“I am compelled to send you out.”

Godfrey went out, though with a very ill grace.

“Now, madam,” said the teacher, “I have no objection to telling you that I first reprimanded your son for brutal treatment of a younger schoolmate, and then forcibly carried him back to his seat, when he endeavored to leave the schoolroom without my permission.”

It was Mrs. Preston’s turn to be surprised.  She had expected to overawe the teacher, and instead of that found him firmly and independently defending his course.

“Mr. Stone,” she said, “my son tells me that you praised an Irish boy in your school for a violent and brutal assault which he made upon him.”

“I did not praise him for that.  I praised him for promptly interfering to prevent Godfrey from abusing a boy smaller and younger than himself.”

“Godfrey had good cause for punishing the boy you refer to.  He acted in self-defense.”

“He has doubtless misrepresented the affair to you, madam, as he did to me.”

“You take this Andrew Burke’s word against his?”

“I form my judgment upon the testimony of an eyewitness, and from what I know of your son’s character.”

“From your own statement, this low Irish boy——­”

“To whom do you refer, madam?”

“To the Irish boy.”

“I have yet to learn that he is low.”

“Do you mean to compare him with my son?”

“In wealth, no.  Otherwise, you mustn’t blame me for saying that I hold him entirely equal in respectability, and in some important points his superior.”

“Really, sir, your language is most extraordinary.”

At this moment there was an interruption.  Godfrey had been listening at the keyhole, but finding that difficult, had opened the door slightly, but in his interest managed to stumble against it.  The door flew open, and he fell forward upon his knees on the carpet of the sitting-room.

CHAPTER XV MRS. PRESTON’S DISCOMFITURE

Godfrey rose to his feet, red with mortification.  His mother looked disconcerted.  Mr. Stone said nothing, but glanced significantly from Godfrey to Mrs. Preston.

“What is the matter, Godfrey?” she asked, rather sharply.

“It was an accident,” said Godfrey, rather sheepishly.

“You can go out and shut the door, and take care not to let such an accident happen again.  For some unknown reason, Mr. Stone prefers that you should not be present, and, therefore, you must go.”

For once, Godfrey found nothing to say, but withdrew in silence.

“You appear to have formed a prejudice against Godfrey, Mr. Stone,” said Mrs. Preston.

“I may have formed an unfavorable judgment of him on some points,” said the teacher.  “I judge of him by his conduct.”

“To say that Andrew Burke is his superior is insulting to him and his family, as well as ludicrous.”