kinda scared. Gee, Carl, I was crazy about her. I--I even wrote her a
poem. I guess it wasn't very good, but I don't think she knew what it
was about. I guess I'm off her now, though. She's too cold. I don't want
a girl to fall over me--my last girl did that--but, golly, Carl, Janet
didn't understand. I don't think she knows anything about love."

"Some of 'em don't," Carl remarked philosophically, slipping deeper into
his chair. "They just pet."

"That's the way she was. She liked me to hold her and kiss her just as
long as I acted like a big brother, but, criminy, when I felt that soft
little thing in my arms, I didn't feel like a big brother; I loved her
like hell.... She was awfully sweet," he added regretfully; "I wish she
wasn't so cold."

"Hard luck, old man," said Carl consolingly, "hard luck. Guess you
picked an iceberg."

For a few minutes the room was quiet except for the crackling of the
fire, which was beginning to burn low. The shadows were creeping up on
the boys; the flames were less merry.

Carl took his pipe out of his mouth and drawled softly, "I had better
luck."

Hugh pricked up his ears. "You haven't really fallen in love, have you?"
he demanded eagerly. Carl had often said that he would never fall in
love, that he was "too wise" to women.

"No, I didn't fall in love; nothing like that. I met a bunch of janes
down at Bar Harbor. Some of them I'd known before, but I met some new
ones, too. Had a damn good time. Some of those janes certainly could
neck, and they were ready for it any time. Gee, if the old lady hadn't
been there, I'd a been potted about half the time. As it was, I drank
enough gin and Scotch to float a battle-ship. Well, the old lady had to
go to New York on account of some business; so I went down to Christmas
Cove to visit some people I know there. Christmas Cove's a nice place;
not so high-hat as Bar Harbor, but still it's a nice place."

Hugh felt that Carl was leaving the main track, and he hastened to
shunt him back. "Sure," he said in cheerful agreement; "sure it is--but
what happened?"

"What happened? Oh--oh, yes!" Carl brought himself back to the present
with an obvious effort. "Sure, I'll tell you what happened. Well, there
was a girl there named Elaine Marston. She wasn't staying with the folks
I was, but they knew her, so I saw a lot of her. See?"

"Sure." Hugh wished he would hurry up. Carl didn't usually wander all
over when telling a story. This must be s