I despise you all; there is hardly one gentlemanly or honorable fellow left among you since that fellow Brigson has come here; yes, I despise you, and you know that you deserve it." And every one of them _did_ shrink before his just and fiery rebuke.
The scene was not over when the door suddenly opened, and Mr.Rose appeared.

He stood amazed to see Montagu there in his night-shirt, the boys all round, and Brigson washing his nose, which was bleeding profusely, at his basin.
Montagu instantly stepped up to him.

"You can trust me, sir; may I ask you kindly to say nothing of this?
I have been thrashing some one that deserved it, and teaching these fellows a lesson." Mr.Rose saw and allowed for his excited manner.

"I can trust you," he said, "Montagu, and shall take no farther notice of this irregularity.
And now get instantly to your beds." But Montagu, slipping on his clothes, went straight up to the studies, and called the upper boys together.

He briefly told them what had occurred, and they rejoiced greatly, binding themselves for the future to check, if they could, by all fair means, Brigson's pernicious influence and abominable example.
But it was too late now; the mischief was done.
"O Eric," said Montagu, "why did you not make a stand against all this before?
Your own brother was one of them." "Little wretch.