sciousness. They
were almost as bad as Lucas Pritchett, and Lucas was getting to be such a
good friend now that 'Phemie couldn't really enjoy making him feel unhappy.

She was, indeed, particularly nice to him when young Pritchett struggled
to her side after the girls were settled in adjoining seats, half-way up
the aisle on the "girls' side" of the schoolroom.

These young girls and fellows had--most of them--attended the district
school, or were now attending it; therefore, they were used to being
divided according to the sexes, and those boys who actually had not
accompanied their girlfriends to the club meeting, sat by themselves
on the boys' side, while the girls grouped together on the other side
of the house.

There were a few young married couples present, and these matrons made
their husbands sit beside them during the exercises; but for a young man
and young girl to sit together was almost a formal announcement in that
community that they "had intentions!"

All this was quite unsuspected by Lyddy and 'Phemie Bray, and the latter
had no idea of the joy that possessed Lucas Pritchett's soul when she
allowed him to take the seat beside her.

Her sister sat at her other hand, and Sairy was beyond Lyddy. No other
young fellow could get within touch of the city girls, therefore, although
there was doubtless many a swain who would have been glad to do so.

This club, the fundamental idea of which was "temperance," had gradually
developed into something much broader. While it still demanded a
pledge from its members regarding abstinence from alcoholic beverages,
including the bane of the countryside--hard cider--its semimonthly
meetings were mainly of a literary and musical nature.

The reigning school teacher for the current term was supposed to take
the lead in governing the club and pushing forward the local talent.
Mr. Somers was the name of the young man with the bald brow and the
eyeglasses, who was presiding over the welfare of Pounder's District
School. The Bray girls thought he seemed to be an intelligent and
well-mannered young man, if a trifle self-conscious.

And he evidently had an element that was difficult to handle.

Soon after the meeting was called to order it became plain that a group
of boys down in the corner by the desk were much more noisy than was
necessary.

The huge stove, by which the room was overheated, was down there, its
smoke-pipe crossing, in a L-shaped figure, the entire ro