He used to denounce him as a disagreeable and pragmatical little muff, and was as loud as any of them in condemning his announced determination to "sneak." Had he known that Wright had acted under Montagu's well-meant, though rather mistaken advice, he might have abstained from having anything more to do with the matter, but now he promised to kick Wright himself after the four o'clock bell.
Four o'clock came; the names were called; the master left the room.
Wright, who perfectly knew what was threatened, stood there pale but fearless.

His indifferent look was an additional annoyance to Eric, who walked up to him carelessly, and boxing his ears, though without hurting him, said contemptuously, "Conceited little sneak." Montagu had been told of the intended kicking, and had determined even single-handed to prevent it.

He did _not_, however, expect that Eric would have taken part in it, and was therefore unprepared.

The color rushed into his cheeks; he went up, took Wright quietly by the hand, and said with firm determination, "No one in the school shall touch Wright again." "What?
no one! just hark to that," said Graham; "I suppose he thinks himself cock of the school." Eric quite misunderstood Montagu's proceedings; he took it for a public challenge.

All the Rowlandites were round, and to yield would have looked like cowardice.