Page:An Old English Home and Its Dependencies.djvu/100

86 summoned out of the room, we boys essayed who could throw up his piece of bread and butter highest. Mine went against the ceiling, and, the butter being unusually thick, adhered. I was in great alarm; there was no getting it down: it stuck, and neither the usher nor the master, when he entered for prayers, observed it. During preparation of lessons, during prayers, my eyes reverted to the piece of bread and butter. It remained unnoticed. That it was also unobserved by the servants, who were supposed to clean the room, is not perhaps matter of surprise. The next day passed—still the bread and butter hung suspended—but on the third day, during prayers, flop!—down it came in front of the master, and left behind it a nasty, greasy stain on the ceiling. "Whose piece of bread and butter is that?" asked the master, when Amen had been said. I had to confess, and was whipped. That stain in the ceiling grew darker daily. The dust of the room adhered to the butter. It was not effaced all the while I remained