“Save your breath.” Leslie rose to her feet, her eyes on the jeweled watch encircling her wrist. “I’m going to hit the down. I must be up in time for the six forty-five train in the morning. Thank goodness I won’t have to trail Gaylord along this time.” Mrs. Alice Gaylord, Leslie’s hired chaperon, had been graciously given permission to visit a sister while Leslie visited Natalie. Leslie had determined that she would make the trip to Hamilton alone, defying convention. “When are you coming back, Les?” At the last Natalie gave in half amiably to what she could not change. “Ask me something easier. It depends upon how long Bean lingers on the campus. I’m only going up there now to plan my campaign. I may not pull down my corn cribs till fall. As for landing in a snarl—not friend Leslie.” She strolled to the door of Natalie’s boudoir, where the two had been lounging. Hand on the door, she paused. “Bean is in line for trouble.” Her heavy brows drew together ominously. “I told you I was a business shark. I intend she shall know it, too.” CHAPTER XIII.—AN UNGRACIOUS BEAUTY True to their word the five Travelers left Hamilton Arms at a quarter to nine o’clock in order to spend a little time with Miss Remson before retiring. On the way to Wayland Hall the letter written by the master of the Arms in the heyday of his youth to the Marquis de Lafayette, his mature counsellor and friend, formed the chief topic of conversation. “One might call that letter the cornerstone of Hamilton,” Leila said thoughtfully. “Yes,” chimed in Vera. “Lafayette seems to have been the favored confidant of Mr. Brooke’s magnificent idea. At that time many of the country’s ablest men did not believe in the higher education for women. He was unique for those days.” “It was because he loved his mother so dearly that he could understand what a college would mean in the training of girls,” was Robin’s sober conjecture. “I hope he copied the letter and sent it.” “Oh, I am sure he sent it,” Marjorie sprang into ready defense of her idol. “I imagine he always tried to finish whatever he set out to accomplish. Otherwise he could never have become the founder of Hamilton College. “It seems strange to hear read a letter from one great man of long ago to another. Lafayette seems longer ago in time than he really was. My uncle has a letter which was written by George Washington. It describes a horse Washington offered a certain man for sale. The horse’s name was Magnolia. My uncle bought the letter from a dealer in rare books and letters. I’ll write him and ask him to send me a typed copy of it,” Robin volunteered.