s a matter of fact I'm taking
in everything which begins with H for fear I may miss some one of those
'humanities'!"

Huntington gazed at him in sheer amazement.

"That's right," Cosden emphasized, only slightly embarrassed by the
expression of incredulity on his friend's face. "Instead of being merely
a 'sow's ear' I'm going the whole hog, and so far I've managed to pull
through without casualties. Now what do you and Edith Stevens think of
your handiwork!"

"By Jove, Connie!" Huntington exclaimed feelingly, "it's wonderful, and
I congratulate you. I had no idea--"

"Other than that I would remain without those 'finer instincts' all my
life," he finished for him. "Well, maybe I will, even at that; but at
all events I'm giving the whole thing the once over. If my health and
strength hold out perhaps when you and I make another vacation trip
together you won't be mortified by your friend as you were last time."

"Nonsense, Connie!" Huntington protested. "We both got out a little
beyond our depth down there, and things didn't look quite normal to us."

"Both?" Cosden demanded. "Where do you come in? That was my party, if I
remember correctly, and I got all the presents."

Huntington for the moment had been forgetful that he alone knew how much
the Bermuda days had disturbed his own equilibrium, and he recognized
that he had been almost guilty of betraying himself.

"Well," he said lightly, "I interjected myself into your affairs in a
shameless fashion, so whatever blame there is I insist on taking my full
share.--What you tell me is simply incredible!"

"Don't give me too much credit for it yet. Like everything else in my
life there's a selfish motive back of it. Edith Stevens never said a
truer thing than that it is a different matter making light of something
which you have and something which you lack. Measuring things up on this
basis shows me that nearly every time I've opened my mouth I've put my
foot in it. Now I'm going to play safe and make myself very, very wise
on some subjects regarding which I've been a bit of a scoffer. Then, if
I don't want to, I won't do them, but never again because I can't do
them!"

"You needn't be ashamed of your motive; many a man has had one less
worthy. But what is your business doing all this time?"

"Well, well, well!" Cosden laughed. "Good old Monty! We've been together
nearly an hour, and you are the first to mention business! You wouldn't
have believed I could go a