“Not much.”
As Bernard spoke he strode towards Septimus, who thus far had not observed him.
“Stop that, you young brute!” he said in an imperious tone. “Do you hear me?”
Septimus turned quickly, and his scowl became deeper when he saw who had spoken to him; for if there was any boy he hated it was Bernard, who had interfered with him more than once.
“Yes,” he said. “I hear and I won’t do it.”
“You won’t, eh?”
“No, I won’t, and you’d better be careful what you say or do, or I’ll tell pa, and then——”
“And then what?”
“You’ll get a flogging.”
“That doesn’t frighten me much. Are you going to stop?”