"You couldn't stand it! You dunce! If you were younger I should take the whip to you."
The Speaker was feeling the superiority of his son's position, but that only made him the more furious.
"I suppose you know what this running away will mean when people come to hear of it?"
Alick made no answer.
"You've given the story a fine start, it seems, and it won't take long to travel."
Still Alick made no answer.
"Stowell will be the martyr and you'll be the culprit, and that ugly incident of the boy with the broken skull will wear another complexion."
"I don't care about that," cried Alick.
"You don't care!"
"I had to do my duty to my chum, Sir."