46 The Brothers.

 

“Yes, sir; and he has not been to school
before, so he has to begin at the beginning.”

“Well, every one must do that some time
or other, I suppose. What is your name, my
boy ?”

“Stephen Wright, sir.”

“You have not learned to read yet, Ste-
phen?”

It was not nearly so difficult to say “No”
as Stephen had feared; somehow the master
did not seem at all as if he were going to be
shocked.

“No? Then you shall begin this morning.
Be very attentive. Come this way;” and
Stephen found himself placed at the bottom
of a form full of very little boys ; but nobody

seemed to notice him, or made any remark.

"The big bell stopped ringing at the moment
the master walked to his desk and touched a
little bell which stood there. It was the
signal that all noise should cease; at the
sound every voice was hushed, every boy sat
down quietly in his own place. The whole
school became still as a frozen river.

“Stand!” All the boys stood up as straight
as soldiers and sang a hymn ; afterwards came
some prayers; then all set to work.

Pupil teachers began to instruct the younger