'Clean them yourself,' I retorted.
'I shall tell Father,' he exclaimed.
'Tell your mother, too, if you like,' I said.
He went to tell them, and a few minutes later Mr. Turton entered the room.
'Everard,' he said, 'I wish to speak to you.'
'Yes, sir,' I answered.
'You understand,' he continued, 'that I have no desire to say or do anything to hurt your feelings. I can quite sympathise with you, and I am grieved that this necessity has arisen. But the fact remains.'
'I am not going to clean Augustus's boots,' I answered.
'Do you think work is disgraceful to you?' he demanded.
'I am not going to clean Augustus's boots,' I insisted.