It was not too far from the town and not too far from the lake.

Perhaps it had been built within sight of the lake so that the West Ketchem student body could see it while at their lessons.

A kind of slow torture.
Pee-wee had never before seen the familiar realities of school life thus brought low and lying in inglorious disorder at his feet.

It gave him a feeling of triumph and had a fascination for him.

Damp smelling books were here and there among the ruins, histories, arithmetics, algebras and grammars.