ining face to Allison after the reading.

"Then I'm glad we never said anything to Eugenia! Poor Eugenia! She
is greatly to be pitied!"

Allison, a little shamefacedly, agreed, and then owned up that he had
"fired" Eugenia, as he expressed it, from the college.

"O, Allison!" said Jane, half troubled, though laughing in spite of
herself at the vision of Eugenia trying to be lofty in the face of the
facts. "You ought not to have done it, dear. I have stood it so long,
it didn't matter! Only for your sake--and Leslie's----!"

"For our sakes, nothing!" said Allison. "That girl needed somebody to
tell her where to get off, and only a man could do it. She'll be more
polite to people hereafter, I'm thinking. It won't do her any harm.
Now, Jane darling, forget it, and let's be happy!"

"Be careful, Allison, some one is coming. I think it's that Mr.
Terrence."

"Dog-gone his fool hide!" muttered Allison. "I wish he'd take himself
home! I certainly would like to tell _him_ where to get off. Leslie's
as sick of him as I am, and as for Cloudy, she's about reached the
limit."

"Why, Allison, isn't Leslie interested in him? He told Howard that
they were as good as engaged."

"Leslie interested in that little cad? I should say not. If she was
I'd disown her. You say he told Howard they were engaged! What a lie!
So that's what's the matter with the old boy, is it? I thought
something must be the matter that he got so busy all of a sudden.
Well, I'll soon fix that! Come on up to Cloudy's porch, quick, while
he's in his room. Cloudy won't mind. We'll be by ourselves there till
dinner is ready!"

CHAPTER XXX

But matters came to a climax with Howard Letchworth before Allison had
any opportunity to do any "fixing."

The next afternoon was Class Day and there were big doings at the
college. Howard kept out of the way, for it was a day on which he had
counted much, and during the winter once or twice he and Leslie had
talked of it as a matter of course that they would be around together.
His Class Day had seemed then to be of so much importance to her--and
now--now she was going to attend it in Clive Terrence's company!
Terrence had told him so, and there seemed no reason to doubt his
word. She went everywhere with him, and he was their guest; why
shouldn't she? So Howard went glumly about his duties, keeping as much
as possible out of everyone's way. If he had not been a part of the
order of exercises, and a moving s