to throw
himself into a chair and laugh heartily.

The fact was, his sense of humour was inconveniently acute for the
master of a public school, so that what would strike other masters as a
heinous offence, occurred to him more as a ludicrous chapter of
accidents. And to Mr Parrett's mind a more ludicrous chapter of
accidents had rarely occurred in his history. He saw the whole matter
at once, and the more he thought about it the funnier it all seemed.
And yet, funny as it was, it was a painful necessity that discipline
must be maintained, and that however much he enjoyed the joke he must be
severe on the jokers.

When, therefore, the group of youthful culprits slowly filed into his
room, his voice was stern and his countenance betrayed no symptoms of
the amusement which lurked beneath.

"Now, you boys," said he, surveying the anxious array carefully, "what
have you to say for yourselves?"

"Please, sir," began Parson, Telson, and Cusack, all at a breath.

"Stop," said Mr Parrett; "only one at a time. You, Parson, what have
you to say?"

"Please, sir," said Parson, "we're all awfully sorry. It was quite an
accident, really."

"What was an accident?" demanded Mr Parrett.

"Why, you getting mauled about like--"

"Tell me, Parson," said Mr Parrett, pinching himself to keep himself
grave, "was it an accident that your water-can was hung over the door
and the string stretched across the bottom of it?"

"Oh no, sir; not that, but--"

"Was it an accident that you had missiles in your hands and threw them
in the direction of the door as it was opened?"

"No, sir."

"Then, sir, what was the accident?"

"You were the accident, please, sir," said Parson, sadly.

"I guessed so. And for whom were these preparations intended, pray?"

"For the Welchers, sir," began Parson, longing to launch out into a full
explanation; "and please, sir--"

But again the master pulled him up short, and, turning to Cusack and his
brother Welchers, said, "And you--_your_ preparations were for--?"

"For the Parretts, sir," broke in Cusack.

"Just so," said Mr Parrett, deliberately. "And now just listen to me.
This is not the first time I have had to speak to some of you for this
very conduct."

Parson, Telson, Bosher, and the other Parretts looked very dejected at
this point.

"And it is by no means the first time this term that all of you have
been guilty of similar disturbances. Most of you here look frightened
and un