"I didn't make it," I replied, promptly, intending to give him an early assurance that I would not recede from the position I had taken.
"Yes, you did. You provoked a quarrel, and refused to apologize—a very mild penalty for the offence you had committed."
"I deny that I provoked a quarrel, sir."
"That question has been settled, and we will not open it again. I have shown the students, by my prompt pursuit of you when you set my authority at defiance, that I intended to maintain the discipline of this institution. I have taken you and brought you back. So far I am satisfied, Thornton."
"I am not. You have smashed my boat, and you must pay for her," I added, calmly, but in the most uncompromising manner.
"This is not a matter of dollars and cents with me. I would rather have given a thousand dollars than had this trouble occur; and I would give half that sum now to have it satisfactorily settled."
Mr. Parasyte wiped his brow, for he was thrown into a violent perspiration by the mental effort which this acknowledgment caused him. It looked like "backing out."
"Thornton, you are a very popular young man among the students; it would be useless to deny it, if I were disposed to do so. You have the sympathies of your companions, because Poodles is not popular."
"The boys don't like Poodles simply because he is not a good fellow. He is a liar and a cheat, and—"
"Nothing more of that kind need be said. What I have done cannot be undone."