He went out to see that the building was being emptied of students, but of course he failed to discover that a few were hiding as nearly within earshot as they could get.
Two or three of the teachers who had remained behind now left the room.

The last to go was Mr.Drake, the submaster.

As he went he cast a look at Dick that was full of sympathy, though the submaster, who was a very decent man and teacher, did not by any means intend to foster mutiny in the heart of a High School boy.

But Mr.Drake knew that Mr.Cantwell was not fitted either to command respect or to enforce discipline in the High School.
When Mr.Cantwell came back he and the young soph had the great room to themselves.
"Now you may come forward, Mr.Prescott," announced the principal, "and stand in front of the platform." As Dick went forward there was nothing of undue confidence or any notion of bravado in his bearing.

He was not one of those schoolboys who, when brought to task by authority, try to put on a don't-care look.