Was Armine
impertinent?"
"Well, rather," said John. "He wouldn't do Rob's French exercise."
And then-—as the ladies cried out, he added—-"O yes, he knows ever so
much more French than Rob, and now Bobus is gone Rob could not get
anyone else."
"Bobus?"
"O yes, Bobus would do anybody's exercises at a penny for Latin, two
for French, and three for Greek," said John, not aware of the shock
he gave.
"And Armine would not?" said his mother. "Was that it?"
"Not only that," said John; "but the little beggar must needs up and
say he would not help to act a falsehood, and you know nobody could
stand that."
Caroline understood the gravity of such an offence better than Ellen
did, for that good lady had never had much in common with her boys
after they outgrew the nursery. She answered, "Armine was quite
right."
"So much the worse for him, I fear," said Caroline.
"Yes," said John, "it would have been all very well to give him a
cuff and tell him to mind his own business."
"All very well!" ejaculated his mother.
"But you know," continued Johnny to his aunt, "the seniors are always
mad at a junior being like that; and there was another fellow who
dragged him to the great school pump, and put him in the trough, and
they said they would duck him till he swore to do whatever Rob
ordered.
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