"Why not?"
"We do not explain to boys the reason for every thing we do," replied Mr. Gault, rather curtly.
"I don't think you have any right to take my property away from me."
"I don't ask your opinion, and it is of no value whatever."
"You needn't be so crusty about it," said Richard, who was wholly unused to this style of remark.
"We tolerate no impudence here. If you use an expression of that kind again, you will be put under arrest, and spend the night in the guard house."
Richard's blood was beginning to boil, and he was tempted to pitch into the insolent instructor who dared to use language of that kind to the only son of the proprietor of Woodville. But he did not want to get into trouble the first day; besides, the words "arrest" and "guard house" had a very ominous sound to him.
"Can't I have my books? They are not cake," asked Richard.
"No, sir; you cannot. Such trash as that is not fit for boys to read. Your property will be kept safely for you, and when you leave the school, you can have it again."
"The cake will not be very good then."