his customary half-defiant sullenness.

"My pop he sayed I ain't got need to waste my time gettin' learnt
them cinnamons. Pop he says what's the use learnin' TWO words
where [which] means the selfsame thing--one's enough."

Absalom's father was a school director and Absalom had grown
accustomed, under the rule of Miss Margaret's predecessors, to
feel the force of the fact in their care not to offend him.

"But your father is not the teacher here--I am," she cheerfully
told him. "So you may stay after school and do what I require."

Tillie felt a pang of uneasiness as she went back to her seat.
Absalom's father was very influential and, as all the township
knew, very spiteful. He could send Miss Margaret away, and he
would do it, if she offended his only child, Absalom. Tillie
thought she could not bear it at all if Miss Margaret were sent
away. Poor Miss Margaret did not seem to realize her own danger.
Tillie felt tempted to warn her. It was only this morning that the
teacher had laughed at Absalom when he said that the Declaration
of Independence was "a treaty between the United States and
England,"--and had asked him, "Which country, do you think,
hurrahed the loudest, Absalom, when that treaty was signed?" And
now this afternoon she "as much as said Absalom's father should
mind to his own business!" It was growing serious. There had never
been before a teacher at "William Penn school-house who had not
judiciously "showed partiality" to Absalom.

"And he used to be dummer yet [stupider even] than what he is