“Then how dare you use one?”
“Please, sir, I have not done so.”
“How dare you stand there and tell me that falsehood? Do you see this?”
The master held up a page of answers, evidently torn out of an arithmetic book, which had all the answers at the back.
“You have been squaring your sums so as to make the answers right. I can understand now why you helped Cox, and why he sent that note asking for your help again. I thought that he alone was to blame in the matter, but this makes me change my opinion. Where do you suppose I found this sheet of answers?”
Alfred did not reply, as he was too much frightened and surprised.
“Leave off crying!” said Mr. Harmer angrily. “Your tears will not save you. You have been a very deceitful boy, and I shall punish you severely. Cox, come here!”
Cox went up to his master.
“Has Davidson helped you before with these answers?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Cox, without hesitation.