When they had been walloped they gave Cathro a look also, but it merely meant, "Oh, that this was a dark road and I had a divot in my hand!" while his look was unreadable, that is unreadable to them, for the dominie understood it and writhed.

What it said was, "You think me a wonder, and therefore I forgive you." "And sometimes he fair beats Cathro!" So Tommy's schoolmates reported at home, and the dominie had to acknowledge its truth to Aaron.

"I wish you would give that sacket a thrashing for me," he said, half furiously, yet with a grin on his face, one day when he and the warper chanced to meet on the Monypenny road.
"I'll no lay a hand on bairn o' Jean Myles," Aaron replied.

"Ay, and I understood you to say that he should meet his match in you." "Did I ever say that, man?
Well, well, we live and learn." "What has he been doing now ?" "What has he been doing!" echoed Cathro.

"He has been making me look foolish in my own class-room.