for telling the truth when you are asked a question."

The idea fired me. Aye, it would be good to attack in a last charge
and beat old Fillet, while I had all his house in fighting array
behind me. It would be good that he, who had rejected my serious
apology, should be obliged to hear my contemptuous one, backed by
the tumult and hooting of half the school. Never had I thought that
my decisive victory, for which I had waited years, would assume
these splendid proportions.

Into the house I went, flushed and determined, and quite unaware
that by invading Fillet's study I should walk into the arms of the
head master himself. Up the stairs I rushed, but, as I set foot upon
the first landing, Radley, coming out of his room, stood in the way
of my further ascent.

"Come in here a minute," he said.

"Sir, I can't--"

He seized me by the right wrist and swung me almost brutally into
his room. I was a muscular stripling, and he meant me to feel his
strength. Suddenly disconcerted, I heard the door slam, and found
that Radley was face to face with me. My breast went up and down
with uncontrollable temper, while my wrist, all red and white with
the marks of powerful fingers, felt as if it were broken.

"Where were you going?" he demanded, his hard mouth set.

"To Mr. Fillet's study," I snapped, purposely omitting the "sir."

"What for?"

"To apologise for losing the Swimming Cup."

"In a spirit of sincerity or one of scoffing?"

It was with no desire for veracity, but as a challenge to fight,
that I replied: "One of scoffing."

"Good." Radley's grey eyes unveiled some of their gentleness, "you
can tell the truth still. Now, Ray, the shock of your disappointment
has deprived you of reason, or you, of all people, would see that
this tomfoolery outside is unsportsmanlike in the extreme."

"But, sir," I ventured, surprised and rather pleased to hear myself
mannerly again, "every boy declares I didn't dive too soon."

"But unfortunately, Ray," replied Radley, also pleased, "every boy
was not appointed a judge, and your housemaster was. Now, do you
think that the judge's decision can be overruled by a mere counting
of the heads that disagree with him? I put it to you; undo the
damage you've done in associating yourself with this exhibition
outside--at this moment you wield more influence than any other boy
in the school--go out and establish order."

"Sir, I can't, sir. I'm their sort of deputy."

"Ray, there's a