The boys began to feel that this ominous quiet boded them no good.

Not until closing time did the principal make any reference to the affair.
"The young ladies are dismissed for the day," he remarked.

"The young gentlemen will remain." Clang! Then a dead silence fell over the room.

It was broken, after a minute, by the principal, who asked: "Where were you, young gentlemen, when the end of recess bell rang this morning!" No one being addressed, no one answered.
"Where were you, Mr.Purcell ?" "Swimming at Foster's Pond, sir." "All of you ?" "All of us, sir, I think." "Whose idea was it ?" "As I remember, sir, the idea belonged to us all." "Who made the first proposal ?" "That would be impossible to say, now, sir." "Do you remember anything about it ?" "Yes, sir." "What was it ?" "I believe the fellows voted that Mr.Grady, who is studying to be a lawyer, should represent us as counsel." "Ah! I shall be very glad, then, to hear from Judge Grady," the principal dryly remarked.
"Judge" Grady bobbed up, smiling and confident---or he seemed so.

As for the rest of the fellows, the principal's frigid coolness was beginning to get on their nerves.
"Mr.Principal," began Grady, thrusting his right band in between his vest buttons, "the illustrious, perhaps immortal Burke, once elucidated a principle that has since become historic, authoritative and illuminating.