Some of the boys smiled, but Socrates did not see it.
“As you have probably received a lesson, I will not punish you as I had anticipated. I will sentence you, however, to commit to memory the first fifty lines of Virgil’s ‘AEneid.’ Mr. Crabb, will you see that Roscoe performs his penance?”
“Yes, sir,” said Crabb, faintly.
“Is your nephew also to perform a penance?” asked Hector, undaunted.
“Silence, sir! What right have you to question me on this subject?”
“Because, sir, he is more to blame than I.”
“I don’t know that. I am not at all sure that your story is correct.”
Mr. Crabb, meek as he was, was indignant at this flagrant partiality.
“Mr. Smith,” he said, “I happen to know that Roscoe’s story is strictly correct, and that your nephew made an unprovoked attack upon him.”
Hector looked grateful, and Jim Smith furious.