He had now quite recovered his ordinary bearing, and spoke out clearly and without nervousness.

He afterwards won several places by answering questions, and at the end of the lesson was marked about half-way up the form.

The boys' numbers were then taken down in the weekly register, and they went back to their seats.
On his desk Eric found a torn bit of paper, on which was clumsily scrawled, "I'll teach you to grin when I'm turned, you young brute." The paper seemed to fascinate his eyes.

He stared at it fixedly, and augured ominously of Barker's intentions, since that worthy obviously alluded to his having smiled in form, and chose to interpret it as an intentional provocation.

He felt that he was in for it, and that Barker meant to pick a quarrel with him.