FullReads

He had understood so little of all that had passed that he was beyond being surprised by the result of this communication. Miss Bailey had gathered him into her arms and had cried in a queer helpless way. And as she cried she had said over and over again: “Morris, how could you? Oh, how could you, dear? How could you?”

The Principal and “the comp’ny mit whiskers” had looked solemnly at one another for a struggling moment, and had then broken into laughter, long and loud, until the visiting authority was limp and moist. The children waited in polite uncertainty, but when Miss Bailey, after some indecision, had contributed a wan smile, which later grew into a shaky laugh, the First-Reader Class went wild.

Then the Honourable Timothy arose to say good-by. He reiterated his praise of the singing and reading, the blackboard work and the moral tone. An awkward pause ensued, during which the Principal engaged the young Gonorowskys in impromptu conversation. The Honourable Tim crossed over to Miss Bailey’s side and steadied himself for a great effort.

“Teacher,” he began meekly, “I tells you ‘scuse. This sort of thing makes a man feel like a bull in a china shop. Do you think the little fellow will shake hands with me? I was really only joking.”

“But surely he will,” said Miss Bailey, as she glanced down at the tangle of dark curls resting against her breast. “Morris, dear, aren’t you going to say good-by to the gentleman?”

Morris relaxed one hand from its grasp on his lady and bestowed it on Mr. O’Shea.

“Good by,” said he gently. “I gives you presents, from gold presents, the while you’re friends mit Teacher. I’m loving much mit her too.”

At this moment the Principal turned, and Mr. O’Shea, in a desperate attempt to retrieve his dignity, began: “As to class management and discipline–“

But the Principal was not to be deceived.

“Don’t you think, Mr. O’Shea,” said he, “that you and I had better leave the management of the little ones to the women? You have noticed, perhaps, that this is Nature’s method.”