"I'll have the worth of this out of your skin some day, see if I don't!"
That afternoon the boys received a sound lecture from the teacher on the evil of throwing stones, and a penalty was imposed upon the leaders in the reckless sport, Roger among them, who, however, in consideration of his penitence, was only charged with a message to his parents, making full confession and submitting his case entirely to their judgment.
Days passed, and everything went on much as before at the school, save that Belcher Whitmarsh was missed, being at home healing his wound.
Every day that his absence was noticed was to Roger's quick feelings like a new condemnation.
No one was more pleased, then, than Roger Blake to see Belcher, after a little more than a week had passed, back at his place in school.
He soon found, however, that bygones were not to be bygones between them.
Belcher not only refused to respond to his hearty congratulations, but showed by his manner and words (hissed through his broken teeth) that so far from forgiving Roger's offense he meant to lay it up against him.
Several times when thrown in close company with him Blake tried to disarm his dislike.
"Come," he would say, "now, Belch, shake hands and say quits."
But Whitmarsh would only answer with a surly half threat, or grin significantly, to expose the notch in his gums where the teeth were gone.