"

"What is the meaning of all this, pray?" said a cold, harsh voice, and
we all looked round to see Mr Rebble's white face just above the
trap-door.

"Burr Major and Burr Junior been having it out, sir," cried half a dozen
voices at once, and the colour began to burn in my cheeks as I met the
usher's eye.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Mr Rebble stepped up into the loft, closely followed by Mr Hasnip, who
stared from one to the other with a peculiar smile upon his lip.

"Fighting, eh?" said Mr Rebble. "Disgraceful! Why, Dicksee and Dean
have been fighting too, and--yes--Mercer."

"Yes, sir," cried little Wilson. "Mercer and Dicksee had theirs first,
then Burr major and Burr junior. Bill Dean hasn't been fighting. It
was only that Burr junior gave him a wipe."

I felt as if I were the chief offender, and as I heard these words, I
longed not to deliver wipes, but to have a good wash.

"Disgraceful!" exclaimed Mr Rebble. "Who began it? You, I suppose,
Burr."

My first instinct was to disclaim this excitedly, but I thought it would
be cowardly, so I held my tongue, leaving it to Burr major to answer.

To my surprise, though, he remained silent, and little Wilson squeaked
out,--

"No, sir, please, sir, it wasn't Burr junior, sir. Eely Burr sent for
Burr and Mercer to come and be licked; but," added the boy, with a
malicious grin, "he hasn't licked them yet."

"Disgraceful! disgraceful!" cried Mr Rebble. "Well, the Doctor will
decide what is to be done. Quick, boys, the dinner bell will.--Ah,
there it goes!"

There was a hurried rush off at this, the boys being only too glad to
get beyond hearing of the usher's scolding, and we who were left
hurriedly scrambled on our jackets in a shamefaced way.

"This matter will have to be thoroughly investigated," said Mr Rebble;
"but be quick now and make yourselves