se and everything about it."

"Yes, I think so, too; but this is something bigger than anything else
in the world if she really cares. Don't you think we ought to give her
the chance?"

"I s'pose so, if she really wants it; but how can we find out?"

"That's it; just give her the chance. When Armitage comes in, just
sneak out and stay away, and let her have a little time alone with
him. It isn't right, us kids always sticking around. We ought to go
out or up-stairs or something."

Leslie was still for a long time; and then she heaved a big sigh, and
said, "All right!" in a very small voice. As they sped on their way
toward home, there was hardly a word more between them.

It was after supper that very night that Leslie, having almost
frightened Julia Cloud out of her happy calm by refusing to eat much
supper, went off to bed with a headache as soon as the professor came
in. Allison, too, said he had to go up to the college for a book he
had forgotten; and for the first time since his advent the professor
had a clear evening ahead of him with Julia Cloud, without anybody
else by.

But Julia Cloud was distraught, and gave him little attention at
first, with an attitude of listening directed toward the floor above.
Finally she gently excused herself for a moment, and hurried up to
Leslie's room, where she found a very damp and tearful Leslie
attempting to appear wonderfully calm.

"What is it, dear child? Has something happened?" she begged. "I know
you must be sick, or you wouldn't have gone to bed so early. Please
tell me what is the matter. I shall send for the doctor at once if you
don't."

Then Leslie, knowing that her brother would blame her if she spoiled
the test, sat up bravely, and tried to laugh, assuring her aunt that
she was only tired from studying and a little stiff from playing
hockey too long, and she thought it would be better to rest to-night
so she could be all right in the morning.

Julia Cloud, only half reassured by this unprecedented carefulness for
her health on the part of the usually careless Leslie, went down
abstractedly to her professor, and wished he would go home. He was
well into the midst of a most heartfelt and touching proposal of
marriage before she realized what was coming.

His voice was low and pleading; and Leslie, lying breathless above,
not deigning to try to listen, yet painfully aware of the change of
tones, was in tortures. Then Julia Cloud's pained, gentle tones,