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 school—one, that the new owner was a rich old man who wouldn't be bothered and meant to close the school immediately, and all the girls were to be shipped home at once and would never work again, because, of course, their parents couldn't get them into other schools at this late date, and, my dear, isn't it too divine! The other, that he was just a day laborer who couldn't even read and write, and what is he going to do with a girls' school, my dear, I ask you? The whole school had gone through the name of Bevans in the telephone-book, from Abimelech Bevans, an upholsterer in West End Avenue, to Zachary, who did a business in wines and cigars on the Bowery, without discovering anything, since Austin's telephone was under David's name.

As soon as every one, with much laughing and shuffling of feet, was gathered in the assembly-room—a large room shaped like an amphitheater. Miss Curtis summoned Austin and Mr. Johns. As they entered Austin said to her:

"Say a word or two to introduce me."

Miss Curtis wrung her hands. "Oh, I can't, Mr. Bevans. I never have." But as the two men had firmly sat down, leaving her standing alone, she began in a voice