empest
was brewing. "Ernest Thornton!"

As that was my name, I replied to the summons by rising, and
exhibiting my full length to all the boys assembled in the
school-room--about one hundred in number.

"Ernest Thornton!" repeated Mr. Parasyte, not satisfied with the
demonstration I had made.

"Sir!" I replied, in a round, full, square tone, which was intended to
convince the principal that I was ready to "face the music."

"Ernest Thornton, I am informed that you have been engaged in a
fight," he continued, in a tone a little less sharp than that with
which he had pronounced my name; and I had the vanity to believe that
the square tone in which I had uttered the single word I had been
called upon to speak had produced a salutary impression upon him.

"I haven't been engaged in any fight, sir," I replied, with all the
dignity becoming a boy of fourteen.

"Sir! what do you mean by denying it?" added Mr. Parasyte, working
himself up into a magnificent mood, which was intended to crush me by
its very majesty--but it didn't.

"I have not engaged in any fight, sir," I repeated, with as much
decision as the case seemed to require.

"Didn't you strike William Poodles?" demanded he, fiercely.

"Yes, sir, I did. Bill Poodles hit me in the head, and I knocked him
over in self-defence--that was all, sir."

"Don't you call that a fight, sir?" said Mr. Parasyte, knitting his
brows, and looking savage enough to swallow me.

"No, sir; I do not. I couldn't stand still and let him pound me."

"You irritated him in the beginning, and provoked him to strike the
blow. I hold you responsible for the fight."

"I had no intention to irritate him, and I did not wish to provoke
him."

"I hold you responsible for the fight, Thornton," said the principal
again.

I supposed he would, for Poodles was the son of a very wealthy and
aristocratic merchant in the city of New York, while I belonged to
what the principal regarded as an inferior order of society. At least
twenty boys in the Parkville Liberal Institute came upon the
recommendation of Poodle's father, while not a single one had been
lured into these classic shades by the influence of my family--if I
could be said to belong to any family. Besides, I was but a day
scholar, and my uncle paid only tuition bills for me, while most of
the pupils were boarders at the Institute.

I am writing of events which took place years ago, but I have seen no
reason to change the opinion