I'd like to, but he won't let you, somehow.

Just smiles at you, and you feel kind of small." The reports about the master were conflicting and disquieting, and although Hughie was himself doubtful, he stood up vehemently for him at home.
"But, Hughie," protested the minister, discussing these reports, "I am told that he actually smokes in school." Hughie was silent.
"Answer me! Does he smoke in school hours ?" "Well," confessed Hughie, reluctantly, "he does sometimes, but only after he gives us all our work to do." "Smoke in school hours!" ejaculated Mrs.Murray, horrified.
"Well, what's the harm in that?
Father smokes." "But he doesn't smoke when he is preaching," said the mother.
"No, but he smokes right afterwards." "But not in church." "Well, perhaps not in church, but school's different.

And anyway, he makes them read better, and write better too," said Hughie, stoutly.
"Certainly," said his father, "he is a most remarkable man.

A most unusual man." "What about your sums, Hughie ?" asked his mother.
"Don't know.

He doesn't bother much with that sort of thing, and I'm just as glad." "You ought really to speak to him about it," said Mrs.Murray, after Hughie had left the room.
"Well, my dear," said the minister, smiling, "you heard what Hughie said.