“No, in a basket.”
“That was better. Well, Peter, we are indebted to you for a good joke, and if you would like to carry the hen back now, I will excuse you for half an hour.”
He rose from his seat, and came forward.
Peter was astonished at being thanked for a practical joke, which he thought would make the teacher “mad.” Walter had turned the tables upon him, and he began to ask himself whether the success of his joke was sufficient to pay him for the trouble he had incurred. There wasn’t much fun in transporting the hen back again alone. Still he felt that it would be rather hard to keep it secure until school was over.
“May John Wall go with me?” he asked.
“Yes, if he desires it,” said Walter.
Peter looked toward John. The latter, after a little hesitation, decided to go. He was not particularly afraid of losing half an hour of school, and it would give him a chance for consultation with Peter.
Peter brought in the basket, and the hen, after a little trouble, was put in. Then the two boys, Peter and John, started away with her. Walter commenced the duties of the forenoon. By the coolness and good nature with which he had met the trick attempted to be played upon him, he had disarmed his adversaries, strengthened his hold upon the other pupils, and now remained master of the situation. If he had only flown into a passion Peter would have felt repaid for his trouble. Now, as he trudged along the road, he was not quite sure whether he was not sorry for having attempted it.
“I thought he’d be mad,” he said at length.
“So did I,” said John.