erstand and difficult to describe. Certainly I have
never been in this state before. Query: Can it be I am upon the verge of
a serious disorder? Temporary exaltation succeeds melancholy, and vice
versa. On two separate occasions to-day I was aware of this
phenomenon--a passing sense of exuberance and cheerfulness, shortly
afterward followed by a morbid and gloom-tinged longing for I know not
what.

This serves to remind me that twice to-day I had conversations of brief
duration with Miss Hamm. The first meeting was by chance, we merely
exchanging commonplaces touching upon our respective fields of activity
here at Fernbridge; but the second eventuated through deliberate intent
on my part. With premeditation I put myself in her path. My motive for
so doing was, I trust, based upon unselfishness entirely. I had formed
an early and perhaps a hasty estimate of this young woman's nature. I
wished either to convince myself absolutely upon these points or to
disabuse my mind of all prejudice.

I am glad I took this step. For I am constrained now to admit that my
first impression of Miss Hamm's personality may have done her an
injustice. With what care should one guard oneself against o'erready
appraisals of the characters of one's fellow beings!

It is not to be gainsaid that Miss Hamm lends to our institution a
picturesqueness of outward aspect as well as a light-heartedness and a
buoyancy of viewpoint which heretofore has been quite utterly lacking
among our instructor corps. Despite a pronounced tendency betrayed by
her to give to serious subjects a perplexingly light and roguish twist,
an inclination, as it were, to make chaff, to banter, to indulge in idle
whimsicalities, I think I discern in her indubitable qualities of mind
which, properly guided and directed by some older person having her best
interests at heart, may be productive in time of development and
expansion into higher realms of thought.

I feel within me a desire to assist in the blossoming forth of what I
plainly discover to be this young person's real self. I shall not count
as wasted the hours I may devote to this altruistic and disinterested
endeavour. My payment shall be the consciousness of a duty well
performed--that and nothing more. Indeed, at this moment, as I indite
this pledge, speculation as to its outcome engenders in me an uplifting
of the spirit which bodes well for the future fruitage of my ambition.

In such mood was I when, shortly h