The paper was passed skillfully from desk to desk until it reached my hands.

On opening the scrap, I found that it contained a small piece of molasses candy in an extremely humid state.

This was certainly kind.

I nodded my acknowledgments and hastily slipped the delicacy into my mouth.

In a second I felt my tongue grow red-hot with cayenne pepper.
My face must have assumed a comical expression, for the boy in the olive-green jacket gave an hysterical laugh, for which he was instantly punished by Mr.Grimshaw.I swallowed the fiery candy, though it brought the water to my eyes, and managed to look so unconcerned that I was the only pupil in the form who escaped questioning as to the cause of Marden's misdemeanor.