human
Who--who threw those balls at me?
gpt
We--I--er--that is--we all were having a throwing contest, explained Teeter Nelson, diffidently,
human
You certainly _all_ didn't throw at me, interrupted the professor.
gpt
Only two balls struck me, and I demand to know who threw them. Or shall I report you all to Dr. Fillmore and have him keep you in bounds for a week; eh?
human
Nobody meant to hit you, Professor, put in Tom.
gpt
You see----
human
Will you or will you not answer my question? snapped the instructor, in the same tone of voice he used in the classroom, when some luckless lad was stuttering and stammering over the difference between the _gerund_ and the _gerundive_.
gpt
Who threw the balls?
human
I--I'm afraid I did, faltered Joe.
gpt
I threw one, and--and----
human
I threw the other, popped out Peaches.
gpt
But it was an accident, Professor.
human
An accident! Humph!
gpt
Yes, eagerly went on Peaches, who, having been longer at the school than Joe, knew better how to handle the irate instructor.
human
You see it was this way: We were having a contest, and wanted to see who could throw over the trees. Instead of throwing _primus_, _secondus_, and _tertius_ as we might have done, Joe and I threw together--um--er--ah _conjunctim_ so to speak, and Peaches managed to keep a straight face even while struggling to find the right Latin word.
gpt
Yes, we threw _conjunctim_--together--and we both wanted to see who could do the best--er--_supero_--you know, and--er we--well, it was an accident--_casus eventus_. We are awfully sorry, and----