He turned towards his desk without speaking.

Octavia gave an extra swing to her satchel, tossing it over her shoulder with a certain small coquettishness and moved towards the door.

As she did so the infant Filgee from the safe vantage of the porch where he had lingered was suddenly impelled to a crowning audacity! As if struck with an original idea, but apparently addressing himself to space, he cried out, "Crethy M'Kinthry likth teacher," and instantly vanished.
Putting these incidents sternly aside, the master addressed himself to the task of setting a few copies for the next day as the voices of his departing flock faded from the porch.

Presently a silence fell upon the little school-house.

Through the open door a cool, restful breath stole gently as if nature were again stealthily taking possession of her own.
A squirrel boldly came across the porch, a few twittering birds charging in stopped, beat the air hesitatingly for a moment with their wings, and fell back with bashfully protesting breasts aslant against the open door and the unlooked-for spectacle of the silent occupant.