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ck eye； and my swollen lip； if you will； but not a word of the fight。
You'll get no description of it from me； simply because I think it would prove very poor reading； and not because I consider my revolt against Conway's tyranny unjustifiable。
I had borne Conway's persecutions for many months with lamb…like patience。 I might have shielded myself by appealing to Mr。 Grimshaw； but no boy in the Temple Grammar School could do that without losing caste。 Whether this was just or not doesn't matter a pin； since it was so…a traditionary law of the place。 The personal inconvenience I suffered from my tormentor was nothing to the pain he inflicted on me indirectly by his persistent cruelty to little Binny Wallace。 I should have lacked the spirit of a hen if I had not resented it finally。 I am glad that I faced Conway； and asked no favors； and got rid of him forever。 I am glad that Phil Adams taught me to box； and I say to all youngsters： Learn to box； to ride； to pull an oar； and to swim。 The occasion may come round； when a decent proficiency in one or the rest of these accomplishments will be of service to you。
In one of the best books1 ever written for boys are these words：
〃Learn to box； then； as you learn to play cricket and football。 Not one of you will be the worse； but very much the better； for learning to box well。 Should you never have to use it in earnest there's no exercise in the world so good for the temper； and for the muscles of the back and legs。
〃As for fighting； keep out of it； if you can； by all means。 When the time comes； if ever it should； that you have to say 'Yes' or 'No' to a challenge to fight； say 'No' if you can…only take care you make it plain to yourself why you say 'No。' It's a proof of the highest courage； if done from true Christian motives。 It's quite right and justifiable； if done from a simple aversion to physical pain and danger。 But don't say 'No' because you fear a licking and say or think it's because you fear God； for that's neither Christian nor honest。 And if you do fight； fight it out； and don't give in while you can stand and see。〃
And don't give in when you can't！ say 1。 For I could stand very little； and see not at all （having pommelled the school pump for the last twenty seconds）； when Conway retired from the field。 As Phil Adams stepped up to shake hands with me； he received a telling blow in the stomach； for all the fight was not out of me yet； and I mistook him for a new adversary。
Convinced of my error； I accepted his congratulations； with those of the other boys； blandly and blindly。 I remember that Binny Wallace wanted to give me his silver pencil…case。 The gentle soul had stood throughout the contest with his face turned to the fence； suffering untold agony。
A good wash at the pump； and a cold key applied to my eye； refreshed me amazingly。 Escorted by two or three of the schoolfellows； I walked home through the pleasant autumn twilight； battered but triumphant。 As I went along； my cap cocked on one side to keep the chilly air from my eye； I felt that I was not only following my nose； but following it so closely； that I was in some danger of treading on it。 I seemed to have nose enough for the whole party。 My left cheek； also； was puffed out like a dumpling。 I couldn't help saying to myself； 〃If this is victory； how about that other fellow？〃
〃Tom；〃 said Harry Blake； hesitating。
〃Well？〃
〃Did you see Mr。 Grimshaw looking out of the recitation…room window just as we left the yard？〃
〃No was he； though？〃
〃I am sure of it。〃
〃Then he must have seen all the row。〃
〃Shouldn't wonder。〃
〃No； he didn't；〃 broke in Adams； 〃or he would have stopped it short metre； but I guess be saw you pitching into the pump which you did uncommonly strong…and of course be smelt mischief directly。〃
〃Well； it can't be helped now；〃 I reflected。
〃…As the monkey said when he fell out of the cocoanut tree；〃 added Charley Marden； trying to make me laugh。
It was early candle…light when we reached the house。 Miss Abigail； opening the front door； started back at my hilarious appearance。 I tried to smile upon her sweetly； but the smile； rippling over my swollen cheek； and dying away like a spent wave on my nose； produced an expression of which Miss Abigail declared she had never seen the like excepting on the face of a Chinese idol。
She hustled me unceremoniously into the presence of my grandfather in the sitting…room。 Captain Nutter； as the recognized professional warrior of our family； could not consistently take me to task for fighting Conway； nor was he disposed to do so； for the Captain was well aware of the long…continued provocation I had endured。
