"Ain't you going to let the youngsters speak their pieces?"
"I don't want to speak!" called out one boy, who was to recite a hated extract from Julius Cæsar.
"Neither do I want to recite," came from a girl who had been ordered to speak that time-worn effusion, "The Wonderful One-Horse Shay."
"Perhaps you will be glad to get rid of me!" called out Montgomery Jadell, losing his temper completely.
"Oh, dear, how did you guess it?" came from one boy who was hiding behind some others, and this brought out a hearty laugh.
"I—I shall close the school here and now!" ejaculated Montgomery Jadell. "The school is dismissed!"
"Is school out?" came from a dozen or more.
"Yes, and you can all go home. I wouldn't teach here again for a hundred dollars a day!" growled Montgomery Jadell.
"And I shouldn't want you to teach me, Mr. Jadell," came from Harry, in as loud a voice as he could command. "I trust we get a kinder and a smarter man next season."
"You have brought these hard feelings on yourself," put in Joe.