“Butted in, Duke; not buttered. What was Peet’s trouble?”
“Well, you see, I was getting rather the worst of it; sort of groggy, I fancy; my eye was bad and I dare say I wasn’t putting up much of a fight by that time. So Peet, the silly duffer, thought we ought to stop and he jumped in and Longley hit him by mistake and Peet hung on to Longley and Bowen dragged me back and—well, that sort of stopped the scrap, if you know what I mean.”
“I think you ought to be grateful to Peet,” said Bert drily. “It was evidently time someone interfered! I hope you managed to smash Longley some, Duke. He had no business picking a row with you, a fellow two years younger and half a head smaller, and I mean to tell him so the first time I see him.”
“Oh, dear,” sighed Hugh, “don’t you go and get your face all beaten up, too! One of us must keep looking decent, Bert.” He chuckled. “Rather a joke on me, by the way. I told Longley I didn’t like his face, you know; said it was unattractive; I fancy that was what got under his skin; but he certainly got even, eh? You couldn’t call my face attractive, could you, old chap?”
“Not without smiling,” said Bert. “Well, I must beat it to supper. You take a nap if you can. When I come back I’ll get some witch-hazel and wrap up your hands. They’ll be as stiff as pokers if I don’t. How do you feel?”
“Perfectly rotten, thanks,” replied Hugh cheerfully. “Nip along. But, I say, I wish you’d sort of keep quiet about it, eh? And don’t say anything to Longley, like a good chap. I’m satisfied and I fancy he is.”
“I’m not,” said Bert grimly. “Go to sleep, you dunder-headed Englishman, and see if you can keep out of trouble until I get back!”
Somewhat less than an hour later Hugh awoke from a nap and found Bert lighting up. “Come on out here,” called the latter. “I’ve brought you some cocoa, and some dipped toast and a beautiful hunk of chocolate cake. Hungry?”
“Rather!” mumbled Hugh, getting stiffly off his bed and blinking his way to the study. “I say, that looks awfully jolly. Thanks, old chap.”
“Well, eat it, while I go and dig up some witch-hazel. Got some old handkerchiefs I can use?”