Tommy went at it. His mind, still occupied with the magical virtues of seven, and, therefore, with trying to discover what connection existed between his own advancement and life-work and Mr. Thompson's amazing instructions, did not work quite as smoothly as he wished. He was filled with the fear of omitting numbers. He did not know that Mr. Thompson was watching him intently, a look of irrepressible sympathy in his steady brown eyes. And then Tommy suddenly realized that obedience was what was wanted. From that moment on his mind was exclusively on his work. At length he finished and looked up. “How many?” asked Mr. Thompson. Tommy counted. Mr. Thompson timed him. “Two hundred and eighty-seven,” said Tommy, presently. “Thank you; that's all,” said Mr. Thompson, impassively. Tommy felt an overwhelming desire to ask the inevitable question, but he also felt in honor bound not to ask anything. This made him rise and leave the room without the slightest delay. Mr. Thompson smiled--after Tommy passed out of the door. Just a week later Mr. Thompson stopped abruptly beside Tommy, who sat at his desk, and said, without preamble: “Look round this room!” Tommy did so. “Again--all round the room!” said Thompson. Tommy obeyed unsmilingly. “Once more, slowly. Look at everything and everybody!” Tommy did so. This time he included both ceiling and floor, and in the end his glance rested on Mr. Thompson's face. “Come with me,” said Mr. Thompson. Tommy followed the president into the private office. “Sit down, Leigh, and tell me what you saw. Name every object, everything you remember--numbers and colors and sizes.” Tommy understood now what was expected of him and regretted that he had not made a stronger effort at memorizing. He decided to visualize the office and its contents. He closed his eyes and began at one corner of the office, methodically working his way clear round. Mr. Thompson had a comptometer in his hand and registered as Tommy spoke. “That's all I can remember.” “Ninety-six--less than a third. Color seems to be your weak point. Study colors hereafter, but don't neglect form and size or numbers. Now tell me how the people looked; how they impressed you. Frankly.” Tommy told him frankly how the clerks looked to him. “Come back here this afternoon at two-thirty-two sharp,” said Thompson. And Tommy, after one look at the plump face and steady eyes, went away, disappointed but honestly endeavoring to convince himself that Mr. Thompson was not really and truly unfair. At two-thirty-two sharp--Tommy had taken the precaution not only to go by the infallible electric dock over the cashier's desk, but had predetermined exactly how many seconds to allow for the twenty-eight-yard trip from his desk to Mr. Thompson's--Tommy reported to Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson looked at the clock, then at Tommy. “Leigh,” he said, with an impatient frown, “sell me a car!”