“What was that noise I heard just now?” he asked. “It sounded like an explosion.”
No one answered and Mr. Carter turned to Miss Wright who had come downstairs to see why so many pupils were absent from their rooms.
“Say to the teachers, please,” he said, “that I am detaining the children; they will come up presently.”
“Oh, dear!” whispered Meg to Bobby, “now he’s going to scold.”
The principal heard her and he smiled a little.
“Not scold, Meg, unless someone deserves it,” he said pleasantly. “What was that noise I heard?”
“The pumpkin blew up,” replied Meg uncomfortably.
“The pumpkin blew up!” repeated Mr. Carter in astonishment. “Whose pumpkin? What made it blow up?”
Meg was silent.
“Bobby,” said Mr. Carter, “was it your pumpkin?”