"Not a vestige of one. The kids stared at me with open mouth, and . . ."
"And what?"
"Oh, they simply got out their books and began their reading lesson.
As quiet as mice too."
"And do you mean to tell me that it made no difference?" I asked.
"None whatever. I tell you they just went on with the timetable as usual."
"But didn't they talk to each other more?"
"There wasn't a whisper."
I considered for a minute.
"What exactly did you say to them when you announced that they were to have self-government?"
"I just said what you told me last night."