`` That man , '' said Mrs. Grant , alluding to the teacher , `` makes me nervous . He is the most abstracted creature I ever saw in my life . It is a wonder to me he does n't walk straight into the river some day . You 'll meet him meandering along the street , gazing into vacancy , and he 'll never see you nor hear a word you say half the time . '' `` Yesterday , '' said Gordon , chuckling over the remembrance , `` he came in with a big piece of paper he 'd picked up on the entry floor in one hand and his hat in the other -- and he stuffed his hat into the coal-scuttle and hung up the paper on a nail as grave as you please . Never knew the difference till Ned Slocum went and told him . He 's always doing things like that . '' Keith had collected his books and now marched his brothers and sisters off to school . Left alone with the baby , Mrs. Grant betook herself to her work with a heavy heart . But a second interruption broke the progress of her dish-washing . `` I declare , '' she said , with a surprised glance through the window , `` if there is n't that absent-minded schoolteacher coming through the yard ! What can he want ? Dear me , I do hope Teddy has n't been cutting capers in school again . '' For the teacher 's last call had been in October and had been occasioned by the fact that the irrepressible Teddy would persist in going to school with his pockets filled with live crickets and in driving them harnessed to strings up and down the aisle when the teacher 's back was turned . All mild methods of punishment having failed , the teacher had called to talk it over with Mrs. Grant , with the happy result that Teddy 's behaviour had improved -- in the matter of crickets at least . But it was about time for another outbreak . Teddy had been unnaturally good for too long a time . Poor Mrs. Grant feared that it was the calm before a storm , and it was with nervous haste that she went to the door and greeted the young teacher . He was a slight , pale , boyish-looking fellow , with an abstracted , musing look in his large dark eyes . Mrs. Grant noticed with amusement that he wore a white straw hat in spite of the season .
His XXXXX were directed to her face with his usual unseeing gaze .
Teddy Yesterday brothers eyes life look street teacher wonder work