“Oh, no, sah,” shouted another boy from the back of the room. “He was having no name. He was married man....” “His name was Ng Sik Wong,” said one of the laboriously good little boys. “_What_ is his first name?” “Ng,” buzzed the whole class. “I can’t believe it.” Feeling a little braver Edward wrote down, “? Sick Wong—Scar on nose—pale blue—halfwitted,” in his notebook. “Now, ... ahem, Sick Wong, you’re one of the biggest boys in the class, aren’t you?” “I new scholar.” “Almost big enough to be a master, eh?” “Eh—tya—tya.... Hey, Ng Sik Wong—you be master—number one class master—married man....” Edward pressed on. “So I’m sure I can depend on you to try and help me.” “I new scholar.” “Go back to your seat.” “Please, sah,” cooed a good little boy. “I shall help you. I shall tell you where was we reading holy book. Last Monday we have finish Matthew-holy-gospel-according-to twenty four chapter. I tell you my name, sah. I Rupert Frazer, sah.” “Open your Bibles at the twenty fifth chapter of Saint Matthew.” Bibles flew about in the air. There was a riotous noise of opening books and a few whines, “Please sah, he steal my book ... please sah, Pong Poon Chong pinch me.... Sah, I have lose my Bible since a long time....” The tallest of the smart Portuguese boys in the front row rose. “Excuse me, sah, what does it mean, Virgin?” Edward’s skull was sweating. “A virgin—” he began. “Eh—tya—tya....” “Surely the whole class has sense enough not to ask silly questions.” “Please, sah, you shall tell him ask Ng Sik Wong. He married man.” “Please, sah, tell him ask Ng Sik Wong wife—she shall know what is virgin—I wonder....” “A virgin is a young unmarried woman,” said Edward, petulantly damning all virgins. “But, sah——” “In this case that definition is enough.” “But, please, sah——” “Begin to read, Rupert Frazer.” In a high staccato voice which ignored punctuation and sense, Rupert Frazer began to read. “Please, sah,” said the tallest of the three Portuguese. “Please excuse us leave the room, sah.” All three rose as if worked by one lever. “What for?” asked Edward. “Eh—tya—tya....” The three Portuguese stared at Edward in exaggerated reproach and bashfulness. (“And att midnight there wass a cry made be-hold de brid-a-groom cometh go yee—”) “Very well. Come straight back,” said Edward. (“Less thah bee no eno for uss and—”) “Oh, stop, Frazer,” implored Edward. “Next boy, read.” The boys on Frazer’s right and left began reading in concert with furious glances at each other. “Not both; the Indian boy.” “I am Parsee,” said the boy, a small nervous looking child. “My name iss Bannerjee.” “Please excuse us leave the room, sah,” said the first of a line of big boys filing past Edward’s desk towards the door. “Stop,” shouted Edward unsteadily. His head was rocking with the heat and consciousness of failure. “Go back to your seats.” “Oh, sah, other teachah Mistah Ramsee he nevah stop us.”