Warming to
his subject he removed the egg from under the egg cosy on his sister's
plate and placed in its stead a worm which had just appeared in the
window-box in readiness for the early bird.
He surveyed the scene with a deep sigh of satisfaction. The only
drawback was that he felt that he could not safely stay to watch
results. William possessed a true strategic instinct for the right
moment for a retreat. Hearing, therefore, a heavy step on the stairs,
he seized several pieces of toast and fled. As he fled he heard
through the open window violent sounds proceeding from the enraged
kitten beneath the cover, and then the still more violent sounds
proceeding from the unknown person who removed the cover. The kitten,
a mass of fury and lust for revenge, came flying through the window.
William hid behind a laurel bush till it had passed, then set off down
the road.
School, of course, was impossible. The precious hours of such a day as
this could not be wasted in school. He went down the road full of his
noble purpose. The wickedness of a lifetime was somehow or other to be
crowded into this day. To-morrow it would all be impossible. To-morrow
began the blameless life. It must all be worked off to-day. He skirted
the school by a field path in case any of those narrow souls paid to
employ so aimlessly the precious hours of his youth might be there.
They would certainly be tactless enough to question him as he passed
the door.
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