He looked, indeed, a most pitiable
object as he stood there, his lower jaw drooped and his cheeks
twitching.
"I think you have said about all, Mr. Drayne, that it is necessary
for you to say," interposed the chairman. "Still, in the interest
of fair play we will allow you to make any further statements that
you may wish to make. Have you anything to offer?"
"No!" he uttered, at last, gruffly.
At a sign from the chairman the clerk stepped silently over, took
Phin by one elbow, and led him to the door. Phin passed on out
of the building, stumbling blindly. He got home, somehow, and
into bed.
In the morning, however, even a sneak is braver.
"What can they do to me, anyway?" muttered Phin, as he dressed.
"I didn't break any of the laws of the state! All anyone can
do is to cut me. I'll show 'em all how little I care for their
contempt."
So it was not wholly in awe that Phin Drayne entered the general
assembly room the next morning, a few minutes before opening time.
Several of the students greeted him pleasantly enough. Phin
was quick to conclude that the news had not leaked anyway, beyond
the members of the football squad.
Then came the opening of the session. The singing books lay on
the desks before the students. Instead, however, of calling out
the page on which the morning's music would be found, Dr. Thornton
held his little gavel in his hand, after giving a preliminary
rap or two on his desk.
Pages:
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62