son to escape from the
fruits of his temperament? Mr. President, how would you attempt to
extinguish a fire? By fanning it? Yet, when a member of this class is
smouldering in his own wrath, it is proposed to meet his sullenness by
casting him out of our friendship. Do we not owe some duty to our country
in this matter? Mr. Jetson is one of our capable students in this
brigade, and if he be given a fair chance to graduate, he is likely to
become a Naval officer of merit. Do we desire to take upon ourselves the
probable smothering of such a Naval career? Mr. President, and you,
gentlemen of the second class, I trust sincerely that the motion of
Coventry in this case will not prevail. I feel, as I believe many of you
now present feel, that we should be taking too much upon ourselves, and
that we should be making a grave mistake. If the motion now before the
class should be defeated, I shall then be delighted to second any other
motion that has for its object the finding of some way to make Mr. Jetson
feel more fully that he is one of us, that he has our full sympathy, and
that we hope to see him mould his character into a form that will enable
him to become a credit to the United States Navy."

As Darrin sat down there was a ripple of applause. There were many
present, however, who took a sterner view of the affair. These wanted to
see Jetson, and all others who might similarly offend the brigade, forced
to quit the Naval service.

"Question! question!" called a score of voices at once.

"Any further remarks?" inquired the class president, glancing about.

"Mr. President!"

"Mr. Jerould."

"Mr. President," said Midshipman Jerould, "I am certain that we all
appreciate the remarks of Mr. Darrin. The remarks were prompted by a
generous heart, and we respect Mr. Darrin and his motives alike. But I
am certain, sir, that the majority of us feel that this is an ugly
business and that only stern treatment can meet the situation. I
therefore trust that the motion will be at once put and passed." (Loud
cries of "hear! hear!")

"Any further--"

"Mr. President!"

"Mr. Darrin."

"Mr. President, I wish I could throw my whole being and soul into this
problem, in order to make it clearer, as I see it. I would even appeal,
as a favor, to the class to quash this Coventry resolution, and perhaps
I might be considered to have some right to ask the favor, since the
whole trouble grew out of an affair between Mr. Jetson and myself.