“So I was—­but—­very urgent business—­not exactly business of course, but work—­calls me away sooner.”  Having delivered himself of this masterpiece of explanation John looked nervously at Nellie and then at his hat and then, with an imploring glance, at Mrs. Goddard.

“But we shall hear of you, Mr. Short—­after the examinations, shall we not?”

“Oh yes,” said John eagerly.  “I will come down as soon as the lists are out.”

“You have my best wishes, you know,” said Mrs. Goddard kindly.  “I feel quite sure that you will really be senior classic.”

“Mamma is always saying that—­it is quite true,” explained Nellie.

John blushed again and looked gratefully at Mrs. Goddard.  He wished Nellie would go away, but there was not the least chance of that.

“Yes,” said Mrs. Goddard, “I often say it.  We all take a great interest in your success here.”

“You are very kind,” murmured John.  “Of course I shall come down at once and tell you all about it, if I succeed.  I do not really expect to be first, of course.  I shall be satisfied if I get a place in the first ten.  But I mean to do my best.”

“No one can do more,” said Mrs. Goddard, leaning back in her chair and looking into the fire.  Her face was quiet, but not sad as it sometimes was.  There was a long silence which John did not know how to break.  Nellie sat upon a carved chair by the side of the fireplace dangling her legs and looking at her toes, turning them alternately in and out.  She wished John would go for she wanted to get back to her book, but had been told it was not good manners to read when there were visitors.  John looked at Mrs. Goddard’s face and was about to speak, and then changed his mind and grew red and said nothing.  Had she noticed his shyness she would have made an effort at conversation, but she was absent-minded to-day, and was thinking of something else.  Suddenly she started and laughed a little.

“I beg your pardon,” she said.  “What were you saying, Mr. Short?” Had John been saying anything he would have repeated it, but being thus interrogated he grew doubly embarrassed.

“I—­I have not much to say—­except good-bye,” he answered.

“Oh, don’t go yet,” said Mrs. Goddard.  “You are not going this afternoon?  It is always so unpleasant to say good-bye, is it not?”

“Dreadfully,” answered John.  “I would rather say anything else in the world.  No; I am going early to-morrow morning.  There is no help for it,” he added desperately.  “I must go, you know.”

“The next time you come, you will be able to stay much longer,” said Mrs. Goddard in an encouraging way.  “You will have no more terms, then.”

“No indeed—­nothing but to take my degree.”

“And what will you do then?  You said the other day that you thought seriously of going into the church.”

“Oh mamma,” interrupted Nellie suddenly looking up, “fancy Mr. Short in a black gown, preaching like Mr. Ambrose!  How perfectly ridiculous he would look!”