sailed, not a word had been said in allusion to the topic which,
in Mr. Hamblin's estimation, overshadowed all others. If the principal
did not think of it all the time, he ought to do so; for the academic
branch of the institution would be a failure if discipline was not
enforced. The ship stood on her way before the fresh westerly breeze,
and still Mr. Lowington did not mention the matter. The professor waited
till he felt he was utterly ignored, and was sacrificing his dignity
every moment that he permitted the question to remain unsettled.

"Mr. Lowington," said he at last, with a mighty effort,--for it was the
principal's duty to speak first,--"I made a complaint to you yesterday.
Thus far no notice whatever seems to have been taken of it."

"Perhaps the longer we wait the easier it will be to settle the
question," replied Mr. Lowington, pleasantly, though he dreaded the
discussion that must ensue.

"If I am not to be sustained in the discharge of my duties, it is
useless for me to attempt to perform them to your satisfaction or my
own."

"You shall be sustained in the discharge of your duties, Mr. Hamblin.
But we will discuss this matter in the cabin, if you please," added the
principal, as he led the way below.

"Unless an instructor is sustained, of course he can do nothing," said
the professor, as he seated himself in the cabin.

"Certainly not. I will hear your complaint now, Mr. Hamblin," replied
the principal.

The learned gentleman stated his grievance in about the same terms as on
the day before.

"You say that a message was sent down to the captain. Do you know what
that message was?" asked the principal.

"I do not remember it precisely. It was something about a squall."

"Very likely it was," answered Mr. Lowington, dryly. "There was a squall
coming up at the time--was there not?"

"I knew there was a shower coming up."

"You declined to let him go on deck?"

"I did, sir. The recitation in Greek was not half finished," replied the
professor, who deemed this a sufficient reason for declining.

"Captain Kendall did not go on deck when the first message was sent
down?"

"No, sir; we continued the recitation for half an hour longer without
interruption. Then the messenger came again. I told Mr. Kendall not to
leave the class; but, in direct opposition to my order, he went on
deck. Not satisfied with this, though he knew that half the students
were engaged in the recitations, he ordered al