. It would be much better if we all could have
two years of college when we're seventeen and the other two when we're
forty."

The conversation drifted into smoother channels, but by the time the
party separated the acquaintance had developed to a point far beyond an
ordinary first meeting. Underneath it different elements were at work in
each one's mind and heart, put in motion by the unexpected intensity of
almost the earliest words which had been exchanged. Hamlen was the first
to leave. He said good-night casually to the group, but managed to
separate Huntington from the others.

"You have done much for one of your classmates to-night," he said
simply. "I thank you for it."

"Nonsense!" Huntington protested. "I'm more than delighted to have this
opportunity to know you--and I want to know you better."

"Will you come to my villa some day this week?"

Hamlen seemed to hang expectantly upon the answer.

"Of course," Huntington replied promptly. "If you hadn't asked me, I
should have come anyhow. It's an inherent right which I demand."

Hamlen pressed his hand and turned to Mrs. Thatcher, who walked with him
to the door.

"I don't know whether to thank you or to curse you, Marian," he said
feelingly in a low voice. "Through you I have had more interjected into
my life in this single day than in the twenty-odd years which have
passed by. Is this the dawn of a to-morrow or the epitome of human
suffering? Are you my Genius or my Nemesis? Before God I ask the
question seriously. I myself cannot answer it."

"Don't try," she answered, smiling; "let Time do that!"

* * * * *

V

* * * * *

Cosden had been sitting on the hotel piazza half an hour when "Merry"
Thatcher emerged from the dining-room, gazed about the almost total
vacancy as if looking for some one, and then advanced, recognizing in
the solitary smoker an acquaintance of the night before.

"I'm always the first one," she complained after greeting him. "We're
going sailing this morning, but I might have known that no one else
would be down for breakfast at anywhere near the appointed time."

"Why not cheer me up while you're waiting?" Cosden suggested. "I formed
the habit of early rising years ago when I had to do it; now that I
don't have to, the habit still sticks."

"Mr. Huntington hasn't appeared yet?" she inquired.

Cosden laughed, and then looked at his watch. "When you