"It won't do Rathburn any harm to hear the
truth for once in his life."
"Well, I'm glad I'm not in your place, that's all!" replied Dick.
"You're easily frightened!" rejoined John, with a sneer.
Nevertheless, as he entered the schoolroom, and walked with
assumed bravado to his seat in the back part of the room, he did
not feel quite so comfortable as he strove to appear. As he
glanced stealthily at the face of the teacher, who looked
unusually stern and grave, he could not help thinking, "I wonder
whether he will say anything about it."
Mr. Rathburn commenced in the usual manner; but after the
devotional exercises were over, he paused, and, after a brief
silence, during which those who had heard John's words listened
with earnest attention, spoke as follows:
"As I approached the schoolroom this morning I chanced to catch
some words which I presume were not intended for my ear. If I
remember rightly they were, 'I don't care how many prizes
Rathburn gives his favorite!' There were several that heard them,
so that I can be easily corrected if I have made any mistake.
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