uld read with fluency； and had plenty of
cunning intelligence。 But he could not keep still。 And he had a
kind of sickness very repulsive to a sensitive girl； something
cunning and etiolated and degenerate。 Once he had thrown an
ink…well at her； in one of his mad little rages。 Twice he had
run home out of class。 He was a well…known character。
And he grinned up his sleeve at this girl…teacher； sometimes
hanging round her to fawn on her。 But this made her dislike him
more。 He had a kind of leech…like power。
From one of the children she took a supple cane； and this she
determined to use when real occasion came。 One morning； at
position； she said to the boy Williams：
〃Why have you made this blot？〃
〃Please； miss； it fell off my pen；〃 he whined out； in the
mocking voice that he was so clever in using。 The boys near
snorted with laughter。 For Williams was an actor； he could
tickle the feelings of his hearers subtly。 Particularly he could
tickle the children with him into ridiculing his teacher； or
indeed； any authority of which he was not afraid。 He had that
peculiar gaol instinct。
〃Then you must stay in and finish another page of
position；〃 said the teacher。
This was against her usual sense of justice； and the boy
resented it derisively。 At twelve o'clock she caught him
slinking out。
〃Williams； sit down；〃 she s