He had no idea what he should say when he met Mrs. Goddard. He meant, of course, to let her understand, or at least suppose, that he was leaving suddenly on her account, but he did not know in the least how to accomplish it. He trusted that the words necessary to him would come into his head spontaneously. His heart beat fast and he was conscious that he blushed as he rang the bell of the cottage. Almost before he knew where he was, he found himself ushered into the little drawing-room and in the presence of the woman he now felt sure that he loved. But to his great annoyance she was not alone; Nellie was with her. Mrs. Goddard sat near the fire, reading a review; Nellie was curled up in a corner of the deep sofa with a book, her thick brown curls falling all over her face and hands as she read. Mrs. Goddard extended her hand, without rising. "How do you do, Mr. Short?" she said. The young man stood hat in hand in the middle of the room, feeling very nervous. It was strange that he should experience any embarrassment now, considering how many hours he had spent in her company during the last few days. He blushed and stammered. "How do you do? I, in fact--I have come to say good-bye," he blurted out. "So soon?" said Mrs. Goddard calmly. "Pray sit down." "Are you really going away, Mr. Short?" asked Nellie. "We are so sorry to lose you." The child had caught the phrase from a book she had been reading, and thought it very appropriate. Her mother smiled. "Yes--as Nellie says--we are sorry to lose you," she said. "I thought you were to stay until Monday?" "So I was--but--very urgent business--not exactly business of course, but work--calls me away sooner." Having delivered himself of this masterpiece of explanation John looked nervously at Nellie and then at his hat and then, with an imploring glance, at Mrs. Goddard. "But we shall hear of you, Mr. Short--after the examinations, shall we not?" "Oh yes," said John eagerly. "I will come down as soon as the lists are out." "You have my best wishes, you know," said Mrs. Goddard kindly. "I feel quite sure that you will really be senior classic." "Mamma is always saying that--it is quite true," explained Nellie. John blushed again and looked gratefully at Mrs. Goddard. He wished Nellie would go away, but there was not the least chance of that. "Yes," said Mrs. Goddard, "I often say it. We all take a great interest in your success here." "You are very kind," murmured John. "Of course I shall come down at once and tell you all about it, if I succeed. I do not really expect to be first, of course. I shall be satisfied if I get a place in the first ten. But I mean to do my best."