"It is of course my chief duty to teach you English," he said to the expectant boys, who sensed that something unusual was coming. "But it is also my duty, as I conceive it, to oversee your conduct. And from that duty I shall not flinch. I am surprised--perhaps I should say I am disgusted--that one of your number should have been engaged in an unseemly brawl. It would seem to me to be only common decency that he should not intrude his presence here until the shameful evidence of that brawl has disappeared." He paused and fixed his eyes on Garry. CHAPTER XV AN UNEXPECTED ALLY Garry Grayson flushed to the ears. The attack was so venomous, so unwarranted, that he was hardly able to believe that he had heard aright. His eyes blazed as they encountered Trompet Shrugg's. His comrades were equally amazed. Their impulse was that of indignation. The second was to laugh. Knowing the real reason for Garry's disfigured appearance, the mistake of Mr. Shrugg in attributing it to a brawl seemed to them comical. "This is no laughing matter," said the teacher sternly, as a ripple of amusement ran around the class. "Rowdyism is a thing to be condemned severely." Garry by a great effort had gained a measure of self-control. "I suppose you are referring to me, Mr. Shrugg," he said, rising and trying to speak respectfully. "I am mentioning no names," said Trompet Shrugg primly. "Any one that the shoe fits can put it on." "But I think that you must have meant me," persisted Garry, "because I am the only one in the class that has a swelled nose and a black eye." "Well, you are correct in assuming that you were the boy I had in mind," snapped the teacher. "And I do not hesitate to say again that such conduct is disgraceful." "What conduct?" asked Garry. "Fighting," replied Shrugg. "What makes you think that I have been fighting?" asked Garry. "Your appearance shows it. And what is more, I want no impudence from you, Grayson. I am not here to be subjected to cross examination." "I am not impudent," replied Garry. "I only want to say that you are mistaken. I have not been fighting. I got these injuries in the football game on Saturday." Trompet Shrugg was so taken aback that for a moment he did not know what to say. He looked so discomfited, so disconcerted at the way his spite had proved a boomerang that a roar of laughter that could not be quelled rose from the class. The teacher rapped angrily on his desk for order. "If that be true," he said, "it simply confirms the opinion I have always entertained of the brutality of football. It is nothing less than organized fighting, and it's unworthy of our civilization. That will do, Grayson. You may take your seat."