cried the girl.

"I don't know whether it's 'sick' or not," returned Mrs. Hartwell. "But
it's something. He's troubled. I'm going to speak to him. He's worried
over something; and he's grown terribly thin."

"But he's always thin," reasoned Billy.

"I know, but not like this--ever. You don't notice it, perhaps, or
realize it, seeing him every day as you do. But I know something
troubles him."

"Oh, I hope not," murmured Billy, with anxious eyes. "We don't want
Uncle William troubled: we all love him too well."

Mrs. Hartwell did not at once reply; but for a long minute she
thoughtfully studied Billy's face as it was bent above the sewing in
Billy's hand. When she did speak she had changed the subject.

Young Hartwell was to deliver the Ivy Oration in the Stadium on Class
Day, and all the Henshaws were looking eagerly forward to the occasion.

"You have seen the Stadium, of course," said Bertram to Billy, a few
days before the anticipated Friday.

"Only from across the river."

"Is that so? And you've never been here Class Day, either. Good! Then
you've got a treat in store. Just wait and see!"

And Billy waited--and she saw. Billy began to see, in fact, before Class
Day. Young Hartwell was a popular fellow, and he was eager to have his
friends meet Billy and the Henshaws. He was a member of the Institute
of 1770, D. K. E., Stylus, Signet, Round Table, and Hasty Pudding Clubs,
and nearly every one of these had some sort of function planned for
Class-Day week. By the time the day itself arrived Billy was almost as
excited as was young Hartwell himself.

It rained Class-Day morning, but at nine o'clock the sun came out and
drove the clouds away, much to every one's delight. Billy's day began
at noon with the spread given by the Hasty Pudding Club. Billy wondered
afterward how many times that day remarks like these were made to her:

"You've been here Class Day before, of course. You've seen the
confetti-throwing!... No? Well, you just wait!"

At ten minutes of four Billy and Mrs. Hartwell, with Mr. Hartwell and
Bertram as escorts, entered the cool, echoing shadows under the Stadium,
and then out in the sunlight they began to climb the broad steps to
their seats.

"I wanted them high up, you see," explained Bertram, "because you can
get the effect so much better. There, here we are!"

For the first time Billy turned and looked about her. She gave a low cry
of delight.

"Oh, oh, how beautiful--how wonder