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 eyes were directed to her face with his usual unseeing gaze . `` Just as though he was looking through me at something a thousand miles away , '' said Mrs. Grant afterwards . `` I believe he was , too . His body was right there on the step before me , but where his soul was is more than you or I or anybody can tell . '' `` Good morning , '' he said absently . `` I have just called on my way to school with a message from Miss Millar . She wants you all to come up and have Christmas dinner with her tomorrow . ''
`` XXXXX the land 's sake ! ''
For before by in of on than that through to