〃Ah； you rascal！〃 cried the old gentleman； after hearing my story。 〃Just like me when I was young…always in one kind of trouble or another。 I believe it runs in the family。〃
〃I think；〃 said Miss Abigail； without the faintest expression） on her countenance； 〃that a table…spoonful of hot…dro…〃 The Captain interrupted Miss Abigail peremptorily； directing her to make a shade out of cardboard and black silk to tie over my eye。 Miss Abigail must have been possessed with the idea that I had taken up pugilism as a profession； for she turned out no fewer than six of these blinders。
〃They'll be handy to have in the house；〃 says Miss Abigail； grimly。
Of course； so great a breach of discipline was not to be passed over by Mr。 Grimshaw。 He had； as we suspected； witnessed the closing scene of the fight from the school…room window； and the next morning； after prayers； I was not wholly unprepared when Master Conway and myself were called up to the desk for examination。 Conway； with a piece of court…plaster in the shape of a Maltese cross on his right cheek； and I with the silk patch over my left eye； caused a general titter through the room。
〃Silence！〃 said Mr。 Grimshaw； sharply。
As the reader is already familiar with the leading points in the case of Bailey versus Conway； I shall not report the trial further than to say that Adams； Marden； and several other pupils testified to the fact that Conway had imposed on me ever since my first day at the Temple School。 Their evidence also went to show that Conway was a quarrelsome character generally。 Bad for Conway。 Seth Rodgers； on the part of his friend； proved that I had struck the first blow。 That was bad for me。
〃If you please； sir；〃 said Binny Wallace； holding up his hand for permission to speak； 〃Bailey didn't fight on his own account； he fought on my account； and； if you please； sir； I am the boy to be blamed； for I was the cause of the trouble。〃
This drew out the story of Conway's harsh treatment of the smaller boys。 As Binny related the wrongs of his playfellows； saying very little of his own grievances； I noticed that Mr。 Grimshaw's hand； unknown to himself perhaps； rested lightly from time to time on Wallace's sunny hair。 The examination finished； Mr。 Grimshaw leaned on the desk thoughtfully for a moment and then said：
〃Every boy in this school knows that it is against the rules to fight。 If one boy maltreats another； within school…bounds； or within school…hours； that is a matter for me to settle。 The case should be laid before me。 I disapprove of tale…bearing； I never encourage it in the slightest degree； but when one pupil systematically persecutes a schoolmate； it is the duty of some head…boy to inform me。 No pupil has a right to take the law into his own hands。 If there is any fighting to be done； I am the person to be consulted。 I disapprove of boys' fighting； it is unnecessary and unchristian。 In the present instance； I consider every large boy in this school at fault； but as the offence is one of omission rather than commission； my punishment must rest only on the two boys convicted of misdemeanor。 Conway loses his recess for a month； and Bailey has a page added to his Latin lessons for the next four recitations。 I now request Bailey and Conway to shake hands in the presence of the school； and acknowledge their regret at what has occurred。〃
Conway and I approached each other slowly and cautiously； as if we were bent upon another hostile collision。 We clasped hands in the tamest manner imaginable； and Conway mumbled； 〃I'm sorry I fought with you。'
〃I think you are；' I replied； drily； 〃and I'm sorry I had to thrash you。〃
〃You can go to your seats；〃 said Mr。 Grimshaw； turning his face aside to hide a smile。 I am sure my apology was a very good one。
I never had any more trouble with Conway。 He and his shadow； Seth Rodgers； gave me a wide berth for many months。 Nor was Binny Wallace subjected to further molestation。 Miss Abigail's sanitary stores； including a bottle of opodeldoc； were never called into requisition。 The six black silk patches； with their elastic strings； are still dangling from a beam in the garret of the Nutter House； waiting for me to get into fresh difficulties。
1 〃Tom Brown's School Days at Rugby〃
Chapter Eleven
All About Gypsy
This record of my life at Rivermouth would be strangely incomplete did I not devote an entire chapter to Gypsy。 I had other pets； of course； for what healthy boy could long exist without numerous friends in the animal kingdom？ I had two white mice that were forever gnawing