[Sidenote: Rudeness]
“John Mason! I saw you! You go to the office at once!” Miss Maile spoke
partly as a form of apology to a gentleman who was brushing the dust
from an expensive hat. The embarrassed teacher continued:
“I am very sorry that John treated you so rudely. I saw him rush by you,
glance at your hat as it rolled away and dash on to where I stood. He’ll
catch it from the principal.”
Ere long the principal began his interview. He spoke with voice of
thunder: “Well, what are you in here for? I saw you here last week,
didn’t I? Come, now, tell me your story.”
“I knocked a man’s hat down.”
“Yes, I know you knocked a man’s hat down. But tell me about it. What
did you do it for?”
“I was sailing in the east door and struck his hat—”
“Now, just tell me why you knocked his hat down and why you went on
without picking it up.”
“I just hurried and didn’t see—” John felt very little like doing
anything more about excusing himself, he could not tell why.
“You may go. If I catch you again acting like that I’ll tan you right.”
The boy was dismissed with a shove that showed but the faintest trace of
friendliness.