demonstration,
when his valor was swallowed up in discretion, and he rushed towards
the school building.

For this offence I was brought to the bar of Mr. Parasyte's uneven
justice. Poodles had told his own story after changing his drabbled
garments. It was unfortunate that there were no witnesses of the
affray, for the principal would sooner have doubted the evidence of
his own senses than the word of Bill Poodles, simply because it was
not politic for him to do so. My accuser declared that he had spoken
civilly and properly to me, and that I had insulted him. He had walked
up to me, and placed his hand upon my shoulder, simply to attract my
attention, when I had struck him a severe blow in the face, which had
knocked him over backwards into the lake.

In answer to this charge, I told the truth exactly as it was. Bill
acknowledged that he had asked me some questions about the review
lesson, which I had declined to answer. He was sorry he had offended
so far, but was not angry at my refusal. He had determined to
sacrifice his dinner, and his play during the intermission, to enable
him to perform the examples. I persisted in the statement I had
already made, and refused to modify it in any manner. It was the
simple truth.

"Ernest Thornton," said Mr. Parasyte, solemnly, "hitherto I have
regarded you with favor. I have looked upon you as a worthy and
deserving boy, and I confess my surprise and grief at the event of
to-day. Not content with the dastardly assault committed upon William
Poodles,--whose devotion to his duty and his studies has been
manifested by the sacrifice of his dinner,--you utter the most
barefaced falsehood which it was ever my misfortune to hear a boy
tell."

"I have told the truth, sir!" I exclaimed, my cheek burning with
indignation.

"Silence, sir! Such conduct and such a boy cannot be tolerated at the
Parkville Liberal Institute. But in consideration of your former good
conduct, I purpose to give you an opportunity to redeem your
character."

"My character don't need any redeeming," I declared, stoutly.

"I see you are in a very unhappy frame of mind, and I fear you are
incorrigible. But I must do my duty, and I proceed to pronounce your
sentence, which is, that you be expelled from the Parkville Liberal
Institute."

"Bill Poodles is the biggest liar in the school!" shouted a daring
little fellow among my friends, who were astounded at the result of
the examination, and at the senten