Page:De Amicis - Heart, translation Hapgood, 1922.djvu/375

Rh last advice in the street, and many mothers went with their sons to their seats, to see whether the inkstand was filled, and to try their pens, and they still continued to hover round the entrance, and to say:—

“Courage! Attention! I entreat you.”

Our assistant master was Coatti, the one with the black beard, who mimics the voice of a lion, and never punishes any one. There were boys who were white with fear. When the teacher broke the seal of the letter from the town-hall, and drew out the problem, not a breath was audible. He read it loudly, staring now at one, now at another, with terrible eyes; but we knew that had he been able to announce the answer also, so that we might all get promoted, he would have been delighted.

After an hour of work many began to grow weary, for the problem was difficult. One cried. Crossi dealt himself blows on the head. And many of them are not to blame, poor boys, for not knowing, for they have not had much time to study, and have been neglected by their parents.

Stardi remained motionless for more than an hour, with his eyes on the problem, and his fists on his temples, and then he finished the whole thing in five minutes. The master made his round among the benches, saying:—

“Be calm! Be calm! I advise you to be calm!”

And when he saw that any one was discouraged, he opened his mouth, as though about to devour him, like a lion, in order to make him laugh and inspire him with courage. Towards eleven o'clock, peeping down through the blinds, I saw many parents pacing