"If he says I knocked him down for insulting me, he has told you the
truth," said Hector, sturdily.

"That was the substance of what he said, though he did not admit the
insult."

"But for that I should not have attacked him."

"I do not care to interfere in boys' quarrels, except in extreme
cases," said Mr. Roscoe. "I am afraid Guy was aggravatiag, and you
were unnecessarily violent."

"It doesn't seem to me so," said Hector.

"So I regard it. I have warned him not to add by taunts to the
poignancy of your disappointment. I request you to remember that Guy
is my son, and that I am disposed to follow my brother's directions,
and provide for and educate you."

Hector bowed and retired. He went out with a more favorable opinion
of Allan Roscoe, who had treated the difficulty in a reasonable
manner.

Allan Roscoe looked after him as he went out.

"I hate that boy," he said, to himself; "I temporize from motives of
policy, but I mean to tame his haughty spirit yet."