"Cut, sir!" repeated the Professor. "Cut, sir!"
"Yes, sir—their desks, sir."
"And if they do—what then?"
"Well, sir, you said, you know—".
"Said? What did I say? I asked you to imitate the manliness of Rugby cricketers. I did not ask you to carve your desks like the totem-poles of savage tribes!"
His face was pale, his eyes dark, his words ground fine.
"Young gentlemen, I will have you know that rules must be obeyed. I will have you know that I am here not only as a teacher, but as a guardian of the public property intrusted to my care. Under the rules which I am placed here to enforce, I can suspend you both—dismiss you from the privileges of the school. This once I will act with lenience. This once, young gentlemen, you may think yourselves lucky to escape with demerit marks, but if I hear again of conduct so unbecoming, so disgraceful, of vandalism so ruthless and absurd, I shall punish you as you deserve. Now go."
Softly they shut the office door behind them. Arm in arm they went together, tiptoe, down the empty hall.