He crossed his legs and stroked his beard in a most matter of fact way.

Belton stared at this colored man, with his lips apart and his body bent forward.

He let his eyes scan the faces of all the white teachers, male and female, but would end up with a stare at the colored man sitting there.

Finally, he hunched his seat-mate with his elbow and asked what man that was.

He was told that it was the colored teacher of the faculty.
Belton knew that there was a colored teacher in the school but he had no idea that he would be thus honored with a seat with the rest of the teachers.