I felt my cheeks crimson and I looked up and down the board but saw only sneering faces. Yes there was one away down at the farther end which did not sneer but looked at me I thought pityingly which was infinitely worse. And then of course there was Pennington who sat next to me and who looked immeasurably shamed at the turn the dispute had taken. He placed a restraining hand upon my sleeve but I shook it off impatiently.