"Do you? Well, think again! I'm having a lovely time"--and went on
talking to Howard about the senior play that was to come off the
next week. It did not suit Clive in the least to be ignored, so he
started in to tell about other senior plays in other colleges where
he had been and quite made himself the centre of the stage, laughing
at his own jokes and addressing all his remarks to Leslie until
her cheeks grew hot with annoyance. She wanted so to hear what
Howard and Allison were talking about in low, grave tones. She
watched the strong, fine face of Howard Letchworth, and it suddenly
came over her that he seemed very far away from her, like a friend
who used to be, but had moved away. Something in her throat hurt, and
a sinking feeling came in her heart. Like a flash it came to her
that Howard Letchworth would be graduated in three more weeks, and
perhaps would go away then and they would see him no more. She
caught a word or two now and then as he talked to Allison that
indicated that he was seriously contemplating such a possibility. Yet
he had not said a word to her about it! And they had been such good
friends! A grieved look began to grow around her expressive little
cupid's bow of a mouth, and her big eyes grew sorrowful as she
watched the two. She was not listening to Clive, who drawled on
unaware of her inattention.
Suddenly Leslie became aware that Clive had risen and was standing
over her with something in his hand which he had taken from his vest,
something small and shining, and he was saying:
"Want to wear it, Les? Here, I'll put it on you, then everybody will
think we are engaged----!"
It was his fraternity pin he was holding out with smiling assurance
and the significance of his words came over her as a sentence read
without comprehension will suddenly recall itself and pierce into the
realization. With a stifled cry she sprang away from him.
"Mercy, no, Clive! I didn't know you were so silly. I never wear boys'
fraternity pins. I think such things are too sacred to be trifled
with!"
This was what she said, but she was miserably aware that Howard had
turned away and picked up his hat just as Clive had leaned over her
with the pin, and almost immediately he left. He had been so engrossed
with his talk with Allison that he had not seemed to see her
repulsion of Clive, and his manner toward her as he bade her
good-night was cool and distant. All the pleasant intimacy of all the
months together seemed suddenly wiped out, and Howard a grown-up
stranger. She felt herself a miserably unhappy little girl.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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