His appearance caused a little reaction in his favor, and a murmur of applause followed his answer.
"Good," said Avonley; "who will prosecute on the part of the school ?" There was a pause.

Nobody seemed to covet the office.
"Very well; if no one is willing to prosecute, the charge drops." "I will do it," said Gibson, a Rowlandite, one of the study boys at the top of the fifth form.

He was a clever fellow, and Eric liked the little he had seen of him.
"Have you any objection, Williams, to the jury being composed of the sixth form?
or are there any names among them which you wish to challenge ?" "No," said Eric, glancing round with confidence.
"Well, now, who will defend the accused ?" Another pause, and Upton got up.
"No," said Eric, at once.

"You were inclined to distrust me, Upton, and I will only be defended by somebody who never doubted my innocence." Another pause followed, and then, blushing crimson, Russell got up.

"I am only a Shell-boy," he said, "but if Eric doesn't mind trusting his cause to me, I will defend him, since no other fifth-form fellow stirs." "Thank you, Russell, _I wanted_ you to offer, I could wish no better defender." "Will Owen, Duncan, and Montagu help me, if they can ?" asked Russell.
"Very willingly," they all three said, and went to take their seats by him.