the secret of
his fascination. It was quite unlike the way any other girl had ever
looked at him. Other girls looked at you side-wise or averted their eyes
when they met yours. But this was different. It was mocking,
impertinent, insinuating, but it did not displease him. He saw that he
had made an impression, an instantaneous impression. He mystified her
perhaps but he interested her intensely. For the first time he had
conquered with a look.

"Who told you?"

"That's telling."

"I'll bet I know."

"Bet you don't."

"Bet I do."

"What'll you bet?"

"Two pounds of chocolates against a necktie."

"Done, who is it?"

"Some one here."

"Nope. You've lost."

"Who then?"

"Some one who knows Dolly Travers," said Vivi with a mocking smile.

"Oh!"

"Brute," said Vivi in the greatest admiration.

"Really I--"

"Now don't be modest--I hate modest men. It makes it twice as bad. She's
very attractive, isn't she?"

"Very," said Skippy, feeling every inch a man.

"But she's rather young--for you, isn't she?" said Vivi artfully.

"They put glasses on cows in Russia," said Miss Cantillon importantly.
She had a reputation as a brilliant conversationalist to uphold.

This assertion woke up the table.

"Cows?"

"Glasses?"

"Fanny dear, how excruciating!"

Even the sophomore was surprised into expressing his incredulity.

"Colored glasses on account of the glare of the snow," said Miss
Cantillon.

"Fanny!"

"Fact, in Siberia. I read it in the papers."

"Cows can't live in the snow."

"But Siberia isn't all snow."

"Most of it is."

"Isn't it wonderful the things she knows?" said Vivi admiringly. "Do you
like brainy women?"

"That depends," said Skippy while he stopped to consider. "I don't know
any."

"Oh what a dreadful cynical remark!" said Vivi with another admiring
look. "Heavens, I shall be frightened to death what I say to you. I'm
sure you're awfully clever yourself. Perhaps I'll have a chance. Clever
men hate clever women, don't they?"

"There is certainly something about my particular style of beauty that's
bowled her over," thought Skippy to himself.

"Oh I don't know," he said, fatuously unconscious of the virtues he
conceded to himself. "Dolly Travers was quite clever, you know."

"Brute!" said Miss Balou for the second time.

"Oh come now--"

"Do you know what I think about you?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you'd be lots of excitement at a house party," said Mis