n't　been　such　a　lugoon。〃

Dean　could　have　left　it　at　that；　but　he　had　seniority　on　Percy　and　part　of　a　senior's　job　is　to　instruct；　and　at　that　time　…　before　Coffey；　before　Delacroix　…　he　still　thought　Percy　might　be　teachable。　So　he　reached　out　and　grasped　the　younger　man's　wrist。　〃You　want　to　think　about　what　you　was　doing　just　now；〃　Dean　said。　His　intention；　he　said　later；　was　to　sound　serious　but　not　disapproving。　Not　too　disapproving；　anyway。

Except　with　Percy；　that　didn't　work。　He　might　not　learn　。。。　but　we　would　eventually。

〃Say；　Four…Eyes；　I　know　what　I　was　doing　…　trying　to　get　that　mouse！　What're　you；　blind？〃

〃You　also　scared　the　cheese　out　of　Bill；　out　of　me；　and　out　of　them；〃　Dean　said；　pointing　in　the　direction　of　Bitterbuck　and　Flanders。

〃So　what？〃　Percy　asked；　drawing　himself　up。　〃They　ain't　in　cradle…school；　in　case　you　didn't　notice。　Although　you　guys　treat　them　that　way　half　the　time。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　like　to　be　scared；〃　Bill　rumbled；　〃and　I　work　here；　Wetmore；　in　case　you　didn't　notice。　I　ain'