tand 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.'

The next minute she was addressing my enemy:

'Surely you would not punish him because he loves me?' and he, though he
spoke of insubordination, me