To this end, I had sat well back on the form, and while seeming to be busy with my sum, had held my slate in such a manner as to conceal my face: I might have escaped notice, had not my treacherous slate somehow happened to slip from my hand, and falling with an obtrusive crash, directly drawn every eye upon me; I knew it was all over now, and, as I stooped to pick up the two fragments of slate, I rallied my forces for the worst. It came.
Sarei per certo sfuggita agli sguardi, se la lavagna non mi fosse scivolata di mano e, cadendo, non avesse prodotto un gran rumore. Tutti gli occhi si fissarono allora su di me e capii che era tutto perduto; per altro mi feci animo per affrontar la burrasca.