You must understand that." "But Ben Edwards! Why, he's a wooden-head, same as his dad was a fore him! And Emmie's the smartest scholar in this town." "Oh, no, she isn't! She's a good scholar, but there are others just as good and even quicker to learn." This was piling one insult upon another.

Other children as brilliant as Bos'n! Captain Cy was bursting with righteous indignation.
"Well!" he exclaimed.

"Well! for a teacher that we've called to--" "And that's another thing," broke in Miss Dawes quickly.

"I've been told that you, Cap'n Whittaker, are the one directly responsible for my being chosen for this place.

I don't say that you are presuming on that, but--" "I ain't! I never thought of such a thing!" "But if you are you mustn't, that's all.