The exact nature of these plans the writer did not indicate, but Sharlee's mother, who always got down to breakfast first and read all the postals as they came, explained that the reference was evidently to Blaines College. West, however, did not sail on the 21st, even though that date was some days behind his original intentions. The itinerary with which he had set out had him home again, in fact, on August 15. For in the stress and hurry of making ready for the journey, together with a little preliminary rest which he felt his health required, he had to let his advertising campaign and other schemes for the good of the college go over until the fall. But collegiate methods obtaining in London were too fascinating, apparently, to be dismissed with any cursory glance. He sailed on the 25th, arrived home on the 3rd of September, and on the 4th surprised Sharlee by dropping in upon her in her office. He was browned from his passage, appeared a little stouter, was very well dressed and good to look at, and fairly exuded vitality and pleasant humor. Sharlee was delighted and quite excited over seeing him again, though it may be noted, as shedding a side-light upon her character, that she did not greet him with "Hello, Stranger!" However, her manner of salutation appeared perfectly satisfactory to West. They had the little office to themselves and plenty to talk about. "Doubtless you got my postals?" he asked. "Oh, stacks of them. I spent all one Saturday afternoon pasting them in an album as big as this table. They made a perfect fireside grand tour for me. What did you like best in all your trip?" "I think," said West, turning his handsome blue eyes full upon her, "that I like getting back." Sharlee laughed. "It's done you a world of good; that's plain, anyway. You look ready to remove mountains." "Why, I can eat them--bite their heads off! I feel like a fighting-cock who's been starved a shade too long for the good of the bystanders." He laughed and waved his arms about to signify enormous vitality. Sharlee asked if he had been able to make a start yet with his new work. "You might say," he replied, "that I dived head-first into it from the steamer."