airs.

"What a wonderful spread," said Miss Potterman, "but really you have
been too extravagant!"

Something in Skippy's sudden look decided Hippo to keep the secret, but
he revenged himself on the cake in a way that made his sister exclaim:

"Corny, where _are_ your manners?"

"'S all right. I'll buy another," said Hippo, who then winked brazenly
at Skippy.

"I'll murder him, I will," said Skippy wrathfully to himself. "I'd strip
the hide off him, if it--if it weren't for--" Then he raised his eyes
and beheld the reason why, smiling at him with perfect faith.

"I'm afraid we've spoiled Corny just a little," she said hesitating.

"Oh, that's all right."

"Is--is there much of that dreadful hazing?"

"Well, sometimes," said Skippy, who always placed the proper value on
his services.

"Oh dear, I've heard such dreadful things have happened," said Miss
Potterman, thoroughly alarmed.

"That's only when accidents happen."

"Accidents!"

"Don't worry, Miss Potterman," said Skippy with the manner of a Grand
Duke. "Fellows do get rough sometimes, but I'll look after him."

Miss Potterman again laid her hand on his arm.

"Thank you."

She stayed but half an hour. The door closed. The birds fled from the
windows and the daffodils retired under the carpet.

"Whew!" said Snorky explosively.

Skippy fell back on a chair and fanned himself.

"What's the use?" he said disconsolately.

"Women are our inferiors," said Snorky wickedly.

"What eyes!"

"Woman is like a harp--"

"Woman!" said Skippy rousing himself indignantly. "You don't call that a
woman! That's Maude Adams and Lorna Doone and--and the Gibson Girl
rolled into one!"

"Don't blame you," said Snorky heavily. "It ain't right to let anything
as wonderful as that roam around loose. Skippy, it's all wrong."

"You're right there."

"Well," said Snorky reflectively, "she turned up in time. We'd have had
Nuisance ready for the undertaker by the morning."

"My hands are tied," said Skippy glumly. "I've promised."

"Me too, but how are we going to stick it out?"

"Well, we'll have to treat Nuisance with moral influences," said Skippy
thoughtfully. "It will be longer, longer and harder."

They dined with Miss Potterman at the Inn and that and a walk about the
campus under the stars completed the devastation. Before it was over
Skippy actually heard himself called "Jack," had shaken hands on an
eternal friendship, promised to write from time to