cressy-第3章
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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 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 myst
