. So when he fails to secure a
recognition of his supposed talents, then he is cut to the very quick.

"Dodd" felt that his eccentricity had not yet been fully acknowledged
in the Emburg school, and he reached still further for the object of
his desire by playing the fop rather than the tramp, on his second
entry to the school room.

But it was not a success. The pupils had evidently "sized him up"
pretty accurately, on his previous entry, and his second appearance was
a more signal failure than the first.

He did little with his books during the day. He had not come to school
to learn. That was the last thing he thought of doing. He was there
to make a fuss if possible,--a row, trouble, a sensation; these were
what he was after. He went mechanically to his classes, but paid no
attention to what was said or done in them. He hoped, though, that Mr.
Bright would put a question to him about some of the lessons. He was
aching for a chance to snub Mr. Bright, or defy him, by telling him
that he didn't know. But he got no questions from his teacher that
day, nor for some days after. There are many ways, so many ways, of
tiring out a fish, before landing him!

So the day wore on, the first whole day in school for "Dodd" Weaver,
for several years. At recesses he unbent a little, but he was only
accosted by some of the youngest pupils of the room, and he felt uneasy
and out of place among the larger and more advanced members of the
school.

It was nearing four o'clock, and the closing work of the day was
pressing. Mr. Bright was more than busy with his class, and the room
was quiet, the pupils devoting themselves to their work assiduously.
"Dodd" sat listless for some time, but he finally straightened himself
up quietly, his face lighted with interest, and it would have been
evident to any one watching him (no one was watching him just at this
time) that he was about to do something. He was.

His desk was in the row of seats next the wall, and there was only a
narrow aisle between him and the blackboard. He could reach across
this easily. He reached across.

He picked up a piece of crayon and began drawing lines on the board.
He moved his chalk carefully, and it made no sound. Yet his movements
attracted attention, shortly, and one pupil, and another, and another,
turned to watch him.

When "Dodd" found that he had finally succeeded in securing an audience
he felt that his point was gained. He winked t