He half expected the principal to laugh when he stated his business; but, on the contrary, that gentleman seemed to regard the matter approvingly; this made Larry feel better, and he entered the schoolroom indicated with scarcely a tremor. A number of young men of his own age sat at the little desks, handling the spelling books with pathetic care. There were two teachers in the room, flitting helpfully from desk to desk; no one noticed Larry and he slid into a vacant seat, and awaited developments.
One of the teachers was working from pupil to pupil up the aisle toward him. His back was turned to her, but he knew, from the sound of her voice, that she was young. In a few moments she was, as Larry afterward expressed it, “givin’ points to the guy right back o’ me.”
It was not until then that he recognized the voice; and a panic immediately possessed him.
“Gee!” he mentally exclaimed, “what did I drift into this joint for, anyhow; I might a-knowed she’d be here.” He looked longingly toward the door. “If I t’ought nobody was next, I’d take a chance, and fly the coop!”
But he delayed until too late; in another moment Maggie had sat down beside him, inquiring:
“How are you getting on with—?” then in great astonishment. “Why, Larry Murphy!”
He began to stammer a confused explanation; but she knew of his shortcomings and realized the situation like a flash.
“I didn’t t’ink I’d see youse here,” he finished awkwardly.
Maggie knew this; she also knew that if he had dreamed of her presence wild horses could not have dragged him there. Her tact soon put him more at his ease, and, finally her manner of putting things, awoke an interest in the lessons that almost made him forget his situation.
When the class was dismissed she had called him aside.