life
if heads wiser than his own had compelled him to show himself to his
classmates. He stood within the massive Stadium, he went to a
mass-meeting at the Harvard Union, he followed the crew on the Charles
in the launch "John Harvard," proud that Philip, his namesake, had won
a place in the boat. He spent many hours at the Harvard Club with
Huntington, watching the democracy which means unity, and the unity
which means fellowship. For the first time he felt a pride to be a part
of it, for the first time his degree stood to him as something more than
what he learned from books. Philip was to row against Yale, and he felt
that he himself, at last, was to take part in an intercollegiate
contest, once the ambition of his life. He was no longer a man without a
college, but was one of that great brotherhood which recognizes its
heritage, and stands ready to live up to the responsibilities this
heritage entails.

* * * * *

XXVIII

* * * * *

Huntington placed his house at the disposal of the Thatchers during
Class Day week, and urged them to arrive the Saturday before so that he
might show them something of Boston before the college festivities set
in. He had corresponded freely with Mrs. Thatcher during the weeks
Hamlen had been his guest, sharing with her his own gratification that
their joint undertaking proceeded with such promise of success. But each
letter she wrote contained some reference to her desire to carry the
rejuvenation to a climax.

"Don't let him get too young," she wrote in one, "or Merry won't care
for him. She always feels more at home with older men."

In another, accepting Huntington's invitation, she added: "Your
suggestion is particularly fortunate as it will give Merry a chance to
see Philip Hamlen under ideal conditions."

There was no escape. Mrs. Thatcher still assumed that he was as eager to
bring about the match as she herself, and with woman's pertinacity
presented the matter to him in such a way that he was forced to act as
her ally whether he chose to do so or not. He had no restitution to make
to his classmate, he stoutly assured himself, and because a charming
woman felt a moral obligation to bring about "poetic justice" there was
no reason why he should be stampeded into aiding and abetting a scheme
of which he thoroughly disapproved. Huntington reasoned it out logically
and conclusively, arrived at a definite