“What is it he’s always doing?” asked Toby, puzzled and impatient. Ramsey became incoherent; but Tubb, with a laugh of derision, explained.
“He doesn’t like being called Percy.”
“Then why——”
“Because that’s what he is, a regular Percy. Besides, Percy isn’t any worse than Horace, and that’s his real name!”
“Yes, and you call me by it! I’d rather be named Horace than Tubb any day! At least, I wash my neck sometimes, and that’s more than you do, you dirty——”
“I told you to drop it,” growled Tubb, again trying to push past Toby. “I’m as clean as you are, you fat sissy! One more crack about my neck and I’ll finish you for keeps!”
“No, you won’t do anything of the kind,” said Toby severely. “Stop calling each other names and keep quiet a minute. The first thing you know you’ll have a faculty up here! What’s the matter with you fellows? Are you crazy?”
“He’s always nagging me!” Ramsey’s wrath was turning to grief, and there was a sob in his voice. “He’s always calling me Percy——”
“Then let me alone,” retorted Tubb. “It’s bad enough having to room with a mother’s pet like you, without getting your lip all the time. I’ve warned you fifty times, haven’t I? Tell the truth now! Haven’t I told you over and over that I wouldn’t stand for your sneers and your silly jokes?”