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this healthy quality that inclined the master towards him； and it
was consequently with some satisfaction that he overheard fragments
of his openly disparaging comments upon his worshippers。
〃There！〃 to Clarinda Jones； 〃don't flop！ And don't YOU；〃 to
Octavia Dean； 〃go on breathing over my head like that。 If there's
anything I hate it's having a girl breathing round me。 Yes； you
were！ I felt it in my hair。 And YOU tooyou're always snoopin'
and snoodgin'。 Oh； yes； you want to know WHY I've got an extry
copy…book and another 'Rithmetic； Miss Curiosity。 Well； what would
you give to know？ Want to see if they're PRETTY〃 （with infinite
scorn at the adjective）。 〃No； they ain't PRETTY。 That's all you
girls think aboutwhat's PRETTY and what's curious！ Quit now！
Come！ Don't ye see teacher lookin' at you？ Ain't you ashamed？〃
He caught the master's beckoning eye and came forward； slightly
abashed； with a flush of irritation still on his handsome face； and
his chestnut curls slightly rumpled。 One； which Octavia had
covertly accented by twisting round her forefinger； stood up like a
crest on his head。
〃I've told Uncle Ben that you might help him here after school
hours；〃 said the master； taking him aside。 〃You may therefore omit
your writing exercise in the morning and do it in the afternoon。〃
The boy's dark eyes sparkled。 〃And if it would be all the same to
you； sir；〃 he added earnestly； 〃you might sorter give out in school
that I was to be kept in。〃
〃I'm afraid that would hardly do；〃 said the master； much amused。
〃But why？〃
Rupert's color deepened。 〃So ez to keep them darned girls from
foolin' round me and followin' me back here。〃
〃We will attend to that；〃 said the master smiling； a moment after
he added more seriously； 〃I suppose your father knows that you are
to receive money for this？ And he doesn't object？〃
〃He！ Oh no！〃 returned Rupert with a slight look of astonishment；
and the same general suggestion of patronizing his progenitor that
he had previously shown to his younger brother。 〃You needn't mind
HIM。〃 In reality Filgee pere； a widower of two years' standing；
had tacitly allowed the discipline of his family to devolve upon
Rupert。 Remembering this； the master could only say； 〃Very well；〃
and good…naturedly dismiss the pupil to his seat and the subject
from his mind。 The last laggard had just slipped in； the master
had glanced over the occupied benches with his hand upon his
warning bell； when there was a quick step on the gravel； a flutter
of skirts like the sound of alighting birds； and a young woman
lightly entered。
In the rounded； untouched； and untroubled freshness of her cheek
and chin； and the forward droop of her slender neck； she appeared a
girl of fifteen； in her developed figure and the maturer drapery of
her full skirts she seemed a woman； in her combination of naive
recklessness and perfect understanding of her person she was both。
In spite of a few school…books that jauntily swung from a strap in
her gloved hand； she bore no resemblance to a pupil； in her pretty
gown of dotted muslin with bows of blue ribbon on the skirt and
corsage； and a cluster of roses in her belt； she was as inconsistent
and incongruous to the others as a fashion…plate would have been in
the dry and dog…eared pages before them。 Yet she carried it off
with a demure mingling of the naivete of youth and the aplomb of a
woman； and as she swept down the narrow aisle； burying a few small
wondering heads in the overflow of her flounces； there was no doubt
of her reception in the arch smile that dimpled her cheek。 Dropping
a half curtsey to the master； the only suggestion of her equality
with the others； she took her place at one of the larger desks； and
resting her elbow on the lid began to quietly remove her gloves。 It
was Cressy McKinstry。
Irritated and disturbed at the girl's unceremonious entrance； the
master for the moment recognized her salutation coldly； and
affected to ignore her elaborate appearance。 The situation was
embarrassing。 He could not decline to receive her as she was no
longer accompanied by her lover； nor could he plead entire
ignorance of her broken engagement； while to point out the glaring
inappropriateness of costume would be a fresh interference he knew
Indian Spring would scarcely tolerate。 He could only accept such
explanation as she might choose to give。 He rang his bell as much
