I'll have to cut the other to make them fair--and they'll look so awful stubby." But Cyrus' acquirement of the chunk of hair was his last triumph.
His downfall was near; and, although it involved Cecily in a most humiliating experience, over which she cried half the following night, in the end she confessed it was worth undergoing just to get rid of Cyrus.
Mr.Perkins was an exceedingly strict disciplinarian.

No communication of any sort was permitted between his pupils during school hours.

Anyone caught violating this rule was promptly punished by the infliction of one of the weird penances for which Mr.Perkins was famous, and which were generally far worse than ordinary whipping.
One day in school Cyrus sent a letter across to Cecily.

Usually he left his effusions in her desk, or between the leaves of her books; but this time it was passed over to her under cover of the desk through the hands of two or three scholars.

Just as Em Frewen held it over the aisle Mr.
Perkins wheeled around from his station before the blackboard and caught her in the act.
"Bring that here, Emmeline," he commanded.
Cyrus turned quite pale.