ribbon. That only a few of them
ended in glasses was merely because the supply of those aids to vision
had proved inadequate to the demand. Soberly and amidst an appalling
silence the nine exquisites paced to the front of the room and disposed
themselves in the first two rows.

Mr. Moller, his face extremely red, watched without word or motion. The
rest of the class, their countenances too showing an unnatural
ruddiness, likewise maintained silence and immobility until the last of
the nine had shuffled his feet into place. Then there burst upon the
stillness a snigger which, faint as it was, sounded startlingly loud.
Whereupon pent up emotions broke loose and a burst of laughter went up
that shook the windows.

It seemed for a minute that that laughter would never stop. Fellows
rolled in their seats and beat futilely on the arms of their chairs,
gasping for breath and sobriety. And through it all Mr. Moller stared in
a sort of dazed amazement. And then, when the laughter had somewhat
abated, he arose, one hand on the desk and the other agitatedly
fingering his black ribbon, and the colour poured out of his cheeks,
leaving them strangely pallid. And Amy, furtively studying him, knew
that Clint had been right, that Mr. Moller couldn't take a joke, or, in
any event, had no intention of taking this one. Amy wasn't frightened
for himself, in fact he wasn't frightened at all, but he did experience
a twinge of regret for the others whom he had led into the affair. Then
Mr. Moller was speaking and Amy forgot regrets and listened.

"I am going to give you young gentlemen"--was it imagination on Amy's
part or had the instructor placed the least bit of emphasis on the last
word--"two minutes more in which to recover from your merriment. At the
end of that time I shall expect you to be quiet and orderly and ready to
begin this recitation." He drew his watch from his pocket and laid it on
the desk. "So that you may enjoy this--this brilliant jest to the full,
I'll ask the nine young gentleman in the front rows to stand up and face
you. If you please, Hall, Stearns, Draper, Fanning, Byrd----"

It was several seconds before this request was responded to. Then Amy
arose and, one by one, the others followed and faced the room. Amy
managed to retain his expression of calm innocence, but the others were
ill at ease and many faces looked very sheepish.

"Now, then," announced Mr. Moller quietly. "Begin, please. You have two
minutes."