"Arthur, still more embarrassed, said—'We should also distinguish the moods and the persons.'
"'You must be demented! What have the moods to do in that sentence? Perhaps you are expecting a visit from the man in the moon, and that makes you talk such nonsense. The grammar says—"We should distinguish the numbers and the persons." Your tongue does nothing but slip; you do not know your lesson.'
"'Excuse me, sir; I do know it.'
"'You are not respectful, Master Arthur,' said the teacher in a cold, severe tone.
"'But, sir'—
"'When a boy knows his lesson he does not make such abominable blunders in reciting.'
"'But, sir, you troubled me; you put me out.'
"'I trouble you? A very singular excuse, and a very poor one. Come, let me look at your composition.'
"But here matters became worse and worse. The master 'pshawed,' and frowned, and grumbled to himself. 'No application! no thought! bad spelling! bad grammar! a perfect mass of faults!'
"Arthur grew red and pale by turns, as his teacher wrote right across the page in large letters: 'A composition so badly done, that it is impossible to correct it.'