her save
that this was the traditional thing to do to the lady one loved. To be
sure, the very touch of her hand was galvanic. Paradoxically, I saw the
human side of her, the yielding gentleness that always amazed me, yet I
never overcame my awe of the divine; she was a being sacrosanct. Whether
this idealism were innate or the result of such romances as I had read
I cannot say.... I got, indeed, an avowal of a sort. The weekly dancing
classes having begun again, on one occasion when she had waltzed twice
with Gene Hollister I protested.

"Don't be silly, Hugh," she whispered. "Of course I like you better than
anyone else--you ought to know that."

We never got to the word "love," but we knew the feeling.

One cloud alone flung its shadow across these idyllic days. Before I
was fully aware of it I had drawn very near to the first great
junction-point of my life, my graduation from Densmore Academy. We were
to "change cars," in the language of Principal Haime. Well enough for
the fortunate ones who were to continue the academic journey, which
implied a postponement of the serious business of life; but month after
month of the last term had passed without a hint from my father that I
was to change cars. Again and again I almost succeeded in screwing up
my courage to the point of mentioning college to him,--never quite; his
manner, though kind and calm, somehow strengthened my suspicion that
I had been judged and found wanting, and doomed to "business": galley
slavery, I deemed it, humdrum, prosaic, degrading! When I thought of it
at night I experienced almost a frenzy of self-pity. My father couldn't
intend to do that, just because my monthly reports hadn't always been
what he thought they ought to be! Gene Hollister's were no better, if as
good, and he was going to Princeton. Was I, Hugh Paret, to be denied
the distinction of being a college man, the delights of university
existence, cruelly separated and set apart from my friends whom I loved!
held up to the world and especially to Nancy Willett as good for nothing
else! The thought was unbearable. Characteristically, I hoped against
hope.

I have mentioned garden parties. One of our annual institutions was Mrs.
Willett's children's party in May; for the Willett house had a garden
that covered almost a quarter of a block. Mrs. Willett loved children,
the greatest regret of her life being that providence had denied her a
large family. As far back as my memory goes sh