rd.

"But we shall hear of you, Mr. Short--after the examinations, shall we
not?"

"Oh yes," said John eagerly. "I will come down as soon as the lists are
out."

"You have my best wishes, you know," said Mrs. Goddard kindly. "I feel
quite sure that you will really be senior classic."

"Mamma is always saying that--it is quite true," explained Nellie.

John blushed again and looked gratefully at Mrs. Goddard. He wished
Nellie would go away, but there was not the least chance of that.

"Yes," said Mrs. Goddard, "I often say it. We all take a great interest
in your success here."

"You are very kind," murmured John. "Of course I shall come down at once
and tell you all about it, if I succeed. I do not really expect to be
first, of course. I shall be satisfied if I get a place in the first ten.
But I mean to do my best."

"No one can do more," said Mrs. Goddard, leaning back in her chair and
looking into the fire. Her face was quiet, but not sad as it sometimes
was. There was a long silence which John did not know how to break.
Nellie sat upon a carved chair by the side of the fireplace dangling her
legs and looking at her toes, turning them alternately in and out. She
wished John would go for she wanted to get back to her book, but had been
told it was not good manners to read when there were visitors. John
looked at Mrs. Goddard's face and was about to speak, and then changed
his mind and grew red and said nothing. Had she noticed his shyness she
would have made an effort at conversation, but she was absent-minded
to-day, and was thinking of something else. Suddenly she started and
laughed a little.

"I beg your pardon," she said. "What were you saying, Mr. Short?" Had
John been saying anything he would have repeated it, but being thus
interrogated he grew doubly embarrassed.

"I--I have not much to say--except good-bye," he answered.

"Oh, don't go yet," said Mrs. Goddard. "You are not going this afternoon?
It is always so unpleasant to say good-bye, is it not?"

"Dreadfully," answered John. "I would rather say anything else in the
world. No; I am going early to-morrow morning. There is no help for it,"
he added desperately. "I must go, you know."

"The next time you come, you will be able to stay much longer," said Mrs.
Goddard in an encouraging way. "You will have no more terms, then."

"No indeed--nothing but to take my degree."

"And what will you do then? You said the other day that you thought
se