“It is not of much account, I must acknowledge; we were short of funds, and had to put it up cheap.  Most of the wall, you see, is only half a brick thick, and, during the sudden gusts that come across the lake, the north side bulges inward a good deal; so, when you hear the wind coming you had better send the children outside until the gale is over.  That is what Mr. Foy, the last teacher did.  And, I must tell you also this school has gone to the dogs; there are some very bad boys here—­the Boyles and the Blakes.  When they saw Mr. Foy was going to use his cane on them they would dart out of the school, the master after them.  Then there was a regular steeplechase across the paddocks, and every boy and girl came outside to watch it, screaming and yelling.  It was great fun, but it was not school-teaching.  I am afraid you will never manage the Boyles and the Blakes.  Mr. McLaggan, the minister, once found six of them sitting at the foot of a gum tree, drinking a bottle of rum.  He spoke to them, told them that they were young reprobates, and were going straight to hell.  Hugh Boyle held out the bottle, and said, ‘Here, Mr. McLaggan, wouldn’t you like a nip yourself?’ The minister was on horseback, and always carried a whip with a heavy lash, and it was a beautiful sight the way he laid the lash on those Boyles and Blakes.  I really think you had better turn them out of the school, Mr. Philip, or else they will turn you out.”

Mr. Philip’s lips closed with a snap.  He said, “It is my duty to educate them; turning them out of school is not education.  We will see what can be done.”

As everyone knows, the twelve virtues of a good master are Gravity, Silence, Humility, Prudence, Wisdom, Patience, Discretion, Meekness, Zeal, Vigilance, Piety, and Generosity.  I don’t suppose any teacher was ever quite perfect in the practice of them, but a sincere endeavour is often useful.  On reflection, Philip thought it best to add two other virtues to the catalogue—­viz., Firmness, and a Strap of Sole-Leather.

There was a full attendance of scholars the first morning, and when all the names had been entered on the roll, Philip observed that the Boyles and the Blakes were all there; they were expecting some new kind of fun with the new master.  In order that the fun might be inside the school and not all over the paddocks, Philip placed his chair near the door, and locked it.  Then education began; the scholars were all repeating their lessons, talking to one another aloud and quarrelling.

“Please, sir, Josh Blake’s a-pinching me.”  “Please, sir, Hugh Boyle is a-scroodgin.”  “Please, sir, Nancy Toomey is making faces at me.”

It was a pandemonium of little devils, to be changed, if possible, into little angels.  The master rose from the chair, put up one hand, and said:  “Silence!”

Every eye was on him, every tongue was silent, and every ear was listening, “Joseph Blake and Hugh Boyle, come this way.”  They did so.