es things. You don't know what
a bad impression you make when you're too brash. See how I mean?"

As the council of seers rose, Carl timidly said to Ray, "Straight,
now, have quite a lot of the fellows been saying I was a goat?"

"Good many, I'm afraid. All talking about you.... It's up to you. All
you got to do is not think you know it all, and keep still. Keep still
till you understand the faculty's difficulties just a little better.
Savvy? Don't that sound fairly reasonable?"

CHAPTER X

They were gone. Carl was full of the nauseating shame which a
matter-of-fact man, who supposes that he is never pilloried, knows
when a conscientious friend informs him that he has been observed,
criticized; that his enthusiasms have been regarded as eccentricities;
his affectionate approaches toward friendship as impertinence.

There seemed to be hundreds of people in the room, nudging one
another, waiting agape for him to do something idiotic; a
well-advertised fool on parade. He stalked about, now shamefaced, now
bursting out with a belligerent, "Aw, rats! I'll show 'em!" now
plaintively beseeching, "I don't suppose I am helping Frazer, but it
makes me so darn sore when nobody stands up for him--and he teaches
stuff they need so much here. Gee! I'm coming to think this is a
pretty rough-neck college. He's the first teacher I ever got anything
out of--and----Oh, hang it! what 'd I have to get mixed up in all this
for, when I was getting along so good? And if it isn't going to help
him----"

His right hand became conscious of Gertie's letter crumpled in his
pocket. As turning the letter over and over gave him surprisingly
small knowledge of its contents, he opened it:

DEAR CARL,--You are just _silly_ to tease me about any bank
clerk. I don't like him any more at all and he can go with
Linda all he likes, much I care!

We are enjoying good health, though it is getting quite cold
now and we have the furnace running now and it feels pretty
good to have it. We had _such_ a good time at Adelaide's
party she wore such a pretty dress. She flirted terribly
with Joe Jordan though of course you'll call me a cat for
telling you because you like her so much better than me &
all.

Oh I haven't told you the news yet Joe has accepted a
position at St. Hilary in the mill there.

I have some pretty new things for my room, a beautiful
hand-painted picture. Be