The concerted noise of contradiction became louder and louder. Edward felt as if he were caught in a great roaring machine that he could not stop. “Oh, silence ... oh, silence ...” he cried, tapping the desk feebly with his pencil. He could not stop the noise. He rose and flung his arms out. “Oh, silence—I can’t stand this.”
The hysterical gesture produced a startling silence. Then some of the big boys laughed.
“The timetable says Scripture and I say Scripture,” said Edward furiously. “No-one else’s opinion is needed. Now I want one of you big boys—I don’t know your names yet—that one with a pale blue coat on—to come and tell me how far you got in the Bible ...”
“Please sah, you say no other man opinion was needed.”
“Shut up, curse you.”
“Eh—tya—tya....”
“He sing a song for welcoming you, sah.”
The boy in a long pale blue coat stood in front of Edward, unexpectedly abashed. His small eyes seemed deliberately veiled with dulness.
“What is your name?” asked Edward.
“I new scholar.”