ason ends."

"But we play White College. It's one of our nearest rivals," suggested
Will. "But then," he added, "that's just like them. They never do a
thing on the square anyway!"

Hawley pursed his lips as if he was about to whistle, but he did not
speak though his eyes twinkled with merriment as if Will's statement
somehow was hugely enjoyed by him. Foster Bennett noticing the
expression on Hawley's face, also laughed, but he did not reply to his
room-mate's very positive declaration. There were some things which Will
could not understand, for with his intense and impulsive disposition the
one thing which impressed him at the time was capable of only one
interpretation. His confidence in Winthrop and his dislike of its rival
college were therefore only what were to be expected of his friend.

"Obliged to you, fellows," said Hawley, as Will Phelps and Foster
Bennett rose to depart. "Come in and see us often."

"You'll see enough of us from now on," responded Will as he and his
room-mate departed.

As the two passed out into the street and returned to their own room
Foster said, "It's pretty bare there in Leland, isn't it, Will?"

"Yes. They both seem to be happy though."

"Not much like our room."

"No. But then, Foster, you see they don't know the difference."

Foster smiled but made no response, and Will continued. "You see
everything in this world is relative. A man doesn't miss what he never
had, does he?"

"Perhaps not."

"Now look here, Foster. Do you think a blind man suffers because he
can't see? I mean a man who was born blind, of course."

"What then?"

"Why, the man I'm sorry for is the one that could see once and has lost
his sight. He knows, let me tell you, what he's lost. But the other man
doesn't appreciate it. He never could see, so he couldn't lose his
sight, could he? Tell me that."

"So you wouldn't do anything to help him?"

"I didn't say that. I didn't say that at all. All I say is that the
fellow I'm sorry for is the one who has had and lost, not the one who
never had. Now look at Peter John, and Hawley. Their room isn't so good
as ours, but it probably is just as good as they expected, or have been
used to, so they don't suffer any."

"And if you and I had to put up with their room--"

"Why, we'd feel it."

"It's a mighty comfortable way of looking at things, that's all I have
to say."

"But it's the true way," said Will glibly. "There's one thing I'm mighty
glad of fo