At last the day was over, and, as I thought, most triumphantly for myself: but I was wofully mistaken! No sooner had the school broken up, and the masters left for their own homes, than I saw Tom approaching me in the school-yard, evidently with no friendly intentions. ‘So!’ said he, ‘_you_ think yourself, I dare say, a very fine fellow—_I_ think you a mother’s darling,’—accompanying this very civil speech with a box on the ear. My blood was roused at this, more especially as he sneered at my mother, which to my feelings was past endurance; and, though scarcely half his size, I turned fiercely round upon him, and fairly knocked him down! ‘A battle! a battle!’ was immediately the cry through the school-yard; and though half the boys had seemed to be dispersed for their homes, yet somehow their ears seemed to catch this _delightful_ sound in a most extraordinary manner, and the whole school was round us in an incredibly short space of time. A ring was immediately formed, and due preparations were made for the contest, according to the laws of that brutal sport which had prevailed in the school from time immemorial,—Joshua Prince being at the head. How I felt the injustice of that moment! and though I have in some degree changed my opinion on the subject since, yet I feel much of that injustice to the present day. My opponent, as I have said, was almost twice my size and strength, and was actuated by the worst and most malignant feelings,—jealousy and revenge: I had nothing to support me, except a sense of injustice done me, and a resolution to obtain a character for manliness which I knew to be essential to a school-boy. I hoped, therefore, that the bystanders would see the unfairness of such a contest, and interfere in my behalf. But no; they were too anxious for what they called ‘the sport,’ to give one thought to the merits of the case. I looked imploringly at Joshua Prince, expecting to see a friend in him at least; but his eye was inexorable, and, like the rest, he was eager for the battle. We fought—he for revenge, I for honour—but in despair! As might be expected, I was severely bruised and beaten, yet I scorned to yield the victory as long as I was able to resist, and the issue was what neither of the combatants expected. In his eagerness to secure the victory, Tom at last struck me when I was on the ground. A cry of ‘foul, foul,’ was immediately raised, and I was taken up from the ground and carried round the yard by my schoolfellows, and formally proclaimed victor by the whole school! Tom was forced to admit the justice of this decision, and slunk away full of shame and disappointment. So there was I, like many another conqueror, with no other laurels to show as the fruit of my victory than the injuries which I had received during the contest. It is true I had gained the respect of my schoolfellows, but I had paid dearly for it, both in body and mind.