“Joel, my boy,” Mr. Harrow began, “you know I have often had you down here to urge on those lessons of yours.”
“Yes, sir,” said Joel, wondering now at the voice and manner.
“Well, now to-day, I am instructed by the master to send for you for a different reason. Can you not guess?”
“No, sir,” said Joel, comfortable in the way things had been going on, and wholly unable to imagine the blow about to fall.
“I wish you had guessed it, Joel,” said Mr. Harrow, moving uneasily in his chair, “for then you would have made my task easier. Joel, Dr. Marks says, on account of your falling behind in your lessons, without reason—understand this, Joel, without reason—you are not to go to Moose Island to-morrow.”
Even then Joel did not comprehend. So Mr. Harrow repeated it distinctly.
“What!” roared Joel. In his excitement he cleared the space between them, and gained Mr. Harrow's side. “Not go to Moose Island, Mr. Harrow?” his black eyes widening, and his face working fearfully.
“No,” said Mr. Harrow, drawing a long breath, “you are not to go; so Dr. Marks says.”
“But I must go,” cried Joel, quite gone in passion.
“'Must' is a singular word to use here, Joel,” observed Mr. Harrow sternly.