“Might I suggest one, sir!” said Mr Sibery deferentially, as he glanced at the king who reigned over the whole building.
“To be sure,” said the doctor. “You try.”
Mr Hippetts frowned, and Mr Sibery wished he had not spoken; but the dark look on the master’s brow gave place to an air of triumph as the schoolmaster introduced seven boys, one after the other, to all of whom the visitor gave a decided negative.
“Seems a strange thing,” he said, “that out of three hundred boys you cannot show one I like.”
“But all these are excellent lads, sir,” said the master deprecatingly.
“Humph!”
“Best of characters.”
“Humph!”
“Our own training, sir. Mr Sibery has spared no pains, and I have watched over the boys’ morals.”
