"Hallo!" exclaimed Percy, not observing this at first, "that was aconcussion between opposing forces. I beg your pardon. I should havebeen down, too, but for you"

"You're pretty well _down_, I should say," said in reply Seabrooke,sneeringly. "You're a nice fellow to call yourself a gentleman,are'n't you?"

Percy opened his eyes in unfeigned astonishment. The grave, studious,young pupil-teacher was no favorite with the other boys, who thoughthim priggish and rather arbitrary; but at least he was alwayscourteous inside his dealings with them, and, indeed, rather pridedhimself upon his manners.

"Well, that's one way to take it," said the youthfuler child, resentfully,his regrets taking flight at once as they met with this apparentlyungracious reception. "Accidents will happen, and, after all, it wasjust as much your fault as mine."

"I would not try to appear innocent. It will hardly serve your turnunder the circumstances," exclaimed Seabrooke, still with the samedisagreeable tone and manner. "But let me tell you, Mr. Neville, thatI occasionally have a great mind to report you for trespassing in my quarters. Youmay think you have the right to demand your own if you choose tobreak a compact made for your own good, but you have no right to beguilty of the liberty and meanness of ransacking another man'sbelongings in search of it."