"Do not fight, dear Reginald--do not, pray." "I will--unhand me, Louis! I tell you I WILL--let me go." "Dear Reginald, not for me--wait a minute." At this moment the form behind them fell with a heavy bang, and in struggling to release himself, Reginald fell over it, dragging Louis with him.

Louis was a little hurt, but he did not let go his hold.
"Reginald," he said, "ask Mrs.Wilkinson to say so herself; they will believe her, I suppose." The fall had a little checked his rage, and Reginald sat brooding in sullen anger on the ground.

At last he started up and left the room, saying to Louis, "It's all your fault, then--you've no spirit, and you don't want me to have any." Louis mechanically assisted in raising the form, and stood silently by the table.

He looked quickly round, and pushing the little share of his untasted fruit from him, went into the school-room.

He did not recover his spirits again that evening, even when Reginald apologized to him for his roughness, pleading in excuse the extreme trouble it gave him to prevent himself from fighting with Salisbury.
As they went up stairs that night, in spite of the cautions given by the usher to be quiet, a sham scuffle ensued on purpose between Salisbury and Frank Digby, during which the former let his candle fall over the bannisters, and they were left in darkness; though, happily for the comfort of the doctor's dinner party, the second hall and back staircase arrangement effectually prevented the noise that ensued from reaching the drawing-room.
"Halloa there--you fellows! Mortimer, ahoa!" cried one of Salisbury's party; "bring your light." "You may come and fetch it if you want it," shouted Reginald from his room.
"We're in the dark," was the reply.
"So much the better," said Reginald: "perhaps you will behave a little better now; if you want a light you may come and light your candle here." "Our candle's on the hall floor," said another voice, amidst suppressed laughter.
"Pick it up, then." "We're desperately afraid of hobgoblins," cried Frank, rushing into his room and blowing their candle out.
"What did you do that for, Frank ?" asked several indignant voices.
"Because Salisbury and his myrmidons were coming to carry it off by a _coup de main_--he-he-he--" giggled Frank.
"And so you've given your own head a blow to punish your tooth! well done," exclaimed another voice at the door.
"Peters, is that you ?" "What's to be done now ?" "How shall we get a light ?" "If you will give me the candle I will get one," said Louis.
Accordingly, the extinguished candle was delivered into his hands, and he felt his way to the kitchen door, where he obtained a light, and then, picking up the fallen candle, tried to arrange its shattered form, and replace it.