There is a psychological condition just here that it is worth while for teachers seriously to consider.

So, tricked out in this disgusting fashion, “Dodd” slouched into Mr. Bright’s school room about ten o’clock in the forenoon, and flung himself into a seat.  The pupils looked up as he entered, and their first impulse was to laugh—–­a result which, would have suited “Dodd” exactly.  But a glance at the school from Mr. Bright’s quick eye checked the risibilities of his pupils, and, this emotion dying out, there came instantly in its place a disgust and almost a horror of the loathsome person who had dared to disgrace the school room with such a figure as “Dodd” presented.  A silence like death fell upon the room, and all held their breath for an instant after the boy was seated.

Under this silence “Dodd” became embarrassed.  It was exactly the reverse of what he had counted on.  He meant to disturb the school.  Instead of this, he found the school disturbing him.  He shuffled uneasily in his seat, glanced furtively out from under the shaggy hair that was matted over his forehead, cleared his throat in a restless and seemingly defiant manner, but finally blushed to the roots of his hair as he felt the eyes of three-score decent people, all bent upon him at once.  He stretched his neck up out of his collar-band a little, turned his head about as though something were choking him, then dropped his chin upon his breast, shrugged up his shoulders, and half hid his face from the eyes whose looks he fain would shun.

All this really took place in much less time than it takes for me to tell it.

Mr. Bright was hearing a class in geometry when the boy entered, and a handsome, intelligent girl was in the midst of a demonstration when the door opened and the interruption caused thereby took place.  The pupil paused in her recitation, the end of her pointer resting upon the board at the angle under consideration, and she stood thus during the brief interval remarked above.  As “Dodd’s” head dropped Mr. Bright turned his glance to the girl again, and said: 

“If the angle at A—­”

Upon which she took up the demonstration where she had broken off, and finished it as though nothing had happened.  After that, other pupils recited, the lesson ended, the class was dismissed, other classes were called, and the regular routine of the day’s work went on without change, as though teacher and pupils were entirely unconscious of the presence of a stranger among them.

When recess came, Mr. Bright went down to the desk where the boy was seated, accosted him in a civil manner, and told him that if he would remain a few minutes after school was dismissed at noon he would talk with him about his work and assign him to his place in the school.  Then he left him, and devoted himself to the other pupils during the brief intermission.

“Dodd” did not leave his seat during this recess.  He sat as he had finally settled himself, except that he now and then raised his head and gazed defiantly over the school room.  The pupils paid no attention to him whatever, and he really felt himself as much alone as though he had been in solitary confinement in a dungeon.