"Please, sir, I put asafetida in the furnace," said Stover in frightened tones.
"You put asafetida down the furnace?"
"Yes, sir."
"That was a very brilliant idea, wasn't it?"
"No, sir," said Stover, drawing a long breath and wondering if he could possibly stay after such a confession.
"Why did you do it?"
Stover hesitated, and suddenly, yielding to an unaccountable impulse toward the truth that occasionally surprised him, blurted out:
"I did it to make trouble, sir."
"You didn't like the school?"
"I hated it! There were a lot of girls around."