They took it patiently enough, conscious of richly deserving it; and when it was over, Vernon said, "Forgive me, Montagu.

I am very sorry, and will never do so again." Montagu, without deigning a reply, motioned them to go, and then sat down, full of grief, on his bed.

But the outrage was not over for that night, and no sooner had he put out the light than he became painfully aware that several boys were stealing into the room, and the next moment he felt a bolster fall on his head.

He was out of bed in an instant, and with a few fierce and indignant blows, had scattered the crowd of his cowardly assailants, and driven them away.

A number of fellows had set on him in the dark--on _him_, of all others.
Oh, what a change must have happened in the school that this should be possible! He felt that the contagion of Brigson's baseness had spread far indeed.
He fought like a lion, and several of the conspirators had reason to repent their miscalculation in assaulting so spirited an antagonist.