“Well, I don’t suppose your mother is that sort,” conceded Harry. Then in spite of his reproving words, he could not repress a faint giggle. Teddy’s disrespectful appellations were so funny.
Teddy echoed the giggle and racked his brain for something else to say about the principal. But before he had thought of anything, they had arrived at Mr. Marsh’s desk, at which he sat, writing busily.
The boys paused beside him. He did not look up for a moment. Teddy gave a little impatient wriggle. The pleasant young man raised his eyes and viewed the lads with a slight frown.
“You mustn’t come to me at this hour, boys,” he reproved. “That is, unless you were sent here on an errand.”
“The principal of the school sent us down to you, sir,” began Harry. “We did not know we were obliged to have school slips.”
Mr. Marsh’s face had grown a trifle stern at Harry’s first words. Was it possible that he had been mistaken in these boys? Had they transgressed so soon? With the last sentence, however, his expression changed.
“Of course you didn’t know. That was my fault. I should have told you. Did you tell Miss Pierce that I forgot to give them to you?”
“No, sir,” returned Teddy. “The Drag——”
“We did not think it necessary to tell her, sir.” Harry interrupted Teddy just in time. The red-haired boy turned scarlet as a poppy and meekly subsided.