“Bah! A parade of your sufferings,” said Barton, mockingly.
Brace winced, but he went on calmly.
“I have seen all and borne all, and even now I should not have spoken but for your insult to Vincent, whom I heard you threaten to horse-whip.”
“Which he daren’t do,” I cried angrily.
“Silence!” cried Brace sternly. “You are no longer a boy, and this is not a school.”
“Indeed!” said Barton, looking me up and down with an offensive laugh. “I thought it was.”
I winced now in my turn, and then looked wonderingly at Brace, who uttered the word—
“Contemptible!”
Barton took a step forward angrily.
“Keep your bullying looks and words, sir, for the poor Hindoos, whom you have so disgracefully trampled down. They are wasted upon me, for I know your nature now only too well. I am not going to quarrel, though I have easy excuse.”