"Thank you."

They passed out through the garden. Mr. Eden stopped to look at the
flowers. Susan colored.

"It has been rather neglected of late," said she apologetically.

"It must have been very well taken care of before, then," said he,
"for it looks charming now. Ah! I love flowers dearly!" and he gave a
little sigh.

They reached the school, and Mr. Eden sat down and examined the little
boys and girls. When he sat down Susan winced. How angry he will be at
their ignorance! thought Susan. But Mr. Eden, instead of putting on an
awful look, and impressing on the children that a being of another
generation was about to attack them, made himself young to meet their
minds. A pleasant smile disarmed their fears. He spoke to them in very
simple words and childish idioms, and told them a pretty story, which
interested them mightily. Having set their minds really working, he
put questions arising fairly out of his story, and so fathomed the
moral sense and the intelligence of more than one. In short, he drew
the brats out instead of crushing them in. Susan stood by, at first
startled at the line he took, then observant, then approving.
Presently he turned to her.

"And which is your class, Miss Merton?"

Susan colored.

"I take these little girls when I come, sir.