not cross, only I don't want you to be silly."

"I am not silly. All the girls are wondering, too. I am only like
other girls. You can't expect me to be just like you, Maria. Of
course you are older, and you don't wonder, and then, too, you knew
him when he was a boy. Is he light or dark?"

"Light," Maria replied, looking out of the window.

"Sometimes light children grow dark as they grow older," said Evelyn.
"I hope he hasn't. I like light men better than dark, don't you,
Maria?"

"I don't like one more than another," said Maria shortly.

"Of course I know you don't in one way. Don't be so cross," Evelyn
said in a hurt way. "But almost everybody has an opinion about light
and dark men."

Maria looked out of the window, and Evelyn said no more, but she felt
a sorrowful surprise at her sister. Evelyn was so used to being
petted and admired that the slightest rebuff, especially a rebuff
from Maria, made her incredulous. It really seemed to her that Maria
must be ill to speak so shortly to her. Then she remembered poor
Professor Lane, and how in all probability Maria was thinking about
him this morning, and that made her irritable, and how she, Evelyn,
ought to be very patient. Evelyn was in reality very patient and very
slow to take offence. So she snuggled gently up to her sister, until
her slender, red-clad shoulder touched Maria's, and looked pleasantly
around through the car, and again wondered privately about the new
principal.

They had a short walk after leaving the car to the academy. As they
turned into the academy grounds, which were quite beautiful with
trees and shrubs, a young man was mounting the broad flight of
granite steps which led to the main entrance. Evelyn touched Maria
agitatedly on the arm. "Oh, Maria," said she.

"What?"

"Is that--he?"

"I think so. I saw only his back, but I should think so. I don't see
what other young man could be going into the building. It was
certainly not the janitor, nor Mr. Hughes" (Mr. Hughes was the
music-teacher) replied Maria calmly, although she was pale.

"Oh, if that was he, I think he is splendid," whispered Evelyn.

Maria said nothing as the two proceeded along the fine gravel walk
between hydrangeas, and inverted beech-trees, and symmetrically
trimmed firs.

"He is light," Evelyn said, meditatively. "I am glad of that." As she
spoke she put her hand to her head and adjusted her hair, then her
hat. She threw back her shoulders. She preened her