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 world, after a while; that was the development of you. She is perfectly willing to give the rest of her life to it, as she has given most of the last four years."

He got up and Dave saw that he was quivering. Dave saw, too, that his eyes glistened.

"I did not think that a third person—especially a girl who had just come to college—could come between you two. I'm glad it's not so." He gave Dave his hand. "I'll ask Alice to come down."

Dave was left with no illusion in regard to Mr. Sothron's whole acceptance of him now; it was because Alice's father had seen how Dave could hurt Alice. Never—not once—had he hurt her before Fidelia Netley appeared.

He went into the hall when he heard Alice on the stairs and as he saw her slowly coming down to him, he started up to her. He had never thought of his taking an advantage of her; she was so small and sweet!

He reached her several steps from the bottom and he took her in his arms.

"Your father says it's all right, Alice!"

"What did you tell him about this morning?"

"This morning!"

He held her soft, slight body; this morning he had held Fidelia Netley's when his hands were under her arms as she was rising from the ice.

"David, why did you go down to the lake with her? You must have got up on purpose!"

"I didn't."

"David!" She was holding to him, almost hysterically, with her head down so he could not see her