could see John Verney full face, three-quarter
face, and half face. And he could see the back of his head, where an
obstinate lock of hair stuck out like a drake's tail. John was so
occupied in taking stock of his personal disadvantages that a ringing
laugh quite startled him.

"Why, Jonathan! Giving yourself a treat--eh?"

John turned a solemn face to Desmond. "I think my head is hideous," he
said ruefully.

"What do you mean?"

"It's too long," John explained. "I like a nice round head like yours,
Caesar. I wish I wasn't so ugly."

Desmond laughed. John always amused him. Caesar was easily amused,
saw the funny side of things, and contrasts tickled his fancy
agreeably. But he stopped laughing when he realized that John was
hurt. Then, quickly, impulsively, he said--

"Your head is all right, old Jonathan. And your voice is simply
beautiful." He spoke seriously, staring at John as he had stared in
the Speech-room when John began to sing. "I came here to tell you
that. I felt odd when you were singing--quite weepsy, you know. You
like me, old Jonathan, don't you?"

"Awfully," said John.

"Why did you look at me when you sang that last verse? Did you know
that you were looking at me?"

"Yes."

"You looked at me because--well, because--bar chaff--you--liked--me?"

"Yes."

"You--you like me better than any other fellow in the school?"

"Yes; better than any other fellow In the world."

"Is it possible?"

"I have always felt that way since--yes--since the very first minute I
saw you."

"How rum! I've forgotten just where we did meet--for the first time."

"I shall never forget," said John, in the same slow, deliberate
fashion, never taking his eyes from Desmond's face. Ever since he had
sung, he had known that this moment was coming. "I shall never forget
it," he repeated--"never. You were standing near the Chapel. I was
poking about alone, trying to find the shop where we buy our straws.
And I was feeling as all new boys feel, only more so, because I didn't
know a soul."

"Yes," said Desmond, gravely; "you told me that. I remember now; I
mistook you for young Hardacre."

"You smiled at me, Caesar. It warmed me through and through. I
suppose that when a fellow is starving he never forgets the first meal
after it."

"I say. Go on; this is awfully interesting."

"I can remember what you wore. One of your boot-laces had burst----"

"Well; I'm----"

"I had a wild sort o