Mrs. Wyeth regarded him through her eyeglasses.

“I imagine,” she observed, “that that remark is intended as a joke.  I saw one football game and the spectacle of those boys trampling each other to death before my eyes, and of you, Samuel Keith, hopping up and down shrieking, ’Tear ’em up’ and ’Smash ’em’ was the nearest approach to insanity I ever experienced.  Since that time I have regarded Doctor Eliot as President Emeritus of an asylum and not a university.”

Sam was hugely delighted.  “That’s football,” he declared.  “I will admit that no one but lunatics like Crawford here play football.  Hockey, now, is different.  I play hockey.”

Crawford seemed surprised.

“Do you?” he asked, with eager interest.  “No one has ever guessed it, not even the coach.  You shouldn’t keep it a secret from him, Sam.”

Miss Pease, having been invited out that day, was not present at dinner.  After the coffee was served the irrepressible Sam proposed a walk.

“You won’t care to go, Cousin Emily,” he said, “but I’m sure Mary will.  It is a fine afternoon and she needs the air.  Crawford isn’t much of a walker; he can stay and keep Cousin Emily company.  We won’t be long.”

Before Mary could decline this disinterested invitation Mrs. Wyeth saved her the trouble.

“Thank you, Samuel,” she said, crisply.  “Your kindness is appreciated, particularly by Mr. Smith and myself.  I can see that he is delighted with the idea.  But Mary and I are going to the afternoon service at the Arlington Street church.  So you will have to excuse us.”

This should have been a squelcher, but it was not.  Sam announced that he and Crawford would go with them.  “We were thinking of going to church, weren’t we, Crawford?  It is just what I suggested, you remember.”

Mrs. Wyeth said “Humph,” and that was all.  She and Mary went to their rooms to get ready.  Sam, surprised at the unexpected success of his sudden inspiration and immensely tickled, chuckled in triumph.  But his joy was materially lessened when the quartette left the house.

“These sidewalks are too narrow for four,” declared Mrs. Wyeth.  “Samuel, you may walk with me.  Mary, you and Mr. Smith must keep close at our heels and walk fast.  I never permit myself or my guests to be late at church.”

During the walk Crawford asked a number of questions.  How long had his companion been in the city?  How long did she intend staying?  Did she plan returning to the school for another year?  Where would she spend the Christmas vacation?  Mary said she was going home, to South Harniss, for the holidays.

“It’s a bully old place, Cape Cod,” declared Crawford.  “I never had a better time than I did on that visit at Sam’s.  Wish I were going there again some day.”

“Why don’t you?” asked Mary.