_John._ There, that’s the reason he was so positive. He said you had got the same lesson he had. _Peter._ But I never told him so; I only let him think so. _John._ Ah, Peter, do you think that is right? _Peter._ To be sure it is. Don’t you know he is at the head of the class, and I am next, and if I get him down to-day, I am sure of the medal? A poor chance I should have had, if he had not made such a blunder. _John._ Lucky for you, but very unlucky for him; and I must say, I don’t call it fair behavior in you, Peter Sly! _Peter._ I don’t care what you call it, John. It is none of your affair, as I see; let every fellow look out for himself, and the sharpest one will be the best off. _John._ Not in the end, Peter. You are in at the great end of the horn, now; for, by one trick or another, you are almost always above the rest of us. But if you don’t come out at the little end, and come out pretty small too, I am mistaken, that is all. Here comes poor George, and I shall spoil your trick, Mr. Peter. _Peter._ That you may, now, as soon as you please. If he can get the right lesson decently in half an hour, he is the eighth wonder of the world. I shall have him down, I am sure of that. (_Enter George Gracie._) _John._ Here, George, stop a minute; here’s bad news for you. _George._ What’s the matter?--no school to-day? _John._ School enough for you, I fancy. You have been getting the wrong lesson, after all. _George._ O, John, John! don’t tell me so! _John._ It’s true; and that sneaking fellow that sits whittling a stick, so mighty easy, he knew it yesterday, and would not tell you. _George._ Oh, Peter! how could you do so? _Peter._ Easily enough. I don’t see that I was under any obligation to help you to keep at the head of the class, when I am the next. _George._ But you know you deceived me, Peter. I think it would have been but kind and fair to tell me my mistake, as soon as you found it out; but, instead of that, you said things that made me quite sure I was right about the lesson. _Peter._ But I did not tell you so; you can’t say I told you so. Nobody ever caught me in a lie. _John._ But you _will_ lie;--you will come to that yet, if you go on so. _Peter._ Take care what you say, sir! _George._ Come, come, John; don’t quarrel with him. He will get the medal now; and it is a cruel thing too; for I sat up till eleven o’clock, last night, studying; and he knew that my father was coming home from Washington to-night, and how anxious I was to have the medal. But it can’t be helped now. _Peter._ Poor fellow! don’t cry! I declare there are great tears in his eyes. Now it is a pity, really. _John._ For shame, Peter Sly, to laugh at him! You are a selfish, mean fellow, and every boy in school thinks so. _George._ Come, John; I must go and study my lesson as well as I can. I would rather be at the foot of the class, than take such an advantage of anybody.