"For all the world like a pair of saddle-bags," Bea told her mother afterward.
Sitting thus, he watched the assembling of the motley crowd with kindly interest. Now and then he smiled and bowed, and it was always a girl whom he noticed in this way. Flea flushed delightedly at seeing that his smile and salutation to her were especially friendly. His eyes said that he was glad she was here and no worse for her adventure. Many recollected, in after-days, how sombre was the aspect of the new teacher by contrast with the Major's sunny face. One recalled that he had looked at her and frowned when she returned Major Duncombe's bow and smile.
At the time the frown gave her no concern. Her patron had distinguished her from the common herd by special courtesy. It was a promise of the eminence that would be hers from this time onward. She was already set apart and above her schoolmates.
The Major made a little speech by way of opening the session of the school. It was like himself, informal and pleasant.
"Young ladies and boys," he said, not rising from the desk, and even switching his boot lightly with his riding-whip while he talked, "I have gone security for your good behavior to the gentleman who takes charge of you for the year to come. I know you won't disappoint him or me. I have proved my faith in him as a gentleman and a scholar by putting my two boys under his care. I have told him to be strict with them. The teacher who does his duty is bound to be strict. A school is like an army. Orders must be carried out and no questions asked, and no tales told out of school. That was the law in my school-days, and it is a good law. From the very start you must believe that your teacher is your friend, and that he is doing his best. Take my word for that until you find it out for yourselves. I go his security too. I know all about him. I knew his grandfather and his father. They were true Virginia gentlemen from crown to toe. And a Virginia gentleman of the right sort is the best specimen of a man ever made. Never forget that, boys. I knew Mr. Tayloe's mother also, young ladies." In addressing them he arose to his feet, and his voice was gentler: "She was a lady such as a man takes his hat off to when he so much as thinks of her. For her sake I know that her son will treat you kindly and respectfully. For my sake I hope that you will prove yourselves, as young ladies always do, the most obedient and diligent students in the school. Upon my word"—abandoning the attempt at formal gallantry, and relapsing into his every-day manner—"when I look into these bright eyes and rosy faces, I envy Mr. Tayloe the privilege of leading you along the flowery paths of learning.
"This is all I have to say to you at present. All I ought to say, I mean, for I could talk for hours, it is so delightful to see you, and to live over for the time my own school-days in this very place. And so, good-day, and God bless every one of you!"
In passing down the aisle he laid his hand lightly upon what her father called Flea's "Shetland-pony mane," and sent a merry flash of his gray eyes into hers uplifted in enchanted surprise.
Mr. Tayloe rapped smartly upon his desk with the ruler, and flourished it at the beginning and the end of his short speech.
"Children, I am here to teach. You are here to be taught. I mean to do my duty. I shall make it my business to see that you do yours. I shall treat you, one and all, boys and girls, exactly alike. I shall have no favorites, and show no partiality to anybody. If you are lazy and disobedient and saucy, you will be punished without fear or favor. If you study well and behave well, you will not be punished.
"The school will be opened every morning by reading the Scriptures and with prayer. Open your Bibles at the first chapter of Genesis."