CHAPTER III.
WHILE Mr.Howland yet paced the floor in a perturbed state of mind, after the severe flogging he had given to Andrew, and while he meditated some further and long-continued punishment for the offences which had been committed, a servant handed him a note.

It was from Andrew's teacher, and was to this effect-- "From careful inquiry, I am entirely satisfied that your son, when he threw the stone at William Wilkins, was acting in self-defence, and, therefore, is blameless.

Wilkins is a quarrelsome, overbearing lad, and was abusing a smaller boy, when your son interfered to protect the latter.

This drew upon him the anger of Wilkins, who would have beaten him severely if he had not protected himself in the way he did.

Before throwing the stone, I learn that Andrew made every effort to get away; failing in this, he warned the other not to come near him.