One stroke, two strokes, and finally five strokes were subtracted from the aspirant’s nine-hole score. Her master gave her his blessing and told her to go in and win. In the Varsity competition, she qualified with a highly respectable round, and in the play-off for the team, won her place. The team captain posted the choice for the yearly match against Kirk College on the athletic bulletin, one line of which read: No. 4--M. Ames. In special celebration of the event, the pupil accepted an invitation to dine at the Country Club that evening with the instructor. “Will you make an agreement?” she asked, as they faced each other across the little table, pleasantly remote in a far corner of the veranda. “Unsight-unseen?” he smiled. “All right. I’ll swap.” “That is quite too American for me. But you agree. Then let us not speak the word ‘golf’ all this evening. I am tired of it.” “Stale,” commented the expert. “You must lay off for a week. Well, let’s forget it. What shall we talk about?” “What are you doing here in Fenchester?” He smiled at the directness of the question. “Plain and fancy reporting.” “You do not seem to belong here.” “What makes you think that?” She considered him meditatively. “I suppose it was your clothes, first. You dress differently from the others. More like the men I have known over there.” “Remnants of past glory,” he assured her lightly. “I have n’t always lived here, you know.” “Where then? Do you mind my asking?” “Not a bit. I’ve drifted about doing worthless things for several years. Philadelphia mainly, New York a little. Getting myself mis-educated. You see, I’m something of a failure.” “You should not say that even in fun. I do not like to hear it.” “It is n’t in fun. Ask my aged and highly respectable great-aunt, Miss Greer, in Philadelphia, and you’ll learn something to my disadvantage.” “I shall,” said the girl gravely, “if I ever go back there. Did you live with her?” “For a time. After my college course she sent me on a year’s tour and then made me take one of those ornamental post-graduate courses that lead into the lily-fingered occupations that are neither professions nor business. She had a fond hope that I’d take to diplomacy.” “No!” said the girl with unflattering surprise. “I know many diplomats. I do not think you would be successful there.”