or
condemn you because you belonged to a fraternity, and because you
headed a clique that was destroying the Literary Society by making it a
place for petty fraternity politics instead of a place to develop
speakers, writers and debaters. Yet now you're bringing me to account
because I didn't slavishly accept your ideas as my own. Do you think
that's a sound basis for a friendship, Pierson?"

When Scarborough began Pierson was full of a grievance which he thought
real and deep. He was proposing to forgive Scarborough, forgive him
generously, but not without making him realize that it was an act of
generosity. As Scarborough talked he was first irritated, then, and
suddenly, convinced that he was himself in the wrong--in the wrong
throughout.

"Don't say another word, Scarborough," he replied, impulsively laying
his hand on the arm of his friend--how powerful it felt through the
sleeve! "I've been spoiled by always having my own way and by people
letting me rule them. You gave me my first lesson in defeat. And--I
needed it badly. As for your not telling me, you'd have ruined your
scheme if you had. Besides, looking back, I see that you did warn me.
I know now what you meant by always jumping on the fraternities and the
combinations."

"Thank you," said Scarborough, simply. "When I saw you leaving the
society hall I feared I'd lost a friend. Instead, I've found what a
friend I have." Then after a brief silence he continued: "This
little incident up there to-night--this little revolution I took part
in--has meant a good deal to me. It was the first chance I'd had to
carry out the ideas I've thought over and thought over down there on
the farm while I was working in the fields or lying in the hay, staring
up at the sky. And I don't suppose in all the future I'll ever have a
greater temptation to be false to myself than I had in the dread that's
been haunting me--the dread of losing your friendship--and the
friendship of--of--some others who might see it as I was afraid you
would. There may be lessons in this incident for you, Fred. But the
greatest lesson of all is the one you've taught me--NEVER to be afraid
to go forward when the Finger points."

Pierson and Olivia walked to chapel together the next morning, and he
told her the story of the defeat, putting himself in a worse light than
he deserved. But Olivia, who never lost a chance to attack him for his
shortcomings, now, to his amazement, burst ou