Young Spiker collapsed.

"'Lord Marmion turned; well was his need,'" I cried, "if Douglas ever
addressed him in that fashion."

"Now watch me, boys," I added. And with as much fire as I could kindle
in so short a time and under conditions so dampening, I thundered the
resounding lines: "'No, by St. Bride of Bothwell, no! Up drawbridge,
grooms--what, warder, ho!'"

"'Let the portcullis fall!'" This last command rang from the back of the
room. Perry Thomas stood there smiling.

"I couldn't have done it better myself, Mark," he said. "It's a splendid
piece--that Manny-yon--ain't it--grand--noble. I love to say it."

"Teacher Thomas, Teacher Thomas," came in the shrill voice of Chester
Holmes, "ain't it Dooglas?"

Perry was at my side, smiling benignly on the school. He really seemed
to love the scholars; but Perry is a pious man, and seeks to follow the
letter of the Scriptures, and the command is to love our enemies.

"Doogulus--Doogulus," he said. "Of course, boys, it's Doogulus."

The word seemed to taste good, he rolled it over and over so in his mouth.

"Teacher Hope says you ain't such a fine speaker after all," cried Lulu
Ann Nummler from the distant end of the bench.