“Why not?”
“I don’t want to be ordered round by a boy. I don’t believe he is as old as I am.”
“I don’t believe you would learn much under any teacher, Peter,” said Phineas, laughing.
“Why not?” asked Peter, scowling.
“Why, learning isn’t your strong point, you know.”
“That’s my strong point,” said Peter, tapping the muscle of his right arm, significantly.
“You’re about right,” said Phineas; “you’re stronger there than you are in the head.”
Peter did not like this remark, but he knew that it would be of no use to show his anger. He was a bully in the case of younger boys, but he very well knew that Phineas could manage him with one hand, as he boasted he could manage the new teacher.
Phineas went into the schoolhouse after his last remark, and a minute later one of the younger boys called out: “The master’s coming!”
All eyes were turned upon Walter, who was ascending the hill, with several books under his arm. As he approached, Peter, with derisive politeness, took off his hat and bowed low.