her an Irish
setter or a Gordon made the better dog with woodcock, and upon various
other healthful topics, but his main purpose never varied. In his
classes there were fair girls, and in high-schools there is much callow
gallantry; but at this period of his life he would have none of it. He
was not timid, but he was absorbed. Morgan told him one day that he
was ready for college.

CHAPTER VIII.

NEW FORCES AT WORK.

"You will be kind enough, sir, to write upon the blackboard two
couplets:

"'What do you _think_
I'll shave you for nothing and _give you a drink_.'

"And

"'_What_ do you think
I'll shave you for _nothing_ and give you a drink.'

"You will observe that, while the wording is the same, the inflection
is different. Please punctuate them properly, and express the idea I
intend to convey."

This from a professor, keen-eyed and unassuming in demeanor, to a big,
long-limbed young fellow, facing, with misgivings despite himself, a
portion of the test of whether or not he were qualified for admission
as a freshman into one of our great modern universities. He had not
been under much apprehension until the moment for the beginning of the
trial. There was now to be met the first issue in the new field. He
plunged into his task.

Then the professor:

"Well, yes, you have caught my idea. How write upon the board: 'This
is the forest primeval,' and a dozen lines or so following, from this
slip. Scan that for me; parse it; show me the relations of words and
clauses, and all that sort of thing."

A pause; some only half-confident explanation, and enlargement upon the
subject by the young man.

The professor again:

"H-u-u-m--well--now you may write--no, you needn't--just tell me the
difference, in your opinion, between what are known as conjunctions and
prepositions. Say what you please. We ask no odds of them. Be
utterly free in your comment."

More explanations by the young man. The professor: "We'll not pursue
that subject. You might tell us, incidentally, what a trochaic foot
is?--Yes.--And who wrote that 'Forest primeval' you just
scanned?--Certainly--That will do, I think. Oh, by the way, who was
Becky Sharp?--The most desirable woman in 'Vanity Fair,' eh? I may be
half inclined to agree with you, but I was asking who, not what. Good
afternoon. You have passed your examination in English literature. I
trust you may be equally successful in other departments. Go