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           HepeeredatMissCarolinefromafist-sizedcleanspaceonhisface.Noonehadnoticedhim,probably,becauseMissCarolineandIhadentertainedtheclassmostofthemorning.

           "AndBurris,"saidMissCaroline,"pleasebatheyourselfbeforeyoucomebacktomorrow."

           Theboylaughedrudely."Youain’tsendin’mehome,missus.Iwasonthevergeofleavin’—Idonedonemytimeforthisyear."

           MissCarolinelookedpuzzled."Whatdoyoumeanbythat?"

           Theboydidnotanswer.Hegaveashortcontemptuoussnort.

           Oneoftheelderlymembersoftheclassansweredher:"He’soneoftheEwells,ma’am,"andIwonderedifthisexplanationwouldbeasunsuccessfulasmyattempt.ButMissCarolineseemedwillingtolisten."Wholeschool’sfullof‘em.Theycomefirstdayeveryyearandthenleave.Thetruantladygets‘emhere‘causeshethreatens‘emwiththesheriff,butshe’sgiveuptryin’tohold‘em.Shereckonsshe’scarriedoutthelawjustgettin’theirnamesontherollandrunnin’‘emherethefirstday.You’resupposedtomark‘emabsenttherestoftheyear..."

           "Butwhatabouttheirparents?"askedMissCaroline,ingenuineconcern.

           "Ain’tgotnomother,"wastheanswer,"andtheirpaw’srightcontentious."

           BurrisEwellwasflatteredbytherecital."Beencomin’tothefirstdayo’thefirstgradeferthreeyearnow,"hesaidexpansively."ReckonifI’msmartthisyearthey’llpromotemetothesecond...."