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〃　Well；〃　he　answered；　somewhat　affronted；　〃　if　you　like〃

At　the　door　she　turned　to　look　at　him；　and　this　glance　expressed　in　its　elusive　way　a　score　of　things　which　she　had　not　yet　been　able　to　speak。　It　explained　that　she　was　loth　to　leave　him；　that　she　asked　forgiveness　for　leaving　him；　that　even　for　a　short　absence　she　wished　to　take　his　image　in　her　eyes；　that　he　must　not　bully　her；　that　there　was　something　now　in　her　heart　which　frightened　her；　that　she　loved　him；　that　she　was　happy…

When　she　had　gone；　Coleman　went　to　the　rooms　of　the　American　minister。　A　Greek　was　there　who　talked　wildly　as　he　waved　his　cigarette。　Coleman　waited　in　well…concealed　impatience　for　the　dvapora…　tion　of　this　man。　Once　the　minister；　regarding　the　correspondent　hurriedly；　interpolated　a　comment。　〃　You　look　very　cheerful　？　〃

〃　Yes；〃　answered　Coleman；　〃　I've　been　taking　your　advice。〃

〃　Oh；　ho　！　〃　said　the　minister。

The　Greek　with　the　cigarette　jawed　endlessly。　Coleman　began　to　marvel　at　the　enduring　good　man…　ners　of　the　minister；　who　continued　to　nod　and　nod　in　polite　appreciation　of　the　Greek's　harangue；　which；　Coleman　firmly　believed；　had　no　point　of　interest　whatever。　But　at　last　the　man；　after　an　effusive　farewell；　went　his　way。

〃　Now；〃　said　the　minister；　wheeling　in　his　chair　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

Coleman　arose；　and　thrusting　his　hands　deep　in　his　trousers'　pockets；　began　to　pace　the　room　with　long　strides。　He；　said　nothing；　but　kept　his　eyes　on　the　floor。

〃　Can　I　have　a　drink　？　〃　he　asked；　abruptly　pausing。

〃　What　would　you　like？　〃　asked　the　minister；　benevolently；　as　he　touched　the　bell。

〃　A　brandy　and　soda。　I'd　like　it　very　much。　You　see；〃　he　said；　as　he　resumed　his　walk；　〃　I　have　no　kind　of　right　to　burden　you　with　my　affairs；　but；　to　tell　the　truth；　if　I　don't　get　this　news　off　my　mind　and　into　somebody's　ear；　I'll　die。　It's　this…I　asked　Marjory　Wainwright　to　marry　me；　and…she　accepted；　and…　that's　all。〃

〃　Well；　I　am　very　glad；〃　cried　the　minister；　arising　and　giving　his　hand。　〃And　as　for　burdening　me　with　your　affairs；　no　one　has　a　better　right；　you　know；　since　you　released　me　from　the　persecution　of　Washington　and　the　friends　of　the　Wainwrights。　May　good　luck　follow　you　both　forever。　You；　in　my　opinion；　are　a　very；　very　fortunate　man。　And；　for　her　part　she　has　not　done　too　badly。〃

Seeing　that　it　was　important　that　Coleman　should　have　his　spirits　pacified　in　part；　the　minister　continued：　〃　Now；　I　have　got　to　write　an　official　letter；　so　you　just　walk　up　and　down　here　and　use　up　this　surplus　steam。　Else　you'll　explode。〃

But　Coleman　was　not　to　be　detained。　Now　that　he　had　informed　the　minister；　he　must　rush　off　some。　where；　anywhere；　and　do…he　knew　not　what。

All　right；〃　said　the　minister；　laughing。　〃　You　have　a　wilder　head　than　I　thought。　But　look　here；〃　he　called；　as　Coleman　was　making　for　the　door。　〃　Am　I　to　keep　this　news　a　secret？　〃

Coleman　with　his　hand　on　the　knob；　turned　im。　pressively。　He　spoke　with　deliberation。　〃　As　far　as　I　am　concerned；　I　would　be　glad　to　see　a　man　paint　it　in　red　letters；　eight　feet　high；　on　the　front　of　the　king's　palace。〃

