Mr. Blair put us leisurely aside with his hands, and confronted the new fellow. "Your name is Barrington, I think," he said. "Yes, it is," said Barrington, staring at him defiantly. "Allow me to tell you that 'fags' are not permitted here. The system would not be tolerated by Dr. Frost for a moment. Each boy must wait on himself, and be responsible for himself: seniors and juniors alike. You are not at a public-school now, Barrington. In a day or two, when you shall have learnt the customs and rules here, I dare say you will find yourself quite sufficiently comfortable, and see that a fag would be an unnecessary appendage." "Who is that man?" cried Barrington, as Blair turned away. "Mathematical master. Sees to us out of hours," answered Bill Whitney. "And what the devil did you mean by making a sneaking appeal to _him_?" continued Barrington, seizing Hearn roughly. "I did not mean it for sneaking; but I could not do what you wanted," said Hearn. "He had been listening to us." "I wish to goodness that confounded fool, Taptal, had been sunk in his horse-pond before he put me to such a place as this," cried Barrington, passionately. "As to you, you sneaking little devil, it seems I can't make you do what I wanted, fags being forbidden fruit here, but it shan't serve you much. There's to begin with." Hearn got a shake and a kick that sent him flying. Blair was back on the instant. "Are you a coward, Mr. Barrington?" "A coward!" retorted Barrington, his eyes flashing. "You had better try whether I am or not." "It seems to me that you act like one, in attacking a lad so much younger and weaker than yourself. Don't let me have to report you to Dr. Frost the first day of your arrival. Another thing--I must request you to be a little more careful in your language. You have come amidst gentlemen here, not blackguards." The matter ended here; but Barrington looked in a frightful rage. It was unfortunate that it should have occurred the day he entered; but it did so, word for word, as I have written it. It set some of us rather against Barrington, and it set _him_ against Hearn. He didn't "lick him into next week," but he gave him many a blow that the boy did nothing to deserve. Barrington won his way, though, as the time went on. He had a liberal supply of money, and was open-handed with it; and he would often do a generous turn for one and another. The worst of him was his roughness. At play he was always rough; and, when put out, savage as well. His strength and activity were something remarkable; he would not have minded hard blows himself, and he showered them out on others with no more care than if we had been made of pumice-stone.