“I’ve been dissatisfied with you lately. You’ve been slack and inattentive. You seem to take no interest in your work. It’s been slovenly and bad.”
“I’m very sorry, sir,” said Philip.
“Is that all you have to say for yourself?”
Philip looked down sulkily. How could he answer that he was bored to death?
“You know, this term you’ll go down instead of up. I shan’t give you a very good report.”