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them at his expense； again making his advances appear
ridiculous。 He was so sure of it that he flushed
indignantly。 He was glad he had been rude。
And then； at his elbow； there was the rustle of silk； and a
beautiful figure； all in black velvet； towered above him；
then crowded past him； and sank into the empty seat at his
side。 He was too startled to speakand Miss Anita Flagg
seemed to understand that and to wish to give him time； for；
without regarding him in the least； and as though to
establish the fact that she had come to stay； she began
calmly and deliberately to remove the bell…like hat。 This
accomplished； she bent toward him； her eyes looking straight
into his； her smile reproaching him。 In the familiar tone of
an old and dear friend she said to him gently：
〃This is the day you planned for me。 Don't you think you've
wasted quite enough of it？〃
Sam looked back into the eyes； and saw in them no trace of
laughter or of mockery； but； instead； gentle reproof and
appealand something else that； in turn； begged of him to be
gentle。
For a moment； too disturbed to speak； he looked at her；
miserably； remorsefully。
〃It's not Anita Flagg at all；〃 he said。 〃It's Sister Anne
come back to life again！〃 The girl shook her head。
〃No； it's Anita Flagg。 I'm not a bit like the girl you
thought you met and I did say all the； things Holworthy told
you I said； but that was before I understoodbefore I read
what you wrote about Sister Anneabout the kind of me you
thought you'd met。 When I read that I knew what sort of a man
you were。 I knew you had been really kind and gentle； and I
knew you had dug out something that I did not know was
therethat no one else had found。 And I remembered how you
called me Sister。 I mean the way you said it。 And I wanted to
hear it again。 I wanted you to say it。〃
She lifted her face to his。 She was very near himso near
that her shoulder brushed against his arm。 In the box above
them her friends； scandalized and amused； were watching her
with the greatest interest。 Half of the people in the now
half…empty house were watching them with the greatest
interest。 To them； between reading advertisements on the
programme and watching Anita Flagg making desperate love to a
lucky youth in the front row； there was no question of which
to choose。
The young people in the front row did not know they were
observed。 They were aloneas much alone as though they were
seated in a biplane； sweeping above the clouds。
〃Say it again；〃 prompted Anita Flagg 〃Sister。〃
〃I will not！〃 returned the young man firmly。 〃But I'll say
this；〃 he whispered： 〃I'll say you're the most wonderful； the
most beautiful； and the finest woman who has ever lived！〃
Anita Flagg's eyes left his quickly； and； with her head bent；
she stared at the bass drum in the orchestra。
〃I don't know；〃 she said； 〃but that sounds just as good。〃
When the curtain was about to rise she told him to take her
back to her box； so that he could meet her friends and go on
with them to supper； but when they reached the rear of the
house she halted。
〃We can see this act；〃 she said； 〃ormy car's in front of
the theatrewe might go to the park and take a turn or two
or three。 Which would you prefer？〃
〃Don't make me laugh！〃 said Sam。
As they sat all together at supper with those of the box
party； but paying no attention to them whatsoever； Anita
Flagg sighed contentedly。
〃There's only one thing；〃 she said to Sam； 〃that is making me
unhappy； and because it is such sad news I haven't told you。
It is this： I am leaving America。 I am going to spend the
winter in London。 I sail next Wednesday。〃
〃My business is to gather news；〃 said Sam； but in all my life
I never gathered such good news as that。〃
〃Good news！〃 exclaimed Anita。
〃Because；〃 explained Sam； 〃I am leaving； Americaam
spending the winter in England。 I am sailing on Wednesday。
No； I also am unhappy； but that is not what makes me
unhappy。〃
〃Tell me；〃 begged Anita。
〃Some day；〃 said Sam。
The day he chose to tell her was the first day they were at
seaas they leaned upon the rail； watching Fire Island
disappear。
〃This is my unhappiness；〃 said Samand he pointed to a name
on the passenger list。 It was： 〃The Earl of Deptford； and
valet。〃 〃And because he is on board！〃
Anita Flagg gazed with interest at a pursuing sea…gull。
〃He is not on board；〃 she said。 〃He changed to another boat。〃
Sam felt that by a word from her a great weight might be
lifted from his soul。 He looked at her appealinglyhungrily。
〃Why did he change？〃 he begged。
Anita Flagg shook her head in wonder。 She smiled at him with
amused despair。
〃Is that all that is worrying you？〃 she said。
Chapter 2。 THE GRAND CROSS OF THE CRESCENT
Of some college students it has been said that； in order to
pass their examinations； they will deceive and cheat their
kind professors。 This may or may not be true。 One only can
shudder and pass hurriedly on。 But whatever others may have
done； when young Peter Hallowell in his senior year came up
for those final examinations which； should he pass them even
by a nose； would gain him his degree； he did not cheat。 He
may have been too honest； too confident； too lazy； but Peter
did not cheat。 It was the professors who cheated。
At Stillwater College； on each subject on which you are
examined you can score a possible hundred。 That means
perfection； and in； the brief history of Stillwater； which
is a very； new college； only one man has attained it。 After
graduating he 〃accepted a position〃 in an asylum for the
insane； from which he was； promoted later to the poor…house；
where he died。 Many Stillwater undergraduates studied his
career and； lest they also should attain perfection； were
afraid to study anything else。 Among these Peter was by far
the most afraid。
The marking system at Stillwater is as follows： If in all the
subjects in which you have been examined your marks added
together give you an average of ninety； you are passed 〃with
honors〃； if of seventy…five； you pass 〃with distinction〃； if
Of fifty； You just 〃pass。〃 It is not unlike the grocer's
nice adjustment of fresh eggs； good eggs； and eggs。 The
whole college knew that if Peter got in among the eggs he
would be lucky； but the professors and instructors of
Stillwater 'were determined that； no matter what young
Hallowell might do to prevent it； they would see that he
passed his examinations。 And they constituted the jury of
awards。 Their interest in Peter was not because they loved
him so much； but because each loved his own vine…covered
cottage； his salary； and his dignified title the more。 And
each knew that that one of the faculty who dared to flunk
the son of old man Hallowell； who had endowed Stillwater； who
supported Stillwater； and who might be expected to go on
supporting Stillwater indefinitely； might also at the same
time hand in his official resignation。
Chancellor Black； the head of Stillwater； was an up…to…date
college president。 If he did not actually run after money he
went where money was； and it was not his habit to be
downright rude to those who possessed it。 And if any three…
thousand…dollar…a…year professor； through a too strict
respect for Stillwater's standards of learning； should lose
to that institution a half…million…dollar observatory；
swimming…pool； or gymnasium； he was the sort of college
president； who would see to it that the college lost also the
services of that too conscientious instructor。
He did not put this in writing or in words； but just before
the June examinations； when on； the campus he met one of the
faculty； he would inquire with kindly interest as to the
standing of young Hallowell。
〃That is too bad！〃 he would exclaim； but； more in sorrow than
in anger。 〃Still； I hope the boy can pull through。 He is his
dear father's pride； and his father's heart is set upon his
son's obtaining his degree。 Let us hope he will pull
through。〃 For four years every professor had been pulling
Peter through； and the conscience of each had become
calloused。 They had only once more to shove him through and
they would be free of him forever。 And so； although they did
not cons