CHAPTER XXII
THE BIRTH OF A GENTLEMAN
It wasn't a real bombshell that hit the class, of course, but the effect was almost as startling. First, there were murmurs, then a hubbub of voices, last of all a rousing cheer.
In the midst of the excitement Midshipman Farley leaped to his feet.
"Mr. President!" he bellowed.
But his voice did not carry ten feet from where he stood.
"Mr. President!" he yelled, louder than ever before.
Still the hubbub continued. Farley leaped to the seat of his chair, turning and waving both arms frantically. Any midshipman who had glanced toward the chair would have discovered that the occupant of the class chair was rapping hard with his gavel, though no sound of it was heard above the tumult.
Presently, however, Farley's antics produced their effect. The noise gradually lessened.
"Mr. President!" essayed Farley once more.