“Come, boys,” said the Professor, “this ridiculous quarrel, worthy only of a couple of little children, has gone quite far enough. Ned, I think you are petulant and absurd; but if you will go out for a few minutes, and take a short walk, Tom will unbosom himself to me, I am sure.” “Well, I call that cheek, to turn a man out of his own room,” said Ned. “Correct that sentence, please, Ned,” said the Professor. “You would call it cheek if it were not done by a member of the Faculty. There, be off with you. And now, Tom, tell your story.” “I haven’t any,” said Tom; “only Ned is in one of his moods.” “Then you are not in love,” said the Professor. “Why, no!” said Tom, “how could I be?” “I don’t know,” replied the Professor; “but people are sometimes. And have you a secret connected with that fat, red-faced brute, Blodgett, