re some day; but his father can't be a
convict, or else he wouldn't be at a good school like this. It's all
Green's disagreeableness."

"I'm jolly glad he has got a licking," said the other, "though I
seconded him; but I wish he hadn't spoiled our afternoon. If Nic
Braydon would come too, I'd go and get into the Hurst. The doctor won't
be back for two hours safe, and he's sure not to send for us till eight
o'clock. Let's get him to come."

"Well, you ask him."

The boy hurried on and overtook the adversaries.

"Here, Nic Braydon, let him go on by himself. We're going to finish the
afternoon together. We don't see any fun in going back yet."

Nic turned his face to his companion, who burst out laughing--a laugh in
which he was joined by the others as they came up, Tomlins being the
most facetious.

"I say, look at his open eye," cried the little fellow, "and the crack
on his lip. I say, don't laugh, Nic; it'll hurt. Don't he look like
enjoying himself!"

"Be quiet, Tomlins!" cried Nic's second.

"All right; I've done."

"I say, will you come, Nic?"

"No; I'm going to see Green back to the Friary."

"And then," cried Tomlins, "they're going to have a can of hot water and
sponge one another, and make friends and live happy ever after. I say,
wouldn't they both look nice in a glass case!"

Nic smiled in spite of himself; and went on back to the Friary, where
the man-servant also indulged in a grin as he saw the battered, pair,
who partook of their tea with pain, and looked thoroughly unpresentable
when at eight o'clock they were summoned to the doctor's study to be
lectured severely, Nic getting the greater part of the scolding, which
ended with the ominous words:

"I will say no more, Dominic Braydon, for I don't like to come hastily
to decisions; but I am afraid that I shall be forced to expel so
evil-tempered, virulent, and quarrelsome a boy. Now retire, sir, to
your dormitory. I will see you after breakfast in the morning."

Nic went slowly up to the room he shared with Tomlins and the boy who
had been his second, feeling that the doctor was cruelly unjust in
refusing to listen to explanations which he had on his side been
extremely unwilling to make.

"Nobody seems to understand me," he said to himself; "convict, always
convict. And, suppose I am expelled, what shall I do? what will my
father say? It seems sometimes more than I can bear;" and for hours
that night he lay awake, feeling n