Mrs. Harmon was ably supported by Miss Arabella Simpkins, a woman of uncertain age, exceedingly precise, and subject to severe attacks of “nerves.”  Her thin lips remained tightly compressed as she listened for some time to the conversation.  As mothers who had brought up children told how difficult a problem it was, Miss Arabella’s eyes gleamed with a scornful pity, and her nose tilted higher in the air than ever.  Then when at last she did open her lips, she uttered words laden with great wisdom.  It was disgraceful, so she said, the way children were indulged at the present day.  It was seldom that you could find parents who had any real control over their offspring.  Oh, yes, she knew.

Scarcely had she finished speaking ere Rodney appeared at the door, barefooted, hatless, his blouse dirty, his cheeks aglow, and his eyes blazing with excitement.  In his grimy hands he clasped some precious treasure.  He hesitated for an instant when he saw so many women in the room.  But nothing could restrain him.  He had made a marvellous discovery, and wished to show it to others.

Miss Arabella was right before him, a few feet away.  For her he darted, and dropped suddenly into her lap a big-eyed, hump-back toad.  Instantly there followed a wild shriek of terror, as the spinster leaped from her chair, sending the innocent toad sprawling upon the floor.  The strain was too much for Miss Arabella, and she properly collapsed, much to the consternation of the assembled women.

By the time she was revived, Rodney, the culprit, was nowhere in sight.  He had rescued his precious toad, and had fled from the house, greatly puzzled over the confusion which had been made over his simple action.  Little did he know, much less care, that for years to come he would be considered a “bad boy” by many of the leading people of Hillcrest, and totally unfit to associate with other children of the parish.

But Parson Dan and Mrs. Royal understood, and as they kissed him that night as he stood before them in his little nightgown, they knew that there was nothing bad about him.  In truth they were somewhat pleased that Miss Arabella had at last been jarred out of her rigid self-complacency.

CHAPTER V

CAPTAIN JOSH TAKES A HAND

Rodney did not attend the country school until he was over seven years of age.  It was more than a mile away, and the Royals could not bear the thought of the little lad walking the whole of that distance when he was but six.  He had lost nothing, however, by not attending before.  In fact he had gained much, for both Parson Dan and Mrs. Royal had carefully instructed him so that when he did go to school he was far ahead of boys and girls of his own age.

Rodney got on well with all the scholars except Sammie Dunker, who was eight years old, and a bully to all younger children.  When boys of his own age and older were around, Sammie was very quiet.  But when they were not present he tyrannised over the little ones to such an extent that existence, especially during the dinner hour, became almost unbearable.  He had knocked out several boys younger and smaller than himself, until at last there was no one left to dispute his authority.