to avert the directed eyes of the children as to bring the scene to
a climax。
She had removed her gloves and was standing up。
〃I reckon I can go on where I left off？〃 she said lazily； pointing
to the books she had brought with her。
〃For the present；〃 said the master dryly。
The first class was called。 Later； when his duty brought him to
her side； he was surprised to find that she was evidently already
prepared with consecutive lessons； as if she were serenely
unconscious of any doubt of her return； and as coolly as if she had
only left school the day before。 Her studies were still quite
elementary； for Cressy McKinstry had never been a brilliant
scholar； but he perceived； with a cynical doubt of its permanency；
that she had bestowed unusual care upon her present performance。
There was moreover a certain defiance in it； as if she had resolved
to stop any objection to her return on the score of deficiencies。
He was obliged in self…defence to take particular note of some
rings she wore； and a large bracelet that ostentatiously glittered
on her white armwhich had already attracted the attention of her
companions； and prompted the audible comment from Johnny Filgee
that it was 〃truly gold。〃 Without meeting her eyes he contented
himself with severely restraining the glances of the children that
wandered in her direction。 She had never been quite popular with
the school in her previous role of fiancee； and only Octavia Dean
and one or two older girls appreciated its mysterious fascination；
while the beautiful Rupert； secure in his avowed predilection for
the middle…aged wife of the proprietor of the Indian Spring hotel；
looked upon her as a precocious chit with more than the usual
propensity to objectionable 〃breathing。〃 Nevertheless the master
was irritatingly conscious of her presencea presence which now
had all the absurdity of her ridiculous love…experiences superadded
to it。 He tried to reason with himself that it was only a phase of
frontier life； which ought to have amused him。 But it did not。
The intrusion of this preposterous girl seemed to disarrange the
discipline of his life as well as of his school。 The usual vague；
far…off dreams in which he was in the habit of indulging during
school…hours； dreams that were perhaps superinduced by the
remoteness of his retreat and a certain restful sympathy in his
little auditors； which had made himthe grown…up dreamer
acceptable to them in his gentle understanding of their needs and
weaknesses； now seemed to have vanished forever。
At recess； Octavia Dean； who had drawn near Cressy and reached up
to place her arm round the older girl's waist； glanced at her with
a patronizing smile born of some rapid free…masonry； and laughingly
retired with the others。 The master at his desk； and Cressy who
had halted in the aisle were left alone。
〃I have had no intimation yet from your father or mother that you
were coming back to school again；〃 he began。 〃But I suppose THEY
have decided upon your return？〃
An uneasy suspicion of some arrangement with her former lover had
prompted the emphasis。
The young girl looked at him with languid astonishment。 〃I reckon
paw and maw ain't no objection；〃 she said with the same easy
ignoring of parental authority that had characterized Rupert
Filgee； and which seemed to be a local peculiarity。 〃Maw DID offer
to come yer and see you； but I told her she needn't bother。〃
She rested her two hands behind her on the edge of a desk； and
leaned against it； looking down upon the toe of her smart little
shoe which was describing a small semicircle beyond the hem of her
gown。 Her attitude； which was half…defiant； half…indolent； brought
out the pretty curves of her waist and shoulders。 The master
noticed it and became a trifle more austere。
〃Then I am to understand that this is a permanent thing？〃 he asked
coldly。
〃What's that？〃 said Cressy interrogatively。
〃Am I to understand that you intend coming regularly to school？〃
repeated the master curtly； 〃or is this merely an arrangement for a
few daysuntil〃
〃Oh；〃 said Cressy comprehendingly； lifting her unabashed blue eyes
to his； 〃you mean THAT。 Oh； THAT'S broke off。 Yes；〃 she added
contemptuously； making a larger semicircle with her foot； 〃that's
overthree weeks ago。〃
〃And Seth Davisdoes HE intend returning too？〃
〃He！〃 She broke into a light girlish laugh。 〃I reckon not much！
S'long's I'm her