He asked what made me do it, and I told him somebody else put it into my head." "You did! I thought you said you didn't." "I didn't tell who that somebody was, but Frank said he could guess." "He can't prove it," said John hastily.
"I don't think he'll try," said Dick.

"The fact is, John, Frank's a good fellow, and if you want to get anybody to do him any mischief hereafter, you'd better not apply to me." "I don't know as he's any better than other boys," said John, sneering.
He did not enjoy hearing Frank's praises.
"He's better than either of us, I'm sure of that," said Dick decidedly.
"Speak for yourself, Dick Bumstead," said John haughtily.

"I wouldn't lower myself by a comparison with him.

He's only a laborer, and will grow up a clodhopper." "He's my friend, John Haynes," said Dick stoutly, "and if you've got anything else to say against him, you'll oblige me by going farther off." John left in high dudgeon.
That day, to his father's surprise, Dick worked with steady industry, and did not make a single attempt to shirk..