The　minister；　left　alone；　wrote　steadily　and　did　not　even　look　up　when　Peter　Tounley　and　two　others　entered；　in　response　to　his　cry　of　permission。　How　ever；　he　presently　found　time　to　speak　over　his　shoulder　to　them。　〃Hear　the　news？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　they　answered。

〃　Well；　be　good　boys；　now；　and　read　the　papers　and　look　at　pictures　until　I　finish　this　letter。　Then　I　will　tell　you。〃

They　surveyed　him　keenly。　They　evidently　judged　that　the　news　was　worth　hearing；　but；　obediently；　they　said　nothing。　Ultimately　the　minister　affixed　a　rapid　signature　to　the　letter；　and　turning；　looked　at　the　students　with　a　smile。　〃　Haven't　heard　the　news；　eh　？〃

〃No；　Sir。〃

〃Well；　Marjory　Wainwright　is　engaged　to　marry　Coleman。〃

The　minister　was　amazed　to　see　the　effect　of　this　announcement　upon　the　three　students。　He　had　expected　the　crows　and　cackles　of　rather　absurd　merriment　with　which　unbearded　youth　often　greets；　such　news。　But　there　was　no　crow　or　cackle。　One　young　man　blushed　scarlet　and　looked　guiltily　at　the　floor。　With　a　great　effort　he　muttered：　〃　Shes　too　good　for　him。〃　Another　student　had　turned　ghastly　pate　and　was　staring。　It　was　Peter　Tounley　who　relieved　　the　minister's　mind；　for　upon　that　young　man's　face　was　a　broad　jack…o…lantern　grin；　and　the　minister　saw　that；　at　any　rate；　he　had　not　made　a　complete　massacre。

Peter　Tounley　said　triumphantly：　〃I　knew　it　！　〃

The　minister　was　anxious　over　the　havoc　he　had　wrought　with　the　two　other　students；　but　slowly　the　colour　abated　in　one　face　and　grew　in　the　other。　　To　give　them　opportunity；　the　minister　talked　busily　to　Peter　Tounley。　〃And　how　did　you　know　it；　you　young　scamp　？〃

Peter　was　jubilant。　〃　Oh；　…I　knew　it！　I　knew　it　I　I　am　very　clever。〃

The　student　who　had　blushed　now　addressed　the　minister　in　a　slightly　strained　voice。　〃　Are　you　positive　that　it　is　true；　Mr。　Gordner？；〃

〃　I　had　it　on　the　best　authority；〃　replied　the　minister　gravely。

The　student　who　had　turned　pale　said：　〃　Oh；　it's　true；　of　course。〃

〃　Well；〃　said　crudely　the　one　who　had　blushed；　she's　a　great　sight　too　good　for　Coleman　or　anybody　like　him。　That's　all　I've　got　to　say。〃

〃　Oh；　Coleman　is　a　good　fellow；〃　said　Peter　Tounley；　reproachfully。　〃　You've　no　right　to　say　that…exactly。　You　don't　know　where　you'd。　be　now　if　it　were　not　for　Coleman。〃

The；　response　was；　first；　an　angry　gesture。　〃　Oh；　don't　keep　everlasting　rubbing　that　in。　　For　heaven's　sake；　let　up。　…　Supposing　I　don't。　know　where　I'd　be　now　if；it　were　not　for　Rufus　Coleman？　What　of　it？　For　the　rest　of　my　life　have　I　got　to〃

The　minister　saw。　that　this　was　the　embittered　speech　of　a　really　defeated　youth；　so；　to　save　scenes；　he　gently　ejected　the　trio。　〃　There；　there；　now　！　Run　along　home　like　good　boys。　I'll　be　busy　until　luncheon。　And　I　…dare　say　you　won't　find　Coleman　such　a　bad　chap。〃'

In　the　corridor；　one　of　the　students　said　offensively　to　Peter　Tounley　：　〃　Say；　how　in　hell　did　you　find　out　all　this　so　early　？　〃

