“Ahem!” answered Mr. Crabb, evidently embarrassed; “I presume so. You should not ask Ahem! irrelevant questions.”
In fact, Mr. Crabb had serious doubts as to the fact assumed. He knew that whenever a pupil went to the principal to ask a question in Latin or Greek, he was always referred to Crabb himself, or some other teacher. This, to be sure, proved nothing, but in an unguarded moment, Mr. Smith had ventured to answer a question himself, and his answer was ludicrously incorrect.
The schoolroom was a moderate-sized, dreary-looking room, with another smaller room opening out of it, which was used as a separate recitation room.
“Here is a vacant desk,” said Mr. Crabb, pointing out one centrally situated.
“I think that will do. Who sits at the next desk?”
“Mr. Smith’s nephew.”
“Oh, that big bully I saw on the playground?”
“Hush!” said Crabb, apprehensively. “Mr. Smith would not like to have you speak so of his nephew.”
“So, Mr. Crabb is afraid of the cad,” soliloquized Hector. “I suppose I may think what I please about him,” he added, smiling pleasantly.
“Ye-es, of course; but, Master Roscoe, let me advise you to be prudent.”