“As much as he dared; but when he went too far my temper got the better of me, and I was ready for anything. I think he knew that, for he did not treat me as badly as some of his pupils who were more timid. How are your American schools?”
“No doubt we have some tyrannical teachers, but the one whose school I attended was a gentleman. He was firm and yet gentle, and all we boys respected and liked him.”
“With such a teacher as you describe Milton School would be a paradise.”
“I don’t see how Dr. Musgrave can retain his position. Does he own the school?”
“No; he is employed by the directors. Most of them live at a distance, and know nothing of his administration. If complaints were made to them they would pay no attention to them. They would take the ground that there is a natural antagonism between pupils and teachers.”
“So the poor boys have little hope of having their wrongs redressed?”
The distance between the station and the school was so short that by the time their conversation was over they had nearly reached the gate that led into the school-ground.
“It looks just as it did when I left,” said August Locke, surveying the building and campus with interest. “I can almost imagine that it was only yesterday I went away.”
“Except when you look in the glass.”