There was no answer.
"What is that, Dennison?" he demanded. "I thought I heard you speak."
"Wall, if you did, I warn't speakin' to you," said Jacob Dennison, surlily.
"Well, when you speak in school, address yourself to me," said Keith. He caught Euphronia Tripper's eyes on him.
"I mought an' I moughtn't," said Jacob, insolently.
"I propose to see that you do."
Jacob's reply was something between a grunt and a sneer, and the school rustled with a sound very much like applause.
Next morning, on his arrival at school, Keith found the door fastened on the inside. A titter from within revealed the fact that it was no accident, and the guffaw of derision that greeted his sharp command that the door should be opened immediately showed that the Dennison boys were up to their old tricks.
"Open the door, Jake Dennison, instantly!" he called.
The reply was sung through the keyhole: