mind
had not run up an irrelevant alley, in which I found myself
wondering that Radley, who was always called "sir," should ever have
to call anyone else "sir." Perhaps I was staring dreamily into
vacancy, for Salome said:

"Bless me, I'm very glad to hear that his disposition is all right.
But is the boy a fool? Why does he stand staring into vacancy like a
brainless nincompoop?"

I turned redder than ever and wondered at whom to look so as to
avoid vacancy, and what to do with my hands. Nervously I used the
right hand to button up my coat, and then put it out of mischief in
my pocket.

"Good God, man!" cried the Head. "Take that hand out of your
pocket!"

I took it quickly out and unbuttoned one coat-button: then, for lack
of something to do with the hand, did the button up again. I decided
to keep the miserable member fingering the button. To make matters
worse Salome rested his eyes like a searchlight on the hand. At last
he looked distressingly straight at my face.

"Ray," he asked, "are you a perfect fool?"

"No, sir," I said, and grinned.

The Head turned to my housemaster for his testimony.

"Mr. Fillet, is the boy a fool?"

"One couldn't call him a _fool_," replied Fillet, obviously
intending the conclusion: "One might, however, call him a _knave_."

The Head turned to Radley.

"Mr. Radley, is he a fool?"

"He's anything but a fool, sir; and he's still less of a knave,"
said Radley, angry and caring only to repudiate Fillet's innuendo.

"Ray," Salome was again staring me out of countenance. "Do you ever
do any work?"

"Yes, sir," I said brightly. It was kind of him to ask questions to
which I could honestly answer in the affirmative. I did occasionally
do some work.

"Mr. Fillet?" queried Salome, desiring the housemaster to have his
say.

"I suppose there are idler boys," announced Fillet grudgingly; and
it was open to anyone to hear in his words the further meaning;
"but, on the other hand, there are many more studious and more
deserving." The fact is, the little man was irritated that Radley
should have tried to contradict him before the Head.

"Mr. Radley?" pursued Salome, as though he were bored with the
evidence, but realised that everyone must be allowed his turn to
speak.

"Ray has always worked well for _me_," Radley promptly answered,
and we all knew he meant it as a second stab for Fillet.

Salome once more fixed me with his disconcerting stare.

"Ray," he asked, "have yo