Go on.

I've said a word to Brownsmith about you; but, look here: don't you tease my lads.

Boys will be boys, I know; but they are not in your station of life, and you must not try to make companions of them." I made no answer: I could not, I was so taken aback by his words; and by the time I had thought of saying that I had never teased either Courtenay or Philip, and that I had always tried to avoid them, he was a hundred yards away.
"They must have been telling lies about me," I said angrily; and I walked on to where Ike was digging, to talk to him about it and ask his advice as to whether I should go and tell Sir Francis everything.
"No," he said, stopping to scrape his spade when I had done.

"I shouldn't.

It's kicks, that's what it is, and we all gets kicked more or less through life, my boy; but what of it?
He wouldn't think no better of you for going and telling tales.