The crowd had departed.

To our surprise, we found these foolish fellows at our door awaiting us.

"Sir," they said, "we would speak with you a moment." Going aside with them, I asked their wishes.

They then launched out, with weeping and groans and much wringing of hands, into a dreary tale.

They were young teachers waiting for appointment; one of them had a little family; it would be a dreadful thing for them to be taken away and forced into the army.