Roma followed his glance, and noted the figure and appearance of the young stranger. He was about twenty-five years of age, tall, broad-shouldered, finely formed, with regular features, dark complexion, black eyes, black hair, and a cleanly shaven face. But his greatest charm was in the expression of his countenance—grave, sweet, intellectual, spiritual, suggesting pictures of the young St. John, the beloved disciple. “I am very happy that you have come to our parish. I thank you very much for coming,” said Roma softly. “My gratitude is due to you, lady, for giving me the opportunity to work,” he earnestly replied. “My young brother is going to be of the greatest use to you in the organization of your Free School for Colored People,” said Dr. Shaw, “and other good works.” “I am very sure that he will,” Miss Fronde replied, not formally and conventionally, but most cordially and emphatically. Paul Stone flushed and bent his head, saying modestly: “I shall spare no pains to do my very best.” Dr. Shaw then went into the subject of the free school to be established on the Goeberlin estate for the education of the colored people of that neighborhood. “It is the first thing to be taken in hand,” he said, “and one thing at a time is my maxim.” The three held counsel together on this subject, and settled a part of the plan. There was no building on the plantation that was suitable, or that could be spared, so it was decided to erect one. “And there is no need to engage a contractor for the simple building of a country schoolhouse. We will employ local stone masons and carpenters, and have a personal supervision over them,” said Dr. Shaw, and he took his tablets and pencil from his pocket and drew a design, which he submitted to Roma and Paul Stone. Both approved, yet suggested some little changes, which Dr. Shaw accepted as improvements on his plan. Then the diagram was laid aside for future consideration and their attention was turned to the subject of teachers. Both Dr. Shaw and Mr. Stone were in favor of engaging male teachers, for they argued, and with good reason, that, if besides children and young girls, there were to be young men in the school, they would require men to govern them. But Roma was opposed to the plan, and was in favor of women, and here she was as firm as adamant. She would try women and moral suasion first, before resorting to men and corporal punishment—for that was what men’s rule in such schools generally meant, she thought. Moral suasion was so much holier an influence than bodily fear.