“Nothing,” mumbled Hicksley, in apparent confusion.
“You were going to say something else,” said Mr. Leith, “and I insist on knowing what it was.”
Hicksley kept silent. He wanted to give the impression that if he told anything it would have to be dragged out of him against his will.
“You had better tell me what you were going to say,” snapped the teacher severely, “or it will be the worse for you.”
“I don’t want to tell on anybody,” said Hicksley.
“Oh, then you know who threw it,” said Mr. Leith, brisking up like a hound on the trail.
“Yes,” replied Hicksley.
“Who was it?”
“I don’t want to tell.”
“Who was it, I say?” thundered Mr. Leith in exasperation.