“I did,” came from both at once.
Bobby half rose from his seat and Fred clenched his fists.
“It’s not so!” exclaimed Bobby.
“The low-down skunks!” ejaculated Fred.
Mr. Leith quieted them with a gesture.
He was a good man, and he tried to be just. But he had been sorely tried by this breach of discipline, and his dignity had received a severe shock. He could not forget the glaring yellow smear on his shirt front, and he felt that he had been made a laughing stock before his class.
He had always liked Bobby, who had stood high in his lessons and whose behavior in class had always been good. Yet it was possible that an impish spirit of mischief had suddenly taken possession of him, and that on the impulse of the moment he might have taken refuge in denial.
And there was the positive testimony of three witnesses that they had actually seen Bobby throw the egg. To be sure, he knew something of the character of those witnesses, and against any one of them he would have been inclined to take Bobby’s word in preference. But he knew nothing of the grudge the bullies held against Bobby, and to a man of his upright character it was inconceivable that three of them should make such a charge if it were not true.
He pondered the matter for several minutes, while the class waited breathlessly.
“I shall look into this matter further,” he finally announced; “but for the present, Blake, and until the affair is cleared up, you are not to take part in track sports or play on the baseball team.”