He
knocked firmly on the partly open door, and when he heard Acton's "Come
in," walked solidly in.
Acton smiled amiably when he saw his visitor, and, with his half-foreign
politeness, drew out a chair.
"No, thanks," said Phil, icily; "but, if you've no objection, I'd like
to close your door. May I?"
"By all means."
"My opinion of you, Acton----"
"Why trouble about that, Bourne; I know it.".
----"is that you're an unmitigated cad."
"Gently, friend, gently," said Acton, half getting up.
"You, by your foul play, have disfigured poor Aspinall for life----"
"Bourne, you're a monomaniac on that subject. I've had the pleasure of
telling you once before that you were a liar."
"And you did not get your 'footer' cap for it, which seems such a paltry
punishment for so villainous a crime."
"That is stale, stale," said Acton, coolly.
"You entice my brother to London, which means expulsion for him if it is
found out by Dr. Moore."
"I believe that's the rule."
"The expulsion of Jack would bring disgrace on an honest name in the
school and give pain to an honest gentleman----"
"The pity o' 't," said Acton, with a sneer.
"And so, since you, by a kind of malicious fate, seem to escape all
proper punishment----"
"You should be a parson, Bourne."
"I'm going to try to give you your deserts myself."
"An avenging angel. Oh, ye gods!"
"Do you mind turning out at the old milling ground at seven sharp
to-morrow morning?"
"The mornings are chilly," said Acton, with a snigger.
Pages:
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160