"I beg your pardon," he replied, as though speaking to an equal, "I am satisfied."
He locked the school door and gave the key to Horace.
"Come with me to the house, Monroe," he added. "I want to give you some final instructions."
"Very well, sir," Horace replied.
"Deschamps," the master continued, turning to the head boy, "if you are really in earnest about volunteering, you had better go home at once and talk the matter over with your parents. I will call at your house on my way through the village. If your father and mother agree, you may accompany me."
"Oh, I'll persuade them to let me go!" announced the lad with assurance.
"And your ambitions to become an artist?" queried his old teacher.
"Belgium first!" Deschamps declared.
The master smiled indulgently at the tone of boyish bombast, but, none the less, it was evident that he was well pleased.