ith traces of tears about the eyes. Mother Wolf
was paring apples for mince meat. Papa Wolf would eat no food not
prepared by hers or Elsa's hands.

"Help me with these nut meats, Roger, there's a good boy," she said.

Roger sat down by the table with a long sigh and began to pick at the
hickory nuts.

"Elsa's gone to Choral Union practice," volunteered Mother Wolf. "Ernie
is doing some laboratory work he said he was behind in. You must be
getting somewhat behind, too, Roger."

"I guess so," agreed Roger, indifferently.

"Papa met Dean Erskine in the Post Office yesterday. The Dean said you
were the most promising man in your class."

"What good does that do," asked Roger, "when they're gone and can't
know?"

"How do you know they can't know?" asked the little woman sharply.
"Older and wiser people than you believe otherwise. One thing is sure,
that the only real thing you can do for your parents now is to carry on
what they began. Life is short and there's no time to waste, Roger dear,
no time to waste."

"Are you getting tired of me here?" asked Roger quickly.

Mother Wolf's pretty blue eyes filled with tears. "Do you have to be
unkind, Roger?" she asked.

"Forgive me!" he exclaimed. "I know you'd let me live here if you
thought it would be good for me."

There was silence. The coal range glowed and the snow without sifted
endlessly past the window. Suddenly Roger rose and putting on his
overcoat and cap went out into the storm.

Dean Erskine was in the little office off the junior laboratory. Roger
had not seen him since the day of his father's funeral, but he kept his
voice and manner casual.

"Good afternoon, Dean Erskine. How many hours am I behind in lab work?"

The Dean too was off hand. "I've lost count, Roger."

"It's sort of sniveling baby work, anyhow," said Roger. "I did it all
once; up in the corn crib."

"I know that," said Erskine. "That's why I've let you neglect it so
outrageously. I had hopes too that you'd wake up and ask to do other
things. But it seemed that you preferred experimenting with Welsh
rarebits at Hepburn Hall and marshmallow sundaes at Allen's."

Roger had the grace to blush. He grinned sheepishly, then said soberly:
"I'm through with all that now."

"Oh, it has its place in a normal man's life! Only you seem to have
crowded several years of it into two. If you're not in training I don't
mind if you smoke. Only close that door into the classroom."

The Dean pull