"Jack, did you throw that paper wad?" she asked, her voice as cold and hard as that of the second mate of a three-masted brig.
"No, ma'am."
"Do you know who did throw it?"
Jack would not tell a lie about the wad, so he answered slowly, "Yes, ma'am."
"Who did it?"
There was no reply.
"Who threw the wad?"
She had flushed to her hair at the commencement of the inquisition, but now the color slowly receded and the lines in her severe face became like those in stone.
"Unless you tell me who threw the wad I shall punish you."
Jack remained silent. His little bosom filled with wrath because the culprit would not speak up; but his honor was so strong that he would not be "telltale." The teacher reached for her switch and told Jack to step forward. Like a little man he marched up to her desk and stood, not defiant, but humble and submissive, awaiting his punishment. Miss Freeman stepped down from the platform with switch in hand, and again demanded the name of the guilty one.