From that day and hour Bob Fraser would have slain any one offering to make trouble for the master, and Archibald Munro's rule was firmly established.
He was just and impartial in all his decisions, and absolute in his control; and besides, he had the rare faculty of awakening in his pupils an enthusiasm for work inside the school and for sports outside.
But now he was holding himself in, and with set teeth keeping back the pain.

The week had been long and hot and trying, and this day had been the worst of all.

Through the little dirty panes of the uncurtained windows the hot sun had poured itself in a flood of quivering light all the long day.

Only an hour remained of the day, but that hour was to the master the hardest of all the week.

The big boys were droning lazily over their books, the little boys, in the forms just below his desk, were bubbling over with spirits--spirits of whose origin there was no reasonable ground for doubt.
Suddenly Hughie Murray, the minister's boy, a very special imp, held up his hand.
"Well, Hughie," said the master, for the tenth time within the hour replying to the signal.
"Spelling-match!" The master hesitated.