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66 hard that he afterward found a black and blue spot, but he never knew how it got there.

“Excellent thing, excellent thing, these talks by medical men.” He was beginning to feel at ease. “Excellent thing. I am glad that you are so well informed; you are old enough.”

Hugh was n’t well informed; he was pathetically ignorant. Most of what he knew had come from the smutty stories, and he often did not understand the stories that he laughed at most heartily. He was consumed with curiosity.

“If there is anything you want to know, don’t hesitate to ask,” his father continued. He had a moment of panic lest Hugh would ask something, but the boy merely shook his head—and pinched his leg.

Mr. Carver puffed his cigar in great relief. “Well,” he continued, “I don’t want to give you much advice, but your mother feels that I ought to tell you a little more about college before you leave. As I have told you before, Sanford is a splendid place, a—er, a splendid place. Fine old traditions and all that sort of thing. Splendid place. You will find a wonderful faculty, wonderful. Most of the professors I had are gone, but I am sure that the new ones are quite as good. Your opportuni¬ ties will be enormous, and I am sure that you will take advantage of them. We have been very proud of your high school record, your mother and I, and