pened that she caught Howard just as he
was going down to dinner. She told him they were homesick for him and
there was roast lamb and green peas and strawberry shortcake for
dinner, wouldn't he come? He came. Who could refuse Julia Cloud?

But the face of Clive Terrence was a study when, unannounced, Howard
entered the living-room. Julia Cloud had seen him coming and quietly
opened the door. Such a storm of delighted welcome as met him warmed
his heart and dispelled the evil spirits that had haunted him during
the week.

In the chatter of talk while they were being seated at the dinner
table the visitor was almost forgotten, and he sat watching them
glumly while Allison and Leslie eagerly discussed plans for some
society in which they seemed to be interested. At last he grew weary
of being ignored and in the first pause he languidly drawled:

"Leslie, I think you and I'll take the cah and go in town to a show
this evening. I'm bored to death."

Leslie looked at him with flashing eyes and then extinguished him with
her cool tone:

"Do you? Well, think again! I'm having a lovely time"--and went on
talking to Howard about the senior play that was to come off the
next week. It did not suit Clive in the least to be ignored, so he
started in to tell about other senior plays in other colleges where
he had been and quite made himself the centre of the stage, laughing
at his own jokes and addressing all his remarks to Leslie until
her cheeks grew hot with annoyance. She wanted so to hear what
Howard and Allison were talking about in low, grave tones. She
watched the strong, fine face of Howard Letchworth, and it suddenly
came over her that he seemed very far away from her, like a friend
who used to be, but had moved away. Something in her throat hurt, and
a sinking feeling came in her heart. Like a flash it came to her
that Howard Letchworth would be graduated in three more weeks, and
perhaps would go away then and they would see him no more. She
caught a word or two now and then as he talked to Allison that
indicated that he was seriously contemplating such a possibility. Yet
he had not said a word to her about it! And they had been such good
friends! A grieved look began to grow around her expressive little
cupid's bow of a mouth, and her big eyes grew sorrowful as she
watched the two. She was not listening to Clive, who drawled on
unaware of her inattention.

Suddenly Leslie became aware that Clive had risen and was