Problem: CHAPTER X.

He looked expectantly on the cabin table for a letter upon his return to the ship, but was disappointed, and the only letter yielded by the post next morning came from Captain Barber. It was couched in terms of great resignation, and after bemoaning the unfortunate skipper's untimely demise in language of great strength, wound up with a little Scripture and asked the mate to act as master and sail the schooner home.

"You'll act as mate, Ben, to take her back," said the new skipper, thrusting the letter in his pocket.

"Aye, aye, sir," said Ben, with a side glance at Joe, "but I'll keep for'ard, if you don't mind."

"As you please," said Fraser, staring.

"And you're master, I s'pose?" said Joe, turning to Fraser.

Fraser, whose manner had already effected the little change rendered necessary by his promotion from mate to master, nodded curtly, and the crew, after another exchange of looks, resumed their work without a word. Their behaviour all day was docile, not to say lamb-like, and it was not until evening that the new skipper found it necessary to enforce his authority.

The exciting cause of the unpleasantness was Mr. William Green, a slim, furtive-eyed young man, whom Fraser took on in the afternoon to fill the vacancy caused by Ben's promotion. He had not been on board half an hour before trouble arose from his attempt to introduce the manners of the drawing-room into the forecastle.

"Mr. Will-yum Green," repeated Joe, when the new arrival had introduced himself; "well, you'll be Bill 'ere."
1. Why was the man upset after returning?
2. Who wrote to him the following day?
3. Who died?
4. What was asked of him in the note?
5. And do what with the vessel?
6. What did the he say to Ben?
7. Who asks Fraser to confirm his promotion?
8. And what is his response to Joe?
9. What is the crew's reaction?
10. Who replaced Ben?
11. When was he hired?
12. How long was he there before the altercation?
Answer: 1. about the letter
2. from Captain Barber
3. the skipper
4. to act as master
5. sail home
6. to act as mate
7. Joe
8. he nodded
9. went back to work
10. Mr. William Green
11. in the afternoon
12. half an hour

Problem: CHAPTER IX.

A RACE ON THE ICE, AND WHAT FOLLOWED.

After the events just narrated several days passed quietly enough at Putnam Hall. In the meantime the weather continued clear, and the boys took it upon themselves to clear off a part of the lake for skating. Then, one night came a strong wind, and the next morning they found a space of cleared ice nearly half a mile long.

"Now for some fine skating!" exclaimed Tom, as he rushed back to the Hall after an inspection of the lake's smooth surface. "We can have all the racing we wish."

"It's a pity Sam can't go out yet," returned Dick. Sam was back to the school, but his cold had not entirely left him.

"Never mind; here are several new magazines he can read," returned Tom, who had been to town with Snuggers on an errand and had purchased them at the stationery store.

"I would just as soon read now," said Sam. "The magazines look mighty interesting."

Just then Fred Garrison came in, accompanied by George Granbury. They had been down to Cedarville to purchase some skates and a new pair of shoes for George.

"Hullo, what do you think we saw in Cedarville!" cried Fred, as soon as he caught sight of the Rovers.

"Lots of snow," suggested Tom dryly.

"Yes--and more."

"A mighty dull town," suggested Sam.

"We saw Dan Baxter."

"What was he doing?"

"He was walking down the street. And who do you suppose was with him? Mr. Grinder!"
1. What did the boys do to the lake?
2. For what purpose?
3. What is the number of this chapter?
4. And the title?
5. Why can't Sam go skating?
6. What could Sam do instead?
7. Where had Tom gotten the magazines?
8. True of False: The top of the lake was rough.
9. Where had Fred and George been?
10. Did they buy something for George?
11. What?
12. Did they buy something for Tom?
13. How far was the ice cleared off the lake?
14. With whom had Tom gone to town?
15. True or False: Sam thought the reading material looked boring.
16. Who is the first person Fred mentioned seeing?
17. And the second?
18. Were the two mentioned seen together?
19. What were they doing?
20. Did Fred and George buy skates?
Answer: 1. They cleared off a part of it.
2. For skating.
3. IX.
4. A RACE ON THE ICE, AND WHAT FOLLOWED.
5. his cold had not entirely left him.
6. Read Tom's magazines.
7. At the stationery store.
8. False
9. To Cedarville
10. Yes.
11. a new pair of shoes
12. Unknown.
13. Nearly half a mile
14. Snuggers
15. False.
16. Dan Baxter
17. Mr. Grinder
18. Yes.
19. Walking down the street.
20. Yes.

Problem: (EW.com) -- "The Closer" closed out Kyra Sedgwick's involvement in the series on Monday night, installing Mary McDonnell in her place, in a "new" series, "Major Crimes."

While I have no inside information about how McDonnell was originally cast in "The Closer," I'm led to think, based on the premiere episode that aired after the "Closer" finale, that she was never intended to be the new star of the show. Because the new show is, I believe, an inevitable disappointment for hardcore "Closer" fans. As for those of us who are Mary McDonnell fans? Ambivalence reigns!

First of all, the exit of Sedgwick's Brenda Leigh Johnson. (This is your SPOILER ALERT.)

"The Closer" series finale brought closure to Deputy Chief Johnson's career, as she faced off with her long-running arch-nemesis, the serial rapist Philip Stroh (Billy Burke). Then Johnson abruptly accepted a new job (something like chief of bureau of investigations L.A. liason officer in the D.A.'s office -- it sounded like the longest-titled cushy job possible) and lit out, munching a signature bit of junk food.

Over the years, "The Closer" had become a light-comedy crime show with heavy-handed humor performed not just by Sedgwick but also the supporting cast that has migrated over to "Major Crimes," especially G.W. Bailey, whose slow burns have become endless fuming, and, only by contrast to a lesser extent, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz, and Phillip P. Keene. (I've always found it interesting that Denison and Chan are veterans of two, need I say superior, Michael Mann TV shows, Crime Story and Robbery Homicide Division -- indeed, many of Chan's gestures and body language when he enters a crime scene strongly echo his moves in RHD, and I'd bet that's where he picked up those good habits, from Mann's heavily-researched series.)
1. What plot point required a spoiler alert?
2. From what show?
3. Was the actor replaced?
4. By who?
5. Did the program keep its original name when this happened?
6. What name did it take?
7. Does the program air at the end of the week or the front of the week?
8. Was the departing character's arc completed?
9. Did she have a bad guy she kept facing off with?
10. Who was he?
Answer:
1. exit of Sedgwick's Brenda Leigh Johnson
2. The Closer
3. Yes
4. Mary McDonnell
5. No
6. Major Crimes
7. front of the week
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. Philip Stroh (Billy Burke).