“O Lord, we are gathered again in Thy presence. Help us, we pray, to make this new day one of earnest endeavor and happy accomplishment. Aid us to subdue all evil desires and set our faces toward the light. For Christ’s sake. Amen.”
After a moment’s silence the Doctor seated himself at his big desk and in brisk and business-like tones set the lessons for the different classes in Latin and Greek. Afterwards the gong was struck again and many of the boys went out. Those that remained gave their attention more or less closely to their books. Then the Doctor called the new boys to him one by one and put each through an oral examination that soon settled the question of their disposal. Cal had no trouble in satisfying the Doctor as to his right to entrance into the First Junior Class.
“All right, Boland. Report to Mr. James in Room Three, please. Up the corridor to your right.”
Room 3 was as large a room as the Doctor’s, but contained only some twenty seats, of which rather more than half were occupied when Cal pushed the green door open and entered. In front of the first row of desks were settees used for recitations. At Cal’s appearance one of the boys in the room began tapping the floor with his foot, and instantly every other boy followed suit. Mr. James looked around and signalled Cal to approach the platform. The tapping died away. The instructor was a youngish man with the appearance of a college athlete rather than a teacher. To the school he was known as Jim. He taught Natural Sciences, had charge of physical training and was Athletic Instructor. He was mightily feared by the younger boys and loved by the older. His habitual expression was one of severity and he had a way of looking at a boy that seemed to bore right through. Cal’s embarrassment was so palpable, however, that Mr. James softened his severity of countenance with a smile.
“Well?” he asked.
“Doctor Horace sent me, sir.”
A titter of amusement swept over the room but was silenced at a glance from the instructor.
“Doctor Horace?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you know the Doctor very well?”