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CHAPTER XIX
UGH found real happiness in Norry Park¬ er’s companionship, and such men as Bur¬ bank and Winsor were giving him a more robust but no less pleasant friendship. They were earnest youths, eager and alive, curious about the world, reading, discussing all sorts of topics vig¬ orously* and yet far more of the earth earthy than Parker, who was so mystical and dreamy that con¬ stant association with him would have been some¬ thing of a strain.

For a time life seemed to settle down into a pleasant groove of studies that took not too much time, movies, concerts, an occasional play by the Dramatic Society, perhaps a slumming party to a dance in Hastings Saturday nights, bull sessions, long talks with Henley in his office or at his home, running on the track, and some reading.

For a week or two life was lifted out of the groove by a professor’s daughter. Burbank intro¬ duced Hugh to her, and at first he was attracted by her calm dignity. He called three times and then gave her up in despair. Her dignity hid an utterly blank mind. She was as uninteresting as Rh