‚Äú Mrs. ¬ÝGrey, I thank you, but I cannot accept your offer.‚Äù
Sarah Smith‚Äôs voice was strong, the tremor had left her hands. She had expected something like this, of course; yet when it came‚ÅÝ‚Äîsomehow it failed to stun. She would not turn over the direction of the school, or the direction of the education of these people, to those who were most opposed to their education.
Therefore, there was no need to hesitate; there was no need to think the thing over‚ÅÝ‚Äîshe had thought it over‚ÅÝ‚Äîand she looked into Mrs. ¬ÝGrey‚Äôs eyes and with gathering tears in her own said:
‚ÄúAgain, I thank you very much, Mrs. ¬ÝGrey.‚Äù
Mrs. ¬ÝGrey was a picture of the most emphatic surprise, and Mr. ¬ÝCresswell moved to the window. Mrs. ¬ÝGrey looked helplessly at her companions.
‚ÄúBut‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI don‚Äôt understand, Miss Smith‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhy can‚Äôt you accept my offer?‚Äù
‚ÄúBecause you ask me to put my school in control of those who do not wish for the best interests of black folk, and in particular I object to Mr. ¬ÝCresswell,‚Äù said Miss Smith, slowly but very distinctly, ‚Äúbecause his relation to the forces of evil in this community has been such that he can direct no school of mine.‚Äù Mrs. ¬ÝVanderpool moved toward the door and Mr. ¬ÝCresswell bowing slightly followed. Dr. ¬ÝBoldish looked indignant and Mr. ¬ÝBocombe dove after his notebook. Mary Taylor, her head in a whirl, came forward. She felt that in some way she was responsible for this dreadful situation and she wanted desperately to save matters from final disaster.
‚ÄúCome,‚Äù she said, ‚Äú Mrs. ¬ÝGrey, we‚Äôll talk this matter over again later. I am sure Miss Smith does not mean quite all she