knew them in the country, and you like to
take sides. In some ways you're older than
boys of your age. It will be all right with
mama after you pass your college examina-
tions and she sees you're in earnest."

"If you were a boy," I persisted, "you
wouldn't belong to the Owl Club, either.
You'd be just like me."

She shook her head. "I would and I would-
n't. I expect I know the country girls better
than you do. You always put a kind of glam-
our over them. The trouble with you, Jim, is
that you're romantic. Mama's going to your
Commencement. She asked me the other day
if I knew what your oration is to be about.
She wants you to do well."

I thought my oration very good. It stated
with fervor a great many things I had lately
discovered. Mrs. Harling came to the Opera
House to hear the Commencement exercises,
and I looked at her most of the time while I
made my speech. Her keen, intelligent eyes
never left my face. Afterward she came back
to the dressing-room where we stood, with
our diplomas in our hands, walked up to me,
and said heartily: "You surprised me, Jim. I
didn't believe you could do as well as that.

[[261]]

p260 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p261w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p262

v?