"I might want to do it—and yet not be able," was the smiling reply; while one of the smallest boys, pulling the tail of the grey coat which Mr. Simlins wore 'on business,' and pointing to the heap of nuts, said succinctly,
"Them's yourn!"
"Mine!" said Mr. Simlins. "Well where's yourn? What have you done with
Miss Faith Derrick?"
"Why we hain't done nothin' to her," said the boy—"she's done a heap to us."
"What has she done to you, you green hickory?"
"Why—she's run round, firstrate," said little Rob,—"and she's helped me shuck."
"So some o' you's thanked her. 'Twan't you. Here, you sir," said Mr. Simlins, addressing this time Joe Deacon,—"what have you been doing with Miss Faith Derrick?"
"I bain't Sam," was Joe's rather cool rejoinder, with a slight relapsing into Yankee Doodle.
"Hollo!" said Mr. Simlins—"I thought you'd learned all school could teach you, and give up to come?"
"Only the last part is true, Mr. Simlins," said Mr. Linden, who while
Joe spoke had been himself speaking to one of the other boys.