These young men were being trained in the ways of justice and honor, and were trying to live up to their ideals.
If such an exceptional, picked body of young men had condemned him---had sentenced him to bitter retribution---was it not wholly likely that there was much justice on their side?
"The verdict of so many good and true men must contain much justice," Prescott thought, as he munched mechanically, trying proudly to bide his dismay from watchful eyes.

"Then I have offended against manhood, in some way.

Yet how?
I have obeyed orders and have performed my duties like a soldier.

How, then, have I done wrong ?" Once more it seemed indisputable to Prescott that his comrades had wronged him.

But once more his own sense of justice triumphed.
"I am not really at fault," he told himself, "nor is the class.
The class has acted on the best view of appearances that it could obtain.