e decided he was to keep his
certif'kit because she wants him to get along in the world, so he can
marry her?"

"I don't know as she is so very friendly to him," replied Mrs. Bronson;
"and Jim and Jennie are both of age, you know."

"Yes, but how about our schools bein' ruined by a love affair?"
interrogated Mrs. Bonner, as they moved away. "Ain't that your business
and mine?"

Instead of desiring further knowledge of what they were discussing, Jim
felt a dreadful disgust at the whole thing. Disgust at being the subject
of gossip, at the horrible falsity of the picture he had been able to
paint to the people of his objects and his ambitions, and especially at
the desecration of Jennie by such misconstruction of her attitude toward
him officially and personally. Jennie was vexed at him, and wanted him to
resign from his position. He firmly believed that she was surprised at
finding herself convinced that he was entitled to a decision in the matter
of his competency as a teacher. She was against him, he believed, and as
for her being in love with him--to hear these women discuss it was
intolerable.

He felt his face redden as at the hearing of some horrible indecency. He
felt himself stripped naked, and he was hotly ashamed that Jennie should
be associated with him in the exposure. And while he was raging inwardly,
paying the penalty of his new-found place in the public eye--a publicity
to which he was not yet hardened--he heard other voices. Professor
Withers, County Superintendent Jennie and Colonel Woodruff were making an
inspection of the rural-school exhibit.

"I hear he has been having some trouble with his school board," the
professor was saying.

"Yes," said Jennie, "he has."

"Wasn't there an effort made to remove him from his position?" asked the
professor.

"Proceedings before me to revoke his certificate," replied Jennie.

"On what grounds?"

"Incompetency," answered Jennie. "I found that his pupils were really
doing very well in the regular course of study--which he seems to be
neglecting."

"I'm glad you supported him," said the professor. "I'm glad to find you
helping him." "Really," protested Jennie, "I don't think myself--"

"What do you think of his notions?" asked the colonel.

"Very advanced," replied Professor Withers. "Where did he imbibe them
all?"

"He's a Brown Mouse," said the colonel.

"I beg your pardon," said the puzzled professor. "I didn't quite
understand. A--a--what?"