mustn't get so snufty so soon."

"Of course, at times when I've had a good recitation I wouldn't trade
places with anyone. It's a kind of ecstasy. It's like all sorts of
rushing, exciting things--like a high tide, or a close race, or a fire;
really it is. Then you go to the other extreme and you ask yourself what
on earth is the use of so futile a business, and what right has a young
man with anything to him whatever to waste his time with it. Better go
and make bird cages or hair nets or--or--hot water bags, and make some
money. When I feel that way I sometimes go out along the ridge, just at
dusk, you know, or into the woods--"

"You do? Why, I think that's awfully romantic of you; like
Chateaubriand, you know." Then, dreamily, "He used to go out and lean on
a pedestal and let the moon shine down on him through the trees. I
think Nancy is a little that way herself."

There was a pause, during which the young educator's difficulties were
brushed aside.

"Do you realize that I haven't seen Nancy since leaving college?"

"Why, that's strange."

"No: you see she had left for the west before college opened in the
fall, and I hadn't been back between then and the time I graduated. As a
matter of fact, the last time I saw her was in this house. It was the
night of our Senior Prom. I took Mary, you know, and Teddy Roberts took
Nancy, and when it was over we came in here and had a cooky contest in
the kitchen. Nancy could put a whole one of those gingersnaps you always
have into her mouth without breaking it."

"Oh dear. I'm afraid she has the Billings mouth."

"We then got to talking about growing moustaches, and Nancy bet Teddy
she could grow one before he could."

"How disgusting! That's what comes of all this emancipation. Marcus
Aurelius has a lot to say about it. I must look that up. Did she win?"

"As I remember it, she was in a fair way to, but the war came along, and
we left before it could be settled."

Mrs. Norris stopped knitting and looked at Tom with amused curiosity
through her tortoise-shell spectacles, which had slid rather farther
down her nose than usual. "I forget. Didn't you use to see a good deal
of Nancy at one time?" she asked.

"Only just here," he replied.

"Oh," said Mrs. Norris, and went on with her work.

At this point the Dean entered, dressed for dinner.

"Oh dear, I'm not ready at all," cried Mrs. Norris, jumping up; and her
knitting, worsted, and bag spilled out upon the floor