Upton, I have a great mind to punish you also, for tempting him to come here." This was a mistake on Mr.Gordon's part, of which Upton took immediate advantage.
"I have no power to prevent it, sir, if he wishes it.

Besides," he continued, with annoying blandness of tone, "it would be inhospitable; and I am too glad of his company." Eric smiled, and Mr.Gordon frowned.

"Williams, leave the room instantly." The boy obeyed slowly and doggedly.

"Mr.Rose never interferes with me, when he sees me here," he said as he retreated.
"Then I shall request Mr.Rose to do so in future; your conceit and impertinence are getting intolerable." Eric only answered with a fiery glance; the next minute Upton joined him on the stairs, and Mr.Gordon heard them laughing a little ostentatiously, as they ran out into the playground together.

He went away full of strong contempt, and from that moment began to look on the friends as two of the worst boys in the school.
This incident had happened on Thursday, which was a half-holiday, and instead of being able to join in any of the games, Eric had to spend that weary afternoon in writing away at the fourth Georgic; Upton staying in a part of the time to help him a little, by dictating the lines to him--an occupation not unfrequently interrupted by storms of furious denunciation against Mr.Gordon's injustice and tyranny; Eric vowing "that he would pay him out somehow yet." The imposition was not finished that evening, and it again consumed some of the next day's leisure, part of it being written between schools in the forbidden class-room.