mply is he is too
all-fired shy and modest. Takes his father's word he is a failure
because he couldn't make their fool societies. How should a fellow who
has spent his life in English schools and traveling about with a tutor,
and then is dumped into Harvard, be expected to make a splash among
those snippy young swells? Harvard's no violet cold-frame! The other
boys did, but they were chips of the old block, hard as nails and
hustlers from 'way back. And since his mother died this poor chap has
had nobody to chirk him up. Father didn't mind until the other boys
died. All three in one year; pretty tough on their father. Pretty tough.
Ever lose--ur-r!--any one in your family? Then you know. Now Willy's the
only child, and his father wants to make him over in his brothers'
image. Wants to give him a wife to help! And Willy so scared of a
petticoat he walked two hours up and down before the Somerset Hotel at
his first college dance trying to screw up courage to go in--and
couldn't. Hiram never will get over that. But Willy, though he won't
marry to please his father, is fond of the old dictator just the same.
And mighty proud. That's why he has worked so at golf. Trying to show he
can do some things like other boys, you see. Well, I see that Harvard
dude has got his ball on the green at last. Now it's up to Willy--Didn't
I tell you? In all right! Shall--Oh!" It was a singularly small, soft
"Oh!" which the elderly man uttered, and it slipped out of his rugged
lips when he caught the shy flash from Willy's eyes at the girl. He
studied her an infinitesimal space before he spoke, and he turned a
chuckle into a cough as he said, "Aren't you Lady Jean Bruce-Hadden and
aren't you visiting the Brookes?"

She said that she was, rather indifferently, her gaze still following
Willy, who was accepting Dickson's congratulations less awkwardly than
was his wont.

"I guess Major Brooke has told you about me, Jabez Rivers--"

But ere he could finish the name, she had held out her hand with a
kindling face, crying, "Oh, indeed, yes. I'm ever so glad to meet you,
Mr. Rivers."

After this it was only natural to present Willy; but it was a bit of a
surprise to have Willy, when presented, say, "This is my mascot, sir. I
lost the game and she made me win it."

Willy was astonished at his own fluency; but then he had thought Lady
Jean a very young girl, not quite the "kid" that he had styled her, but
still hardly a young lady. Then, anyhow,