"Can't you study at home, my lad?"
"No, sir."
"Will you never say 'Yes, sir,' again?"
"No, sir."
"Now look here, my young friend, if you say 'Yes, sir,' or 'No, sir,' again I 'll beat the life out of you."
"All right, sir," responded Patsy, plunging his face still deeper into his book.
Moore regarded his small tormentor with a look of dismay.
"You will strain your eyes with so much study, Patsy," he said, warningly. "That is what you will do,--and go blind and have to be led around by a stick, leaning on a small dog."
A suppressed giggle from Bessie drew his attention to his mistake.
"It 's the other way round I mean. Are n't you afraid of that sad fate, my bucko?"