"Run out quickly, children! Run out, all of you. A water pipe has burst
and there's a regular rain storm inside our nice schoolroom."

"Please can't I have my Monkey on a Stick before I go out?" asked
Herbert. "You put him in your desk, Teacher!"

"And I want my knife you took away, please!" called another boy.

"We have no time for those things, now," the teacher said. "The water is
coming down fast, and we'll all be wet through if we stay. The Monkey,
knife and other things will be all right in my desk. Get your hats, and
pass out quickly. More pipes may burst and flood the school.

"Go home, children, all of you," said the teacher. "To-morrow the pipes
will be mended, and, if the school is dry enough, we will go on with our
lessons. But run home now."

You may well imagine that most of the boys and girls were glad of the
holiday that had come to them so unexpectedly. But Herbert felt sorry;
that he had to leave his Monkey on a Stick in school. When he reached
home he acted so strangely that his mother wanted to know what the
matter was.

Of course Herbert had to tell that he had taken his Monkey to school,
and he also had to tell what had happened afterward.

"Of course you did wrong," said Herbert's mother, "and you must suffer a
little punishment."