“I'm not going to school to-day,” said Hughie, answering Thomas's look.
Thomas nodded, and sat silent, waiting. He was not a man to waste his words.
“I hate the whole thing!” exclaimed Hughie.
“Foxy, eh?” said Thomas, to whom on other occasions Hughie had confided his grievances, and especially those he suffered at the hands of Foxy.
“Yes, Foxy,” cried Hughie, in a sudden rage. “He's a fat-faced sneak! And the teacher just makes me sick!”
Thomas still waited.
“She just smiles and smiles at him, and he smiles at her. Ugh! I can't stand him.”
“Not much harm in smiling,” said Thomas, solemnly.
“Oh, Thomas, I hate the school. I'm not going to go any more.”
Thomas looked gravely down upon Hughie's passionate face for a few moments, and then said, “You will do what your mother wants you, I guess.”