Not one direct word was uttered.

There were expressions of regret that the village children of Ipley would miss the supervizing eyes that had watched over them--perchance! at any rate, would lose them.

All went on in the household as before, and would have continued so, but that they had a chief among them.

This was Adela Pole, who found her powers with the occasion.
Adela thought decisively: "People never move unless they are pushed." And when you have got them to move ever so little, then propel; but by no means expect that a movement on their part means progression.

Without propulsion nothing results.