He did not go on, for he saw Distin’s hand stealing toward a heavy dictionary, and, at that moment, Vane said firmly:—
“I felt it was time to show you that I am not quite a coward. I did mean it as an insult, as you call it. What then?”
“That!” cried Distin, hurling the dictionary he had picked up with all his might at his fellow-pupil, across the table, but
without effect. Vane, like most manly British lads, knew how to take care of himself, and a quick movement to one side was sufficient to allow the big book to pass close to his ear, and strike with a heavy bang against the door panel just as the handle rattled, and a loud “Hum—ha!” told that the rector was coming into the room for the morning’s reading.
Chapter Four.
Martha’s mistake.
As quickly as if he were fielding a ball, Vane caught up the volume from where it fell, and was half-way back to his seat as the rector came in, looking very much astonished, partly at the noise of the thump on the door, partly from an idea that the dictionary had been thrown as an insult to him.