"Everybody turn to this page. It's a fable and we'll start there."
They were on to her at once with contumely and derision, Rupy the freckled, Henry the lean, William the tired because as now of the very inadequateness of most creatures.
"Fable?" from Rupy. "What for's it any fable? What's a fable?" pityingly.
"Aw, 'tain't no fable, can't you see it ain't?" from Henry in disgust.
From William with gloomy patience. "It's an ox. And the thing it's talking to is a frog."
Willy bobbed up. He was nothing but a twin, poor soul! But even so, he'd show her! "O-x, ox, f-r-o-g, frog, p-r-i-m, prim, e-r, er, primer."
"Aw, Willy," from Rupy in tones of even greater disgust. "Whut's the matter with you? This here's her school. Let her talk. It ain't your'n."
For she was a girl! And discovered to be pretty! And twice proven under test not to know! She was here to be taken care of and protected! What further proofs of this were needed?
Mrs. Williams came out to the hall as Selina was leaving at noon. "I hope you feel you got along fairly well? That your first morning gave you encouragement?"