As for Parmenter, every word that came from the professor’s lips fell upon him like a blow. Never in his life before had any one dared to use such language to him. It kindled in his breast a perfect fire of rage and resentment. Hot words came boiling to his lips. He had it wildly in mind to fling into the face of this gray-haired accuser the fact that his own son was no less guilty than he who stood there under accusation, and fully as deserving as he of those bitter, cruel, and seemingly vindictive words. “I regret,” he began slowly, “that you have denounced me with such force and bitterness, since your condemnation falls equally as heavily--” Parmenter stopped suddenly. A spark of manhood shot up from his breast at the supreme moment, and closed his lips. Whatever the provocation might be he would not stoop to such meanness as that. For one moment he stood, with white face and clenched hands, stemming, with powerful effort, the tide of speech that had threatened to break disastrously from his lips. Then he turned slowly to the president. “I do not deny the charge,” he said. “Have you anything to say in extenuation?” “Nothing.” “We shall not keep you longer before us. We thank you for your prompt attendance. Good-morning, Mr. Parmenter.” With much dignity President Mather bowed the young man out. CHAPTER IV. THE QUARREL OF FRIENDS. Parmenter, fresh from his extorted confession of hazing, went back across the campus with his mind in a tumult. Half a dozen students spoke to him on the way, but he did not answer them. He could see nothing but Professor Lee’s white, strong face; he could hear nothing but his terrible words of condemnation. What right had this man to denounce him as brutal and unmanly? Would he have dared to do so if he had known how deeply his own son was involved in the mischief? It was plain that Charley had not told his father of the hazing. Van Loan must then have broken faith. But for the time all of Parmenter’s anger was centered, not on Van Loan, who had betrayed him, but on Professor Lee, who had denounced him. Every moment some new recollection of the scene in President Mather’s study added fuel to the flame of his resentment. His indignation was so great that it had not yet even occurred to him what punishment he should receive for his offense, or whether he should receive any. He went up the section stairs blinded with passion, ready to strike out savagely at anything and everything that pertained in any way to Professor Lee. When he entered his room he found Charley Lee seated at his table. Certainly no meeting could have been more opportune for trouble. “I’ve been waiting for you,” Charley said quietly. “I’ve just heard that absurd story about father’s opposition to your appointment to the prize stage.”