"I—I am afraid it wasn't, sir," Dick confessed, reddening.
"Then, if you threw the book into my face on purpose, why did you do it!"
"I was a good deal provoked, Mr. Jones."
"Oh! Provoked over the funny story that I told you this forenoon?"
"Not over the story, sir; but your manner of telling it."
Old Dut had hard work to keep back the smile that struggled for an appearance on his face.
"Revenge, was it, Master Prescott?"
"Well, I felt that it was due me, Mr. Jones, to get even for the show that you made of me before the class."
"Master Prescott, we won't go into the details of whether I was justified in illustrating my story this morning in the manner that I did, or whether you were right in coming back at me after the fashion that you did. But I am going to offer one thought for your consideration. It is this—that the man who devotes too much thought to 'getting even' with other folks is likely to let slip a lot of good, solid chances for getting ahead in the world. I don't blame any fellow for protecting his own rights and dignity, but just think over what I said, won't you, about the chap who spends too much of his time thinking up ways to get even with others?"
"There's a good idea in that, sir," Dick assented.