e speaking truth; besides, bull-baiting is a very cruel and
dangerous diversion, and therefore none of us should go to see it,
particularly Master Merton, whose mother loves him so much, and is so
careful about him."

This speech was not received with much approbation by those to whom it
was addressed. "A pretty fellow," said one, "to give himself these airs,
and pretend to be wiser than every one else!"

"What!" said Master Compton, "does this beggar's brat think that he is
to govern gentlemen's sons, because Master Merton is so good as to keep
company with him?" "If I were Master Merton," said a third, "I'd soon
send the little impertinent jackanapes home to his own blackguard
family." And Master Mash, who was the biggest and strongest boy in the
whole company, came up to Harry, and grinning in his face, said, "So all
the return that you make to Master Merton for his goodness to you is to
be a spy and an informer, is it, you little dirty blackguard?"

Harry, who had long perceived and lamented the coolness of Master Merton
towards him, was now much more grieved to see that his friend was not
only silent, but seemed to take an ill-natured pleasure in these
insults, than at the insults themselves which were offered to him.
However, as soon as the crowd of tormentors which surrounded him would
give him leave to speak, he coolly answered, "that he was as little a
spy and informer as any of them; and, as to begging, he thanked God he
wanted as little of them as they did of him;" "besides," added he, "were
I even reduced so low as that, I should know better how to employ my
time than to ask charity of any one here."

This sarcastic answer, and the reflections that were made upon it, had
such an effect upon the too irritable temper of Master Merton, that, in
an instant, forgetting his former obligations and affection to Harry, he
strutted up to him, and clenching his fist, asked him, "whether he meant
to insult him?"

"Well done, Master Merton!" echoed through the whole society; "thrash
him heartily for his impudence." "No, Master Tommy," answered Harry; "it
is you and your friends here that insult me."

"What!" answered Tommy, "are you a person of such consequence that you
must not be spoken to? You are a prodigious fine gentleman, indeed." "I
always thought you one till now," answered Harry.

"How, you rascal!" said Tommy; "do you say that I am not a gentleman?
Take that!" and immediately struck Harry upon the face