With flashing eyes she tore open the letter , snatched up the chalk , and dashed at the blackboard . In a few minutes the contents of that letter graced the expanse usually sacred to more prosaic compositions . I can not reproduce it verbatim , for I had no after opportunity of refreshing my memory . But I remember that it was exceedingly sentimental and exceedingly ill-spelled -- for Cecily mercilessly copied down poor Cyrus ' mistakes . He wrote her that he wore her hare over his hart -- `` and he stole it , '' Cecily threw passionately over her shoulder at Mr. Perkins -- that her eyes were so sweet and lovely that he could n't find words nice enuf to describ them , that he could never forget how butiful she had looked in prar meeting the evening before , and that some meels he could n't eat for thinking of her , with more to the same effect and he signed it `` yours till deth us do part , Cyrus Brisk . '' As the writing proceeded we scholars exploded into smothered laughter , despite our awe of Mr. Perkins . Mr. Perkins himself could not keep a straight face . He turned abruptly away and looked out of the window , but we could see his shoulders shaking . When Cecily had finished and had thrown down the chalk with bitter vehemence , he turned around with a very red face . `` That will do . You may sit down . Cyrus , since it seems you are the guilty person , take the eraser and wipe that off the board . Then go stand in the corner , facing the room , and hold your arms straight above your head until I tell you to take them down . '' Cyrus obeyed and Cecily fled to her seat and wept , nor did Mr. Perkins meddle with her more that day . She bore her burden of humiliation bitterly for several days , until she was suddenly comforted by a realization that Cyrus had ceased to persecute her . He wrote no more letters , he gazed no longer in rapt adoration , he brought no more votive offerings of gum and pencils to her shrine . At first we thought he had been cured by the unmerciful chaffing he had to undergo from his mates , but eventually his sister told Cecily the true reason . Cyrus had at last been driven to believe that Cecily 's aversion to him was real , and not merely the defence of maiden coyness . If she hated him so intensely that she would rather write that note on the blackboard than sit with him , what use was it to sigh like a furnace longer for her ? Mr. Perkins had blighted love 's young dream for Cyrus with a killing frost .
Thenceforth sweet Cecily kept the noiseless tenor of her way unvexed by the attentions XXXXX enamoured swains .
If above despite down for in of on that to