Thank you." "I had decided to mark your composition with a B, Edwards.

Perhaps the many mistakes in grammar would ordinarily indicate a C, perhaps even a C minus, but the--er--other merits of the exercise are so pronounced that, on the whole, I think it deserves a B." "Thank you, sir." "Er--just a moment." The instructor held up a hand.

"I said that I had decided to give you a B, Edwards.

That, however, was before I had learned when this was written.

I shall now give it a D minus.
You--er--you understand why, Edwards ?" "Yes, sir." "I'm sorry, but I--er--must take into consideration the facts in the case.