“I can, sir,” answered Dick after a moment’s pause. “I—haven’t been studying very hard lately. I’m sorry, sir.”
“So am I. Because you are wasting your time, and you are wasting our time. When you came here you told me that you would abide by the rules and be diligent. Didn’t you, Somes?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Exactly. And you haven’t been doing it. For some two weeks or so you have been coming into class with your lessons half prepared. You haven’t kept your part of the agreement, my boy. Supposing I were to tell you that an agreement broken by one of the parties becomes void? You realize what that would mean?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Dick troubledly.
There followed a moment of silence during which the Doctor, leaning back in his chair and rolling his pen between his fingers, studied Dick attentively. Then:
“I believe you have lately bought some sort of an ice-boat, Somes. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir. I got it Saturday.”
“Hum! Rather an expensive luxury for a boy of your age, it seems to me. Do you think that your father would approve of your buying it if he knew?”
“Yes, sir. He lets me buy what I like.”