The Charm School
"Not at my school," said Austin.
"Come, Bevans, don't be hard," said Mr. Johns. "You were young once, I suppose, even though you are a schoolmaster. I think George here showed a certain romantic spirit very commendable in a young man in breaking into your school, and, after all, you know, you can't object to my granddaughter receiving letters from any one, if I say it's all right."
"I can and do," replied Austin.
Mr. Johns turned to George. "You send your letters to me, George," he said, soothingly, "and I'll see that Elise gets them."
George was so astonished at this treatment that he decided to take Mr. Johns completely into his confidence. "Oh, sir," he cried, "don't you see how it is? Don't you see that this man is in love with Elise himself?"
"I am not in love with Elise," answered Austin, quickly, and as he heard his own assertion ring out so clear and positive for the first time it occurred to him that the statement was not, strictly speaking, true.
Johns wheeled upon Austin, as if he had expected to catch him with a sonnet on his eyelash, but seeing nothing evidential, he
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