It comes natural to him to put on airs." "If anybody has insulted Godfrey," remarked Ben Travers, his toady, "he had better look out for himself." "Do you hear that, Andy?
Ben Travers says you must look out for yourself." "Who's goin' to punish me ?" asked Andy.

"If it's Ben, let him come on." But Ben showed no disposition to "come on." He could talk and threaten, but when words were to be succeeded by blows he never was on hand.

In fact he was a coward, and ought to have kept quiet, but it is just that class that are usually most noisy.
Andy had no idea that Godfrey would complain to the teacher in a matter where he was so clearly in the wrong, nor would he if he had not relied upon his father's position to carry him through.
"Mr.Stone is a poor man," he thought, "and he won't dare to take the part of a low Irish boy against the only son and heir of Colonel Preston.

He knows on which side his bread is buttered, and he won't be such a fool as to offend my father." While he said this he knew that it was very doubtful whether his father would espouse his cause, but then Mr.Stone would probably suppose he would, which would answer the same purpose on the present occasion.
When Andy re-entered the schoolroom with the rest of the boys at the termination of recess, he saw Godfrey in his seat.

The latter darted at him a glance of malicious triumph.
When the noise of entering was over, Mr.Stone said: "Andrew Burke, come forward!" Considerably surprised, Andy came forward, and looked up with a modest self-possession into the teacher's face.
"A complaint has been entered against you, Andrew," Mr.Stone began.
"What is it, sir ?" asked Andy.
"You are charged by Godfrey Preston with violently assaulting and throwing him down, just before school commenced.