Go, I tell you." Eric's passion overcame him; he stamped furiously on the ground, and burst out, "I _will_ speak, sir; you have been unjust to me for a long time, but I will _not_ be--" Mr.Gordon's cane fell sharply across the boy's back; he stopped, glared for a moment; and then saying: "Very well, sir! I shall tell Dr.Rowlands that you strike before you hear me," he angrily left the room, and slammed the door violently behind him.
Before Mr.Gordon had time to recover from his astonishment, Russell stood by him.
"Well, my boy," said the master, softening in a moment, and laying his hand gently on Russell's head, "what have you to say?
You cannot tell how I rejoice, amid the deep sorrow that this has caused me, to find that _you_ at least are uncontaminated.

But I _knew_, Edwin, that I could trust you." "O sir, I come to speak for Eric--for Williams." Mr.Gordon's brow darkened again, and the storm gathered, as he interrupted vehemently, "Not a word, Russell; not a word.

This is the _second_ time that he has wilfully deceived me; and this time he has involved others too in his base deceit." "Indeed, sir, you wrong him.

I can't think how he came to write the paper, but I _know_ that he did not and would not use it.

Didn't you see yourself, sir, how he turned his head quite another way when he broke down." "It is very kind of you, Edwin, to defend him," said Mr.Gordon coldly, "but at present, at any rate, I must not hear you.