Miss Raypole's glib voice continued to press upon his ears; but, by keeping his eyes fixed upon the twisting button he had accomplished a kind of self-hypnosis, or mental anaesthesia, and was but dimly aware of what went on about him.
The court-house was finally exhausted by its visitor, who resumed her seat and submitted with beamish grace to praise.

Then Miss Spence said, in a favourable manner: "Georgie Bassett, you may read your letter next." The neat Georgie rose, nothing loath, and began: "'Dear Teacher--'" There was a slight titter, which Miss Spence suppressed.

Georgie was not at all discomfited.
"'My mother says,'" he continued, reading his manuscript, "'we should treat our teacher as a friend, and so _I_ will write YOU a letter.'" This penetrated Penrod's trance, and he lifted his eyes to fix them upon the back of Georgie Bassett's head in a long and inscrutable stare.

It was inscrutable, and yet if Georgie had been sensitive to thought waves, it is probable that he would have uttered a loud shriek; but he remained placidly unaware, continuing: "'I thought I would write you about a subject of general interest, and so I will write you about the flowers.

There are many kinds of flowers, spring flowers, and summer flowers, and autumn flowers, but no winter flowers.