Peter's　reply　was　amiable　in　tone。　〃　You　are　a　damned　bleating　little　kid　and　you　made　a　holy　show　of　yourself　before　Mr。　Gordner。　There's　where　you　stand。　　Didn't　you　see　that　he　turned　us　out　because　he　didn't　know　but　what　you　were　going　to　blubber　or　something。　…　you　are　a　sucking　pig；　and　if　you　want　to　know　how　I　find　out　things　go　ask　the　Delphic　　Oracle；　you　blind　ass。〃

〃　You　better　look　out　or　you　may　get　a　punch　in　the　eye！；〃

〃You　take　one　punch　in　the　general　direction　of　my　eye；　me　son；〃　said　…Peter　cheerfully；　〃　and　I'll　　distribute　your　remains；　over　this　hotel　in　a　way　that　will　cause　your；　friends　years　of　trouble　to　collect　you。　Instead　of　anticipating　an　attack　upon　my　eye；　you　had　much　better　be　engaged　in　improving　your　mind；　which　is　at　present　not　a　fit　machine　to　cope　with　exciting　situations。　There's　Coke！　Hello；　Coke；　hear　the　news？　Well；　Marjory　Wainwright　and　Rufus　Coleman　；　are　engaged。。　Straight　？　Certainly　！　Go　ask　the　minister。〃

Coke　did　not　take　Peter's　word。　〃Is　that　so　？　〃　he　asked　the　others。

〃　So　the　minister　told　us；〃　they　answered；　and　then　these　two；　who　seemed　so　unhappy；　watched　Coke's　face　to　see　if　they　could　not　find　surprised　misery　there。　But　Coke　coolly　said：　〃　Well；　then；　I　suppose　it's　true。〃

It　soon　became　evident　that　the　students　did　not　care　for　each　other's　society。　　Peter　Tounley　was　probably　an　exception；　but　the　others　seemed　to　long　for　quiet　corners。　They　were　distrusting　each　other；　and；　in　a　boyish　way；　they　were　even　capable　of　maligant　things。　Their　excuses　for　separation　were　badly　made。

〃I…I　think　I'll　go　for　a　walk。〃　〃　I'm　going　up　stairs　to　read。〃　〃　Well；　so　long；　old　man。'　〃　So　long。〃　There　was　no　heart　to　it。

Peter　Tounley　went　to　Coleman's　door；　where　he　knocked　with　noisy　hilarity。　〃　Come　in　I　〃　The　correspondent　apparently　had　just　come　from　the　street；　for　his　hat　was　on　his　head　and　a　light　top…coat　was　on　his　back。　He　was　searching　hurriedly　through　some；　papers。　〃　Hello；　you　young　devil　What　are　you　doing　here　？

Peter's　entrance　was　a　somewhat　elaborate　comedy　which　Coleman　watched　in　icy　silence。　Peter　after　a　long；and　impudent　pantomime　halted　abruptly　and　fixing　Coleman　with　his　eye　demanded：　〃Well？〃

〃Well…what？。〃　said　Coleman；　bristling　a　trifle。

〃　Is　it　true　？〃

〃　Is　what　true　？〃

〃　Is　it　true？　〃　Peter　was　extremely　solemn。　〃　Say；　me　bucko；〃　said　Coleman　suddenly；　〃　if　you've。　come　up　here　to　twist　the　beard　of　the　patriarch；　don't　you　think　you　are　running　a　chance？　〃

〃All　right。　I'll　be　good；〃　said　Peter；　and　he　sat　on　the　bed。　〃　But…is　it　true？

〃　Is　what　true？　〃

〃　What　the　whole　hotel　is　saying。〃

＇　　　　　〃I　haven't　heard　the　hotel　making　any　remarks　lately。　Been　talking　to　the　other　buildings；　I　sup…　pose。〃

〃Well；　I　want　to　tell　you　that　everybody　knows　that　you　and　Marjory　have　done　gone　and　got　　yourselves　engaged；〃　said　Peter　bluntly。

〃And　well？　〃　asked　Coleman　imperturbably。

〃　Oh；　nothing；〃　replied　Peter；　waving　his　hand。　〃　Only…I　thought　it　might　interest　you。〃

Coleman　was　silent　for　some　time。　He　fingered　his　papers。　At　last　he　burst　out　joyously。　〃And　so　they　know　it　already；　do