If Miss Coffee had lived nearer her pupils she would have known the
source of Horace’s impudence. She might have known that a boy, formerly
tractable and courteous, would not change utterly without some strong
stimulus.
In such a case, never argue with pupils.
When Horace made his first pert inquiry, a tactful teacher would have
looked very surprised, then perhaps have inquired if he were well, and
so surprised him into a normal response; or engaged him in lively
conversation upon an entirely different topic; or, in case he would not
be diverted, have declined to talk with him at all, thus giving him
nothing to answer.