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186 Hugh went to his first conference with him noi entirely easy in his mind. Henley had a reputatior for “tearing themes to pieces and making a felloe feel like a poor fish.” Hugh had written hii themes hastily, as he had during his freshman year and he was afraid that Henley might discovei evidences of that haste. Henley was leaning back in his swivel chair, hu feet on the desk, a brier pipe in his mouth, as Hugl entered the cubbyhole of an office. Down came th< feet with a bang. “Hello, Carver,” Henley said cheerfully “Come in and sit down while I go through youi themes.” He motioned to a chair by the desk Hugh muttered a shy “hello” and sat down, watch ing Henley expectantly and rather uncomfortably Henley picked up three themes. Then he turnec his keen eyes on Hugh. “I Ve already read these Lazy cuss, aren’t you?” he asked amiably, Hugh flushed. “I—I suppose so.”

“You know that you are; no supposing to it.’ He slapped the desk lightly with the theme* “First drafts, aren’t they?”

“Yes, sir.” Hugh felt his cheeks getting warmer Henley smiled. “Thanks for not lying. If yo had lied, this conference would have ended rigl now. Oh, I would n’t have told you that I though you were lying; I would simply have made a few pc lite but entirely insincere comments about your wor