"Is that right?" said Stover, turning to Le Baron. "Now, look here, Dink, there's no use in getting hot about this," said Le Baron uneasily. "No one's forcing anything on you. We are here as your friends, telling you what we believe is for your own good." "So you think if I go on identifying myself with the crowd I'm with that I may 'queer' myself?" "That's rather strong." "Why not have it out?" "This is true," said Le Baron, "that the men in your own crowd don't understand your cutting loose from them, and that no one can make out why you've taken up with the crowd you have." The explanation which might have cleared matters was forgotten by Stover in the wound to his vanity. "You haven't answered my question." "Well, Dink, to be honest," said Le Baron, "if you keep on deliberately, there is more than a chance of--" "Of queering myself?" "Yes." "Being regarded as a sort of wild man, and missing out on a senior election." "That's what we want to prevent," said Le Baron, believing he saw a reasonable excuse. "You've got everything in your hands, Stover, don't waste your time--" "One moment." Stover, putting out his hand, interrupted him. He locked his hands behind his back, twisting them in physical pain, staring out the window, unable to meet the suddenness of the situation. "You've been quite frank," he said, when he was able to speak. "You have not come to me to dictate who should be my friends here, though that's perhaps a quibble, but as members of my sophomore society you have come to advise me against what might queer me. I understand. Well, gentlemen, you absolutely amaze me. I didn't believe it possible. I'll think it over." He looked at them with a quick nod, intimating that there was nothing more to be discussed. Reynolds, saying something under his breath, sprang up. Le Baron, feeling that the interview had been a blunder from the first, said suddenly: "Benny, see here; let me have a moment's talk with Dink." "Quite useless, Hugh," said Stover, in the same controlled voice. "There's nothing more to be said. You have your point of view, I have mine. I understand. There's no pressure being put on me, only, if I am to go on choosing my friends as I have--I do it at my own risk. I've listened to you. I don't know what I shall answer. That's all. Good night." Reynolds went out directly, Le Baron slowly, with much hesitation, seeking some opportunity to remain, with a last uneasy glance. When Stover was left to himself, his first sensation was of absolute amazement. He, the big man of the class, confident in the security of his position, had suddenly tripped against an obstruction, and been made to feel his limitations. "By Heavens! If any one would have told me, I wouldn't have believed it--the fools!" The full realization of the pressure that had been exerted on him did not yet come to him. He was annoyed, as some wild animal at the first touch of a rope that seems only to check him.