`` Oh , no , You must n't . '' said Cecily , struggling with her sobs . `` I wo n't have you fighting on my account for anything . And besides , he 'd likely lick you -- he 's so big and rough . And the folks at home might find out all about it , and Uncle Roger would never give me any peace , and mother would be cross , for she 'd never believe it was n't my fault . It would n't be so bad if he 'd only taken a little , but he cut a great big chunk right off the end of one of the braids . Just look at it . I 'll have to cut the other to make them fair -- and they 'll look so awful stubby . '' But Cyrus ' acquirement of the chunk of hair was his last triumph . His downfall was near ; and , although it involved Cecily in a most humiliating experience , over which she cried half the following night , in the end she confessed it was worth undergoing just to get rid of Cyrus . Mr. Perkins was an exceedingly strict disciplinarian . No communication of any sort was permitted between his pupils during school hours . Anyone caught violating this rule was promptly punished by the infliction of one of the weird penances for which Mr. Perkins was famous , and which were generally far worse than ordinary whipping . One day in school Cyrus sent a letter across to Cecily . Usually he left his effusions in her desk , or between the leaves of her books ; but this time it was passed over to her under cover of the desk through the hands of two or three scholars . Just as Em Frewen held it over the aisle Mr. Perkins wheeled around from his station before the blackboard and caught her in the act . `` Bring that here , Emmeline , '' he commanded . Cyrus turned quite pale . Em carried the note to Mr. Perkins . He took it , held it up , and scrutinized the address .
`` Did you write this to XXXXX , Emmeline ? ''
Cecily Cyrus Frewen Perkins Roger acquirement disciplinarian hours left right