Asshewassteppingfromthethreshold，shewassuddenlyconfrontedbyabriskbusiness-lookingman，whowasabouttoenter。\"Justintimetocatchyou，Mrs。Martin，\"hesaidhurriedly；then，quicklycorrectinghismanifestfamiliarity，headded：\"Imean，Itookthelibertyofrunninginhereonmywaytothestageoffice。Thatmatteryouspokeofisallarranged。Italkeditoverwiththeothertrustees，wrotetoSamBarstow，andhe’sagreeable，andhassentsomebodyup，and，\"herapidlyconsultedhiswatch，\"heoughttobeherenow；andI’monmywaytomeethimwiththeothertrustees。\"
Mrs。Martin，whoatoncerecognizedhervisitorastheChairmanoftheSchoolBoard，receivedtheabruptinformationwiththeslighttremulousness，faintincreaseofcolor，andhurriedbreathingofanervouswoman。
\"But，\"shesaid，\"itwasonlyaSUGGESTIONofmine，Mr。Sperry；I
reallyhavenorighttoask——Ihadnoidea\"——
\"It’sallright，ma’am，——neveryoumind。WeputthecasesquaretoBarstow。Weallowedthattheschoolwasgettingtoolargeforyoutotackle，——Imean，youknow，tosuperintendsingle-handed；andthatthesePikeCountyboysthey’rerunninginonusarealittletoobigandsassyforaladylikeyoutolassoandthrowdown——I