“Well, you can guess my motive,” he whispered, looking tenderly at her. “Such stuff and nonsense! I never heard of such a thing in my life,” said Jane, and ran away, plainly understanding that he had disguised himself in order to obtain admission to the college and enjoy the happiness of looking at her. “Cursed fool that I am!” he said to himself; “I cannot act like a rational creature for five consecutive minutes.” The servant led him to the study and announced, “The man, if you please, ma’am.” “Jeff Smilash,” he added in explanation. “Come in,” said Miss Wilson sternly. He went in, and met the determined frown which she cast on him from her seat behind the writing table, by saying courteously: “Good-morning, Miss Wilson.” She bent forward involuntarily, as if to receive a gentleman. Then she checked herself and looked implacable. “I have to apologize,” he said, “for making use of your name unwarrantably this morning--telling a lie, in fact. I happened to be skating when the young ladies came down, and as they needed some assistance which they would hardly have accepted from a common man--excuse my borrowing that tiresome expression from our acquaintance Smilash--I set their minds at ease by saying that you had sent for me. Otherwise, as you have given me a bad character--though not worse than I deserve--they would probably have refused to employ me, or at least I should have been compelled to accept payment, which I, of course, do not need.” Miss Wilson affected surprise. “I do not understand you,” she said. “Not altogether,” he said smiling. “But you understand that I am what is called a gentleman.” “No. The gentlemen with whom I am conversant do not dress as you dress, nor speak as you speak, nor act as you act.” He looked at her, and her countenance confirmed the hostility of her tone. He instantly relapsed into an aggravated phase of Smilash. “I will no longer attempt to set myself up as a gentleman,” he said. “I am a common man, and your ladyship’s hi recognizes me as such and is not to be deceived. But don’t go for to say that I am not candid when I am as candid as ever you will let me be. What fault, if any, do you find with my putting the skates on the young ladies, and carryin’ the campstool for them?” “If you are a gentleman,” said Miss Wilson, reddening, “your conduct in persisting in these antics in my presence is insulting to me. Extremely so.” “Miss Wilson,” he replied, unruffled, “if you insist on Smilash, you shall have Smilash; I take an insane pleasure in personating him. If you want Sidney--my real Christian name--you can command him. But allow me to say that you must have either one or the other. If you become frank with me, I will understand that you are addressing Sidney. If distant and severe, Smilash.” “No matter what your name may be,” said Miss Wilson, much annoyed, “I forbid you to come here or to hold any communication whatever with the young ladies in my charge.” “Why?” “Because I choose.”