You don't suppose we fellows are going to be humbugged by a young sneak like you, do you ?" "I sha'n't tell you, then!" quietly replied Smith.
This astounding reply, quietly as it was uttered, quite took away Philpot's breath, and the breath of all of us.

We were so astonished, indeed, that for some time no one could utter a word or make up his mind what to do next.
Then gradually it dawned on the company generally that this defiant, stuck-up youngster must immediately be put down.
"Come here!" said Philpot, as majestically as he could.
Smith remained where he was, as solemn as ever.

But I, who stood near, could detect a queer light in his black eyes that looked rather ominous.
When one fellow, in the presence of an admiring audience, grandly orders a junior to "Come here!" and when that junior coolly declines to move, it is a very critical situation both for the boy who orders and the boy who disobeys.

For the one, unless he follows up his brag, will pretty certainly be laughed at; and the other, unless he shows the white feather and runs away, will generally come in for a little rough usage.
This seemed likely to happen now.

As Smith would not come to Philpot for a thrashing, Philpot must go to Smith and thrash him where he stood.
And so doubtless he would have done, had not Mr Hashford appeared at that very moment on the gravel walk and summoned us in to preparation.
This interruption was most unsatisfactory.