Peter John and Foster were in the number of the returning students, the former having recovered sufficiently to warrant him in taking up a part of his work.  Wagner also and several of the other students who had been victims of the fever were on the train when it arrived at Winthrop, and in the warmth of their reception by their student friends there was a tonic such as even the physicians’ prescriptions had not afforded.  Will found a slight return of his depression when he first entered his room, but when a few days had passed his life had once more settled into the grooves of the daily routine and assumed its former round of tasks.

The mid-year examinations came within a month after the reopening of the college, and the chagrin and anger of Will Phelps were keenly aroused when he learned that although he had done well in his other studies he was conditioned in his Greek.  He stormed and raved about the injustice with which he was being treated, and finally, at Foster’s suggestion, sought a personal interview with his professor.

“I don’t understand it, professor,” he said warmly.  “I never felt more sure of anything in my life than I did that I had passed that exam—­I mean that examination.”

“Ah, yes,” replied the professor.  “Quite likely if you had had the decision to make, you would have passed cum laude! Ha, ha!  Yes, I fawncy it might have been so, but unfortunately the decision had to be made by other parties.”

“But didn’t I pass the examination, professor?” demanded Will.

“I do not exactly recollect as to that.  Quite likely you failed, since that impression seems to be vivid in your thoughts.  Were you so reported?”

“Yes, sir.  Have you got that paper, professor?”

“I have it.  I should not say I have got it.”

“May I see it?” Will’s manner was subdued, but there was a flush on his cheeks which those who knew him well would at once have understood.

“I will look it over with you,” assented the professor.  “It is against our rules to return papers to students, and I fawncy our rules are made to be obeyed, not ignored.”

“Yes, sir.”  Will was hardly aware of what he was saying so impatient and eager was he for the paper to be produced.

The professor unlocked a drawer in his desk and drew forth a package of papers that were carefully tied with a piece of ribbon.  Even the knot was exact and the loop on one side did not vary from that on the other by the smallest fraction.  In his impatience Will noticed even this detail, but it was ignored in a moment when the professor slowly and with care examined the headlines of the papers and at last drew forth one which he placed on the desk in front of him and said:  “Ah, yes.  Here is the paper in question.  It is credited with being two points above the mark required to pass a student.”

“It is?” demanded Will enthusiastically.  “I thought there must be a mistake.”