‘To Miss Rippenger,’ I replied.

‘What have you there?’

‘A book, sir.’

‘Show me the book.’

I stood fast.

’It ‘s a book I have lent him, sir,’ said Heriot, rising.  ’I shall see if it’s a fit book for a young boy,’ said Boddy; and before Heriot could interpose, he had knocked the book on the floor, and out fell the letter.  Both sprang down to seize it:  their heads encountered, but Heriot had the quicker hand; he caught the letter, and cried ‘Off!’ to me, as on another occasion.  This time, however, he was not between me and the usher.  I was seized by the collar, and shakes roughly.

’You will now understand that you are on a footing with the rest of the boys, you Roy,’ said Boddy.  ’Little scoundrelly spoilt urchins, upsetting the discipline of the school, won’t do here.  Heriot, here is your book.  I regret,’ he added, sneering, ‘that a leaf is torn.’

‘I regret, sir, that the poor boy was so savagely handled,’ said Heriot.

He was warned to avoid insolence.

‘Oh, as much Virgil as you like,’ Heriot retorted; ‘I know him by heart.’

It was past the hour of my customary visit to Julia, and she came to discover the reason of my delay.  Boddy stood up to explain.  Heriot went forward, saying, ’I think I’m the one who ought to speak, Miss Rippenger.  The fact is, I hear from little Roy that you are fond of tales of Indian adventure, and I gave him a book for you to read, if you like it.  Mr. Boddy objected, and treated the youngster rather rigorously.  It must have been quite a misunderstanding on his part.  Here is the book it’s extremely amusing.’

Julia blushed very red.  She accepted the book with a soft murmur, and the sallow usher had not a word.

‘Stay,’ said Heriot.  ’I took the liberty to write some notes.  My father is an Indian officer, you know, and some of the terms in the book are difficult without notes.  Richie, hand that paper.  Here they are, Miss Rippenger, if you’ll be so kind as to place them in the book.’

I was hoping with all my might that she would not deny him.  She did, and my heart sank.

‘Oh, I can read it without notes,’ she said, cheerfully.

After that, I listened with indifference to her petition to Boddy that I might be allowed to accompany her, and was not at all chagrined by his refusal.  She laid down the book, saying that I could bring it to her when I was out of disgrace.

In the evening we walked in the playground, where Heriot asked me to do a brave thing, which he would never forget.  This was that I should take a sharp run right past Boddy, who was pacing up and down before the gate leading into Julia’s garden, and force her to receive the letter.  I went bounding like a ball.  The usher, suspecting only that I hurried to speak to him, let me see how indignant he was with my behaviour by striding all the faster as I drew near, and so he passed the gate, and I rushed in.  I had just time to say to Julia, ‘Hide it, or I’m in such a scrape.’