“You must know as well as I do,” said Walter, rather provoked. “If not, the rest of your class can tell you.”
“I want to go into the first class,” persisted Peter.
“I cannot consent to your doing so. Judging from your recitation to-day, I should say it would be better for you to join a lower class.”
Peter was so astonished at this decided remark that he did not make any further remonstrance. He was very angry and equally mortified, but in addition to these feelings there dawned upon him the conviction that Walter could not be afraid of him, or he would never have dared to speak to him in such terms.
CHAPTER XXVI
PUNISHING A BULLY.
About an hour before the close of the afternoon school Phineas Morton went up to the teacher’s desk and said: “I have a bad headache, Mr. Howard. If you will excuse me, I would like to go home.”
“Certainly, Mr. Morton. Are you often troubled in that way?”
“About once a week. It affects me so that I cannot study while it lasts.”
“You had better go. I hope you will soon recover.”