"I didn't!" he almost screamed. "He knows I didn't! It is a mean,
wicked lie!"
"Sit down," said Mr. Burrows. "Ellis, did you _see_ him throw it?"
"Yes, sir, I did."
Mr. Burrows turned to Tip. "Edward, come here."
Tip was still standing.
"Say you won't," whispered Bob. "Say you won't stir a step for the old
fellow. If he goes to make you, we'll see who'll beat."
But the command was repeated, and Tip went forward, fixing his steady
eyes on Mr. Burrows as he spoke.
"Mr. Burrows, as sure as I live, I _did_ not throw that paper ball."
And yet--poor Tip!--he knew he would not be believed; he knew his word
could not be trusted; he knew he had often stood there and as boldly
declared what was _not_ true, and what had been proved in a few minutes
to be false.
No, nobody believed Tip. He had earned, among other things in the school,
the name of hardly ever speaking the truth; and now he must suffer for
it. So he stood still and received the swift, hard blows of the ruler on
his hands; stood without a tear or a promise.
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