Bugsey had been to school in Millford, of course, but his teacher there had been Miss Morrison, and the teacher here was a man.
Patsey showed signs of being infected with the tear-germ, too, and so Pearlie quickly forged ahead with the unaffected members of her party, to get them under cover before they had time to think of it.
School was called when she arrived in haste and walked up to the teacher's desk, followed by Danny, Mary, Jimmy, and Tommy. Danny was hiding his face in her skirts. Tommy and Jimmy were outwardly calm, but Pearl knew that it would take very little to stampede them.
"We're coming to school, if you please," Pearl said, keeping a tight hold of Danny.
The teacher was a man of middle-age, with heavy eyebrows and great dignity of manner. He looked at the Watson family in silence.
"Speak to them, or they'll bolt," Pearl said, with the authority that comes of being the eldest girl in a large family.
The teacher saw the situation and rose to it. "Come here, Johnny," he said at a venture. "Are you a little gun-shy?"
"My name ain't Johnny, if yer meanin' me," said Jimmy, with a fine show of courage.
Pearl introduced her flock hastily and told the teacher to hang on to
Danny while she went for the others.
When Pearl came in leading the other two boys the teacher exclaimed in wonder.