This was the most astoundingly impudent and insubordinate act which had ever been done to Mr Paton for years, and it was now his turn to be angry. But mastering his anger with admirable determination, he merely said, "Evson, you must be beside yourself this morning; it is very rarely, indeed, that a new boy is so far gone in disobedience as this. I have no hesitation in saying that you are the most audacious and impertinent new boy with whom I have ever had to deal. I must cane you in my room after detention, to which you will of course go." "Thank you, sir," said Walter, with a smile of impudent _sang froid_; and the form tittered again as he walked noisily to his seat. But Mr Paton, allowing for his violent frame of mind, took no notice of this last affront. Whereupon Walter, taking another large piece of paper, and a spluttering quill pen, wrote on it, with a great deal of scratching-- Due from Evson to Mr Paton. For missing lesson... 100 lines. For laying down books... 300 lines. For laughing... 200 lines. For writing 200 lines... A caning. Detention, of course. Thank you for nothing. And on the other side of the sheet he wrote in large letters--"No Go!" Which, being done, he passed the sheet along the form _pour encourager les autres_. "Evson," said Mr Paton, quietly, "bring me that paper." Walter took it up--looking rather alarmed this time--but with the side "_No go_!" uppermost. "What is this, Evson?" "Number ninety, sir," said Walter, amid the now unconcealed laughter of the rest, who knew very well that he had intended it for "No go." Mr Paton looked curiously at Walter for a minute, and then said, "Evson, Evson, I could not have thought you so utterly foolish. Well, you know that each fresh act _must_ have its fresh punishment. You must leave the room now, and _besides all your other punishments_ I must also report you to the headmaster. You can best judge with what result."