When an irate Luster Sexton accompanies Dave to the high school, Professor Herbert is accosted by Pa, but he remains calm and civil, and speaks warmly to him.
When Dave and Pa arrive early at the school, Dave is very anxious because he is worried about what his father may do since he has carried a gun with him. When Pa sees Dave's teacher, he accosts him, "You're th' Professor here, ain't you?" and Professor Herbert replies, "Yes...and you are Dave's father."
This addressing of Pa as "Dave's father" indicates that Professor Herbert has individualized the man. That is, rather than calling him the impersonal title of "Mister," Professor Herbert demonstrates a personal warmth in attaching Dave's name to Luster Sexton. Clearly, Prof. Herbert makes a sincere effort to put Luster at ease. Nevertheless, Luster aggressively questions the teacher about the circumstances of the incident with the cherry tree. Furthermore, Luster even threatens Herbert by showing him his "long blue forty-four" and standing close to him:
Pa stood there, big, hard, brown-skinned and mighty, beside of Professor Herbert.
Professor Herbert maintains his composure, however, and tells Luster, "I was only doing my duty...and following the course of study the state provided us with." Further, he reasons with Luster, explaining in detail and pointing to the logic of what he did with the class outdoors on the day in question, and how he had to punish Dave in a different way from the other boys.
Despite all his ire, Luster is still reasonable, and Prof. Herbert discerns quickly that he can explain things to Luster in the hope of ameliorating matters. By calmly addressing Luster in a cordial manner, and by taking him around the school and demonstrating newer teaching methods, Professor Herbert wins over "Dave's father."
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