Instead she set her mouth firmly , helped the children restore the room to order , and after school went up to Isaac Cropper 's house . That gentleman himself came in from the harvest field looking as courtly as usual , even in his rough working clothes . He shook hands heartily , told her he was glad to see her , and began talking about the weather . Esther was not to be turned from her object thus , although she felt her courage ebbing away from her as it always did in the presence of the Cropper imperviousness . `` I have come up to see you about Alfred and Robert , Mr. Cropper , '' she said . `` They are not behaving well in school . '' `` Indeed ! '' Mr. Cropper 's voice expressed bland surprise . `` That is strange . As a rule I do not think Alfred and Robert have been troublesome to their teachers . What have they been doing now ? '' `` They refuse to obey my orders , '' said Esther faintly . `` Ah , well , Miss Maxwell , perhaps you will pardon my saying that a teacher should be able to enforce her orders . My boys are high-spirited fellows and need a strong , firm hand to restrain them . I have always said I considered it advisable to employ a male teacher in Maitland school . We should have better order . Not that I disapprove of you personally -- far from it . I should be glad to see you succeed . But I have heard many complaints regarding the order in school at present . '' `` I had no trouble until your boys came , '' retorted Esther , losing her temper a little , `` and I believe that if you were willing to co-operate with me that I could govern them . ''
`` Well , you see , '' said Mr. Cropper easily , `` when I send my boys to school I naturally expect that the teacher will be capable of doing the work she has been hired XXXXX do . ''
As about after although from in of that to until