ming cup.

"What did he say? What kept you so long?"

"Oh, I stopped in the office to change my electives, and it delayed me."

"You don't mean to tell me that man made you elect astronomy?"
Priscilla asked indignantly.

"Certainly not," said Patty. "I shouldn't have done it if he had."

"Oh, Patty, I know you like to tease, but I think it's odious. You know
we're in suspense. Tell us what happened."

"Well," said Patty, placidly gathering her skirts about her, "I told him
exactly how it was. I didn't hide anything--not even the bride with the
mumps."

"Was he cross, or did he laugh?"

"He laughed," said Patty, "till I thought he was going to fall off his
chair, and I looked anxiously around for some water and a call-bell. He
really has a surprising sense of humor for a member of the faculty."

"Was he nice?"

"Yes," said Patty; "he was a dear. When he got through discussing
Universal Truth, I asked him if I might elect astronomy, and he said I
would find it pretty hard the second semester; but I told him I was
willing to work, and he said I really showed a remarkable aptitude for
explaining phenomena, and that if I were in earnest he would be glad to
have me in the class."

"I think a man as forgiving as that _ought_ to be elected," said
Priscilla.

"You certainly have more courage than I gave you credit for," said
Bonnie. "I never could have gone over and explained to that man in the
wide world."

Patty smiled discreetly. "When you have to explain to a woman," she said
in the tone of one who is stating a natural law, "it is better to write
a note; but when it is a man, always explain in person."

XII

The Exigencies of Etiquette

"If I had been the one to invent etiquette," said Patty, "I should have
made party calls payable one year after date, and then should have
allowed three days' grace at the end."

"In which case," said Priscilla, "I suppose you would get out of calling
on Mrs. Millard altogether."

"Exactly," said Patty.

Mrs. Millard--more familiarly referred to as Mrs. Prexy--annually
invited the seniors to dinner in parties of ten. Patty, whose turn had
come a short time before, owing to an untoward misfortune, had been in
the infirmary at the time; but, though she had missed the fun, she now
found it necessary to pay the call.

"Of course," she resumed, "I can see why you should be expected to call
if you attend the function and partake of the food; but what I _can't_
un