按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 he ever knowed。 Ye're jist like
me； and ye see I sorter spotted your ways to onct。〃
〃Then why did you come here this morning and disturb the school？〃
demanded the master sharply。
〃That's so； I sorter slipped up thar； didn't I？〃 said Uncle Ben
with a smile of rueful assent。 〃You see I didn't allow to COME IN
then； but on'y to hang round a leetle and kinder get used to it；
and it to me。〃
〃Used to what？〃 said the master impatiently； albeit with a slight
softening at his intruder's penitent expression。
Uncle Ben did not reply immediately； but looked around as if for a
seat； tried one or two benches and a desk with his large hand as if
testing their security； and finally abandoning the idea as
dangerous； seated himself on the raised platform beside the
master's chair； having previously dusted it with the flap of his
hat。 Finding； however； that the attitude was not conducive to
explanation； he presently rose again； and picking up one of the
school…books from the master's desk eyed it unskilfully upside
down； and then said hesitatingly；
〃I reckon ye ain't usin' Dobell's 'Rithmetic here？〃
〃No；〃 said the master。
〃That's bad。 'Pears to be played outthat Dobell feller。 I was
brought up on Dobell。 And Parsings' Grammar？ Ye don't seem to be
a using Parsings' Grammar either？〃
〃No；〃 said the master； relenting still more as he glanced at Uncle
Ben's perplexed face with a faint smile。
〃And I reckon you'd be saying the same of Jones' 'Stronomy and
Algebry？ Things hev changed。 You've got all the new style here；〃
he continued； with affected carelessness； but studiously avoiding
the master's eye。 〃For a man ez wos brought up on Parsings；
Dobell； and Jones； thar don't appear to be much show nowadays。〃
The master did not reply。 Observing several shades of color chase
each other on Uncle Ben's face； he bent his own gravely over his
books。 The act appeared to relieve his companion； who with his
eyes still turned towards the window went on：
〃Ef you'd had them bookswhich you haven'tI had it in my mind to
ask you suthen'。 I had an idea ofofsort of reviewing my
eddication。 Kinder going over the old books aginjist to pass the
time。 Sorter running in yer arter school hours and doin' a little
practisin'； eh？ You looking on me as an extry scholarand I
payin' ye as sichbut keepin' it 'twixt ourselves； you knowjust
for a pastime； eh？〃
As the master smilingly raised his head； he became suddenly and
ostentatiously attracted to the window。
〃Them jay birds out there is mighty peart； coming right up to the
school…house！ I reckon they think it sort o' restful too。〃
〃But if you really mean it； couldn't you use these books； Uncle
Ben？〃 said the master cheerfully。 〃I dare say there's little
differencethe principle is the same； you know。〃
Uncle Ben's face； which had suddenly brightened； as suddenly fell。
He took the book from the master's hand