He moved to the door like a sleep-walker and held it open for her as she hurried out. Then he went back to his desk and sat down in a sort of trance. The next instant the door was flung open again, footsteps hurried across the room and two arms slipped over his shoulders. "Do you remember what I said I was going to do some time to that old gentleman who bought the orchard?" said Molly's voice over his head. "I said I'd just give him a good hug." For one instant the arms held him tightly, a cheek was laid lightly on his thin reddish hair and then she was gone, flying down the corridor. "I suppose she regards me as an old gentleman," he said resignedly, laying his hand softly on the spot where her cheek had touched. As for Molly, she had a sudden thought that almost stopped her headlong course: "What _would_ Miss Alice Fern think if she knew!" [Illustration: Good-bye to Wellington and the old happy days.--_Page_ 303.] The girls were calling impatiently when Molly reached the arch, and in three minutes the crowded bus moved down the avenue. "Good-bye! Good-bye!" called many voices. "Good-bye! Good-bye!" echoed the few students who were going to take a later train. Good-bye to Wellington and the old happy days! Good-bye to the Quadrangle and the Cloisters! Good-bye to all the dear familiar haunts and faces. Every one of the girls felt the hour of parting keenly, but to two of Molly's friends at least there came an additional pang. They had known no happier home; no other place held for them such close associations. Nance, pale and silent, and Judy, feverish and excited, turned their eyes lingeringly toward the twin gray towers. But Molly, her face transfigured by some secret happy thought, looked southward down the avenue toward Kentucky and home! * * * * * The class prophecy which Judy had extemporized on the evening of her appearance as "History" may have had some promise of fulfillment, but it will be remembered that Otoyo's timely interruption saved her from guessing at the most puzzling future of all. It remains, therefore, for "Molly Brown's Post-Graduate Days" to reveal what Dame Fortune had in store for the girl of many possibilities, Molly Brown of Wellington and Kentucky. THE END. +------------------------------------------------+ |Transcriber's Note: | | | |The illustration with the caption "Molly Glanced| |Back. Sure Enough, the Phantom ... was Running | |Behind Them--_Page_ 198." was not available for | |inclusion in this ebook. | +------------------------------------------------+