He had not done blubbering even yet, when the prayer-bell rang.

No sooner had Mr.Rose left the room than Wildney, his dark eyes sparkling with rage, leaped on the table, and shouted-- "Three groans, hoots, and hisses, for a liar and a coward," a sign of execration which he was the first to lead off, and which the boys echoed like a storm.
Astonished at the tumult, Mr.Rose re-appeared at the door.

"Oh, we're not hissing you, sir," said Wildney excitedly; "we're all hissing at lying and cowardice." Mr.Rose thought the revulsion of feeling might do good, and he was striding out again, without a word, when-- "Three times three for Mr.Rose," sang out Wildney.
Never did a more hearty or spontaneous cheer burst from the lips and lungs of fifty boys than that.

The news had spread like wildfire to the studies, and the other boys came flocking in during the uproar, to join in it heartily.

Cheer after cheer rang out like a sound of silver clarions from the clear boy-voices; and in the midst of the excited throng stood Eric and Montagu, side by side, hurrahing more lustily than all the rest.
But Mr.Rose, in the library, was on his knees, with moving lips and lifted hands.