"I came out here to show up that man as a fraud. But what do I find? A poor, unpaid, half-starved man that loves his thankless work better than his life, teaching what not one schoolmaster in a thousand can teach; teaching his whole school four better things than were ever printed in any school-book,--how to study, how to think, how to value knowledge, and to love one another and mankind. What you'd ought to have done was to agree that such a school should keep open, and such a teacher should stay, if jest one, one lone child should answer one single book-question right! But as I said before, a bargain's a bargain--Hold on there! Sit down! You sha'n't interrupt me again!" Men were standing up on every side. There was confusion and a loud buzz of voices. "The second mistake," the stranger made haste to cry, "was thinking the teacher gave out that last word right. He gave it wrong! And the third mistake," he shouted against the rising commotion, "was thinking it was spelt wrong. _She spelt it right!_ And a bargain's a bargain! The schoolmaster stays!" He could say no more; the rumble of voices suddenly burst into a cheer. The women and children laughed and clapped their hands,--Toutou his feet also,--and Bonaventure, flirting the leaves of a spelling book till he found the place, looked, cried--"In-com-pre-hen-_sibility_!" wheeled and dashed upon Sidonie, seized her hands in his as she turned to fly, and gazed speechlessly upon her, with the tears running down his face. Feeling a large hand upon his shoulder, he glanced around and saw 'Mian pointing him to his platform and desk. Thither he went. The stranger had partly restored order. Every one was in his place. But what a change! What a gay flutter throughout the old shed! Bonaventure seemed to have bathed in the fountain of youth. Sidonie, once more the school's queen-flower, sat calm, with just a trace of tears adding a subtle something to her beauty. "Chil'run, beloved chil'run," said Bonaventure, standing once more by his desk, "yo' school-teacher has the blame of the sole mistake; and, sir, gladly, oh, gladly, sir, would he always have the blame rather than any of his beloved school-chil'run! Sir, I will boldly ask you--_ah_ you not the State Sup'inten'ent Public Education?" "No, I"-- "But surely, sir, than a greater?--Yes, I discover it, though you smile. Chil'run--friends--not the State Sup'inten'ent, but greater!--Pardon; have yo' chair, sir." "Why, the examination's over, isn't it? Guess you'd better call it finished, hadn't you?" He made the suggestion softly, but Bonaventure answered aloud: "Figu'atively speaking, 'tis conclude'; but--pardon--you mention' writing. Shall you paht f'om us not known--not leaving yo' name--in a copy-book, for examp'?" "With pleasure. You do teach writing?"