"I cannot imagine," returned Doctor Larned, in a severe tone, but with a little bit of a smile hiding in the corner of his mouth. "You appear to be thinking of anything but your lessons, young gentlemen—but as it is the last day of school, I excuse you. We will have recess earlier than usual, and see if we cannot do better afterward."
So saying, he opened the door leading from the school room to his private study, and went in; while the boys, luncheon in hand, ran to the playground.
"The playground," as it was called, was the large yard attached to the house, which had been fitted up with a few simple gymnastic contrivances, and formed a capital place where the boys might amuse themselves in fine weather. Down they sat, and for a few moments were so busy trying who could take the biggest semicircular bite out of a slice of bread and butter that nobody spoke a word. At last Freddy commenced, by calling out,
"I say, fellows!"
"Silence in the guard tent! the Colonel's going to speak!" cried Peter, making a new version of the old school saying.
"Don't you know all the real Zouaves have their hair cut as short as anything? and just look at mine!" and Freddy tossed back his silky, golden curls in high disgust.
"Fellows, it must be done! We must have that hair off, short order!" continued the Colonel, solemnly.
"Well," exclaimed George Chadwick, who was the oldest of the party, and would certainly have been Colonel if Freddy had not been prime favorite with everybody, "Don't you see how we can manage that?"
"Why, how?" was the general question.
"Just you wait a moment," replied the inventor, and he put for the house in double quick time, whence he presently returned with an immense pair of scissors, which he had borrowed of the cook.