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Uncle Ben's face； which had suddenly brightened； as suddenly fell。
He took the book from the master's hand without meeting his eyes；
held it at arm's length； turned it over and then laid it softly
down upon the desk as if it were some excessively fragile article。
〃Certingly；〃 he murmured； with assumed reflective ease。 〃Certingly。
The principle's all there。〃 Nevertheless he was quite breathless
and a few beads of perspiration stood out upon his smooth； blank
forehead。
〃And as to writing； for instance；〃 continued the master with
increasing heartiness as he took notice of these phenomena； 〃you
know ANY copy…book will do。〃
He handed his pen carelessly to Uncle Ben。 The large hand that
took it timidly not only trembled but grasped it with such fatal
and hopeless unfamiliarity that the master was fain to walk to the
window and observe the birds also。
〃They're mighty boldthem jays；〃 said Uncle Ben； laying down the
pen with scrupulous exactitude beside the book and gazing at his
fingers as if he had achieved a miracle of delicate manipulation。
〃They don't seem to be afeared of nothing； do they？〃
There was another pause。 The master suddenly turned from the
window。 〃I tell you what； Uncle Ben；〃 he said with prompt decision
and unshaken gravity； 〃the only thing for you to do is to just
throw over Dobell and Parsons and Jones and the old quill pen that
I see you're accustomed to； and start in fresh as if you'd never
known them。 Forget 'em all； you know。 It will be mighty hard of
course to do that；〃 he continued； looking out of the window； 〃but
you must do it。〃
He turned back； the brightness that transfigured Uncle Ben's face
at that moment brought a slight moisture into his own eyes。 The
humble seeker of knowledge said hurriedly that he would try。
〃And begin again at the beginning；〃 continued the master cheerfully。
〃Exactly like one of thosein fact； as if you REALLY were a child
again。〃
〃That's so；〃 said Uncle Ben； rubbing his hands delightedly； 〃that's
me！ Why； that's jest what I was sayin' to Roop〃
〃Then you've already been talking about it？〃 intercepted the master
in some surprise。 〃I thought you wanted it kept secret？〃
〃Well； yes；〃 responded Uncle Ben dubiously。 〃But you see I sorter
agreed with Roop Filgee that if you took to my ideas and didn't
object； I'd give him two bits* every time he'd kem here and help me
of an arternoon when you was away and kinder stand guard around the
school…house； you know； so as to keep the fellows off。 And Roop's
mighty sharp for a boy； ye know。〃
* Two bits； i。 e。； twenty…five cents。
The master reflected a moment and concluded that Uncle Ben was
probably right。 Rupert Filgee； who was a handsome boy of fourteen；
was also a strongly original character whose youthful cynicism and
blunt； honest temper had always attracted him。 He was a fair
scholar； with a possibility of being a better one； and the proposed
arrangement with Uncle Ben would not interfere with the discipline
of school hours and might help them both。 Nevertheless he asked
good…humoredly； 〃But couldn't you do this more securely and easily
in your own house？ I might lend you the books； you know； and come
to you twice a week。〃
Uncle Ben's radiant face suddenly clouded。 〃It wouldn't be exactly
the same kind o' game to me an' Roop；〃 he said hesitatingly。 〃You
see thar's the idea o' the school…house； ye know； and the
restfulness and the quiet； and the gen'ral air o' study。 And the
boys around town ez wouldn't think nothin' o' trapsen' into my
cabin if they spotted what I was up to thar； would never dream o'
hunting me here。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the master； 〃let it be here then。〃 Observing
that his companion seemed to be struggling with an inarticulate
gratitude and an apparently inextricable buckskin purse in his
pocket； he added quietly； 〃I'll set you a few copies to commence
with；〃 and began to lay out a few unfinished examples of Master
Johnny Filgee's scholastic achievements。
〃After thanking YOU； Mr。 Ford；〃 said Uncle Ben； faintly； 〃ef you'll
jest kinder signify； you know； what you consider a fair〃
Mr。 Ford turned quickly and dexterously offered his hand to his
companion in such a manner that he was obliged to withdraw his own
from his pocket to grasp it in return。 〃You're very welcome；〃 said
the master； 〃and as I can only permit this sort of thing
gratuitously； you'd better NOT let me know that you propose giving
anything even to Rupert。〃 He shook Uncle Ben's perplexed hand
again； briefly explained what he had to do； and saying that he
would now leave him alone a few minutes； he took his hat and walked
towards the door。
〃Then you reckon；〃 said Uncle Ben slowly； regarding the work before
him； 〃that I'd better jest chuck them Dobell fellers overboard？〃
〃I certainly should；〃 responded the master with infinite gravity。
〃And sorter waltz in fresh； like one them children？〃
〃Like a child；〃 nodded the master as he left the porch。
A few moments later； as he was finishing his cigar in the clearing；
he paused to glance in at the school…room window。 Uncle Ben；
stripped of his coat and waistcoat； with his shirt…sleeves rolled
up on his powerful arms； had evidently cast Dobell and all
misleading extraneous aid aside； and with the perspiration standing
out on his foolish forehead； and his perplexed face close to the
master's desk； was painfully groping along towards the light in the
tottering and devious tracks of Master Johnny Filgee； like a very
child indeed！
CHAPTER II。
As the children were slowly straggling to their places the next
morning； the master waited for an opportunity to speak to Rupert。
That beautiful but scarcely amiable youth was； as usual； surrounded
and impeded by a group of his small female admirers； for whom； it
is but just to add； he had a supreme contempt。 Possibly it was
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