I didn't feel any too good toward her, but when the blood of the Crusaders was in the veins, right must be done even if it took a struggle.

I had to live up to those little gold shells on the trinket.
Father said they knew I was coming down the line, so they put on a bird for me; but I told him I would be worthy of the shells too.

This took about as hard a fight for me as any Crusade would for a big, trained soldier.

I had been wrong, Laddie had made me see that.

So I held up my hand, and Miss Amelia saw me as she picked up Ray's arithmetic.
"What is it ?" I held to the desk to brace myself, and tried twice before I could raise my voice so that she heard.
"Please, Miss Amelia," I said, "I was wrong about the birds yesterday.
Not that they don't fight--they do! But I was wrong to contradict you before every one, and on your first day, and if you'll only excuse me, the next time you make a mistake, I'll tell you after school or at recess." The room was so still you could hear the others breathing.