"I--I didn't know, I never thought about it before," he stammered. He had learned something. He had heard her speak the word "love" with feeling, and by it he knew the destiny that he had hoped for, and was humbled. They had reached Mrs. Tweedie's gate and stopped. "Barbara," said Will, "you don't mind if I walk home with you from the school sometimes, do you?" "No," she replied, after a pause. "I am glad to have you--sometimes." "And the other times, Barbara?" he asked, and then quickly added, "Pardon me, I have no right to ask; but I may come if not too often?" "Yes," replied Barbara, and then went quickly up the walk to the door. "Good night," Will called after her, and then slowly walked toward home filled with thoughts of higher ideals, of Barbara, and his new love--for her. What were her thoughts of him? he wondered. Did she ever think of him at all? He knew something of what others were thinking and saying, but Barbara-- He knew that many believed that while away from home he had led a dissolute life, and that he had been expelled from college because of some dishonourable act. Barbara surely had heard these stories about him--they were all lies--but how was she to know? Until then he had not cared what people said, but now-- Was he worthy even to try to win her? Thus far in his life he had accomplished nothing. What had he to offer her--not in money or position--but as a man? Chapter VII Classics and Women THE committee on plays was in session at the home of Mrs. Doctor Jones. During the first fifteen minutes of the meeting its members had annihilated the works of the poets and dramatists up to the reign of Queen Elizabeth. "We really ought to give something from Shakespeare," Mrs. Tweedie was saying. "What do folks in Manville know about him?" asked Mrs. Stout. "I say we ought to give somethin' they can understand." "My dear Mrs. Stout," replied Mrs. Tweedie, "that is just the reason why we ought to give something from his works. The people of Manville ought to know something of one of the world's greatest poets. If they do not, it is clearly the duty of the Morning Glory Club to assist in their enlightenment." "Well, perhaps we can get 'em to come once," retorted Mrs. Stout, "but you can be sure they won't get caught a second time. I think that Shakespeare's too high-toned for folks 'round here, but go ahead if you want to, I've had my say." Mrs. Stout always had her say, and some of the ladies, particularly Mrs. Tweedie, wished that she did not have it quite so often. "Of course," said Miss Sawyer, "we could not dream of attempting the production of the whole of one of Shakespeare's plays, but there are many beautiful scenes that we could undertake and be reasonably sure of success." "That's a good idea; why not give several scenes instead of one play?" suggested Mrs. Jones. "Good!" exclaimed Fanny Tweedie. "Then we could all have star parts."