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was here diverted by the searching eyes of Octavia Dean； a girl of
eleven； who after the fashion of her sex preferred a personal
recognition of her presence before she spoke。 Succeeding in
catching his eye； she threw back her long hair from her shoulders
with an easy habitual gesture； rose； and with a faint accession of
color said：
〃Cressy McKinstry came home from Sacramento。 Mrs。 McKinstry told
mother she's comin' back here to school。〃
The master looked up with an alacrity perhaps inconsistent with his
cynical austerity。 Seeing the young girl curiously watching him
with an expectant smile； he regretted it。 Cressy McKinstry； who
was sixteen years old； had been one of the pupils he had found at
the school when he first came。 But as he had also found that she
was there in the extraordinary attitude of being 〃engaged〃 to one
Seth Davis； a fellow…pupil of nineteen； and as most of the
courtship was carried on freely and unceremoniously during school…
hours with the full permission of the master's predecessor； the
master had been obliged to point out to the parents of the devoted
couple the embarrassing effects of this association on the
discipline of the school。 The result had been the withdrawal of
the lovers； and possibly the good…will of the parents。 The return
of the young lady was consequently a matter of some significance。
Had the master's protest been accepted； or had the engagement
itself been broken off？
Either was not improbable。 His momentary loss of attention was
Johnny Filgee's great gain。
〃Tige；〃 said Johnny； with sudden and alarming distinctness； 〃ith
got thix pupthsmothly yaller。〃
In the laugh which followed this long withheld announcement of an
increase in the family of Johnny's yellow and disreputable setter
〃Tiger；〃 who usually accompanied him to school and howled outside；
the master joined with marked distinctness。 Then he said； with
equally marked severity； 〃Books！〃 The little levee was ended； and
school began。
It continued for two hours with short sighs； corrugations of small
foreheads； the complaining cries and scratchings of slate pencils
over slates； and other signs of minor anguish among the more
youthful of the flock； and with more or less whisperings； movements
of the lips； and unconscious soliloquy among the older pupils。 The
master moved slowly up and down the aisle with a word of
encouragement or explanation here and there； stopping with his
hands behind him to gaze abstractedly out of the windows to the
wondering envy of the little ones。 A faint hum； as of invisible
insects； gradually pervaded the school； the more persistent droning
of a large bee had become dangerously soporific。 The hot breath of
the pines without had invaded the doors and windows； the warped
shingles and weather…boarding at times creaked and snapped under
the rays of the vertical and unclouded sun。 A gentle perspiration
broke out like a mild epidemic in the infant class； little curls
became damp； brief lashes limp； round eyes moist； and small eyelids
heavy。 The master himself started； and awoke out of a perilous
dream of other eyes and hair to collect himself severely。 For the
irresolute； half…embarrassed； half…lazy figure of a man had halted
doubtingly before the porch and open door。 Luckily the children；
who were facing the master with their backs to the entrance； did
not see it。
Yet the figure was neither alarming nor unfamiliar。 The master at
once recognized it as Ben Dabney； otherwise known as 〃Uncle Ben；〃 a
good…humored but not over…bright miner； who occupied a small cabin
on an unambitious claim in the outskirts of Indian Spring。 His
avuncular title was evidently only an ironical tribute to his
amiable incompetency and heavy good…nature； for he was still a
young man with no family ties； and by reason of his singular
shyness not even a visitor in the few families of the neighborhood。
As the master looked up； he had an irritating recollection that Ben
had been already haunting him for the last two days； alternately
appearing and disappearing in his path to and from school as a more
than usually reserved and bashful ghost。 This； to the master's
cynical mind； clearly indicated that； like most ghosts； he had
something of essentially selfish import to communicate。 Catching
the apparition's half…appealing eye； he proceeded to exorcise it
with a portentous frown and shake of the head； that caused it to
timidly wane and fall away from the porch； only however to reappear
and wax larger a few minutes later at one of the side windows。 The
infant class hailing his appearance as a heaven…sent boon； the
master was obliged to walk to the door and command him sternly
away； when； retreating to the fence； he mounted the uppermost rail；
and drawing a knife from his pocket； cut a long splinter from the
rail； and began to whittle it in patient and meditative silence。
But when recess was declared； and the relieved feelings of the
little flock had vent in the clearing around the schoolhouse； the
few who rushed to the spot found that Uncle Ben had already
disappeared。 Whether the appearance of the children was too
inconsistent with his ghostly mission； or whether his heart failed
him at the last moment； the master could not determine。 Yet；
distasteful as the impending interview promised to be； the master
was vaguely and irritatingly disappointed。
A few hours later； when school was being dismissed； the master
found Octavia Dean lingering near his desk。 Looking into the
girl's mischievous eyes； he good…humoredly answered their
expectation by referring to her morning's news。 〃I thought Miss
McKinstry had been married by this time；〃 he said carelessly。
Octavia； swinging her satchel like a censer； as if she were
performing some act of thurification over her completed tasks；
replied demurely： 〃Oh no！ dear nonot THAT。〃
〃So it would seem；〃 said the master。
〃I reckon she never kalkilated to； either；〃 continued Octavia；
slyly looking up from the corner of her lashes。
〃Indeed！〃
〃Noshe was just funning with Seth Davisthat's all。〃
〃Funning with him？〃
〃Yes； sir。 Kinder foolin' him； you know。〃
〃Kinder foolin' him！〃
For an instant the master felt it his professional duty to protest
against this most unmaidenly and frivolous treatment of the
matrimonial engagement； but a second glance at the significant face
of his youthful auditor made him conclude that her instinctive
knowledge of her own sex could be better trusted than his imperfect
theories。 He turned towards his desk without speaking。 Octavia
gave an extra swing to her satchel； tossing it over her shoulder
with a certain small coquettishness and moved towards the door。 As
she did so the infant Filgee from the safe vantage of the porch
where he had lingered was suddenly impelled to a crowning audacity！
As if struck with an original idea； but apparently addressing
himself to space； he cried out； 〃Crethy M'Kinthry likth teacher；〃
and instantly vanished。
Putting these incidents sternly aside； the master addressed himself
to the task of setting a few copies for the next day as the voices
of his departing flock faded from the porch。 Presently a silence
fell upon the little school…house。 Through the open door a cool；
restful breath stole gently as if nature were again stealthily
taking possession of her own。 A squirrel boldly came across the
porch； a few twittering birds charging in stopped； beat the air
hesitatingly for a moment with their wings； and fell back with
bashfully protesting breasts aslant against the open door and the
unlooked…for spectacle of the silent occupant。 Then there was
another movement of intrusion； but this time human； and the master
looked up angrily to behold Uncle Ben。
He entered with a slow exasperating step； lifting his large boots
very high and putting them down again softly as if he were afraid
of some insecurity in the floor； or figuratively recognized the
fact that the pathways of knowledge were thorny and difficult。
Reaching the master's desk and the ministering presence above it；
he stopped awkwardly； and with the rim of his soft felt hat
endeavored to wipe from his face the meek smile it had worn when he
entered。 It chanced also that he had halted before the minute
stool of the infant Filgee； and his large figure instantly assumed
such Brobdingnagian proportions in contrast that he became more
embarrassed than ever。 The master made no attempt to relieve him；
but regarded him with cold interrogation。
〃I reckoned；〃 he began； leaning one hand on the master's desk with
affected ease； as he dusted his leg with his hat with the other； 〃I
reckonedthat isI allowedI orter saythat I'd find ye alone
at this time。 Ye gin'rally are； ye know。 It's a nice； soothin'；
restful； stoodious time； when a man kin； so to speak； run back on
his eddication and think of all