It was just after dinner.

Hector might have said the same thing at the end of his first
dinner. There was, indeed, another course. It consisted of some
pale, flabby apple pie, about half baked. The slices given were
about half the size of those that are ordinarily supplied at private
tables and restaurants. Hector managed to eat the apple, but the
crust he was obliged to leave. He noticed, however, that his fellow
pupils were not so fastidious.

When the last fragment of pie had disappeared, Mr. Smith again rang
the hand bell.

"Boys," he said, "we have now satisfied our appetites."

"I haven't," thought Hector.

"We have once more experienced the bountiful goodness of Providence
in supplying our material wants. As we sit down to our plain but
wholesome diet, I wonder how many of us are sensible of our good
fortune. I wonder how many of us think of the thousands of poor
children, scattered about the world, who know not where to get their
daily bread. You have been refreshed, and have reinforced your
strength; you will soon be ready to resume your studies, and thus,
also, take in a supply of mental food, for, as you are all aware, or
ought to be aware, the mind needs to be fed as well as the body.
There will first be a short season for games and out-of-door
amusements. Mr. Crabb, will you accompany the boys to the playground
and superintend their sports?"