"No, no," interrupted the master. "What are you thinking of, boy? That's the indicative mood. I asked for the subjunctive. Take your hands out of your pockets, sir, and don't stand there glowering at the whaling ships. They'll not be away till afternoon. Now, the subjunctive mood?"
"I can't say it, sir. I could not get it into my head," whined Tom.
"Can't! do you say? Can't! Was there ever such a word?--Here, you, Halcro Ericson, finish the--Now, where's that lad? Has he not come to the school yet?"
"No, sir," replied two or three voices.
Now that the schoolmaster's attention had been so drawn to my absence, I felt more than ever reluctant to enter.
"Where is he? Does anyone know?" asked Mr. Drever.
"Dinna ken, sir," was the weak response.
Then Tom Kinlay, anxious, I suppose, to retrieve his lost ground, droned out: "He's away down at the shore side, sir. I saw him fishing."
"Ah! s-sneak!" hissed one of the boys near him; "what for need you tell?"
"Now, now!" said the master quietly. "None of that. Get along with the lesson."