There were a few young married couples present, and these matrons made their husbands sit beside them during the exercises; but for a young man and young girl to sit together was almost a formal announcement in that community that they "had intentions!" All this was quite unsuspected by Lyddy and 'Phemie Bray, and the latter had no idea of the joy that possessed Lucas Pritchett's soul when she allowed him to take the seat beside her. Her sister sat at her other hand, and Sairy was beyond Lyddy. No other young fellow could get within touch of the city girls, therefore, although there was doubtless many a swain who would have been glad to do so. This club, the fundamental idea of which was "temperance," had gradually developed into something much broader. While it still demanded a pledge from its members regarding abstinence from alcoholic beverages, including the bane of the countryside--hard cider--its semimonthly meetings were mainly of a literary and musical nature. The reigning school teacher for the current term was supposed to take the lead in governing the club and pushing forward the local talent. Mr. Somers was the name of the young man with the bald brow and the eyeglasses, who was presiding over the welfare of Pounder's District School. The Bray girls thought he seemed to be an intelligent and well-mannered young man, if a trifle self-conscious. And he evidently had an element that was difficult to handle. Soon after the meeting was called to order it became plain that a group of boys down in the corner by the desk were much more noisy than was necessary. The huge stove, by which the room was overheated, was down there, its smoke-pipe crossing, in a L-shaped figure, the entire room to the chimney at one side, and it did seem as though none of those boys could move without kicking their boots against this stove. These uncouth noises interfered with the opening address of the teacher and punctuated the "roll call" by the secretary, who was a small, almost dwarf-like young man, out of whose mouth rolled the names of the members in a voice that fairly shook the casements. Such a thunderous tone from so puny a source was in itself amazing, and convulsed 'Phemie. "Ain't he got a great voice?" asked Lucas, in a whisper. "He sings bass in the church choir and sometimes, begum! ye can't hear nawthin' but Elbert Hooker holler." "Is _that_ his name?" gasped 'Phemie. "Yep. Elbert Hooker. 'Yell-bert' the boys call him. He kin sure holler like a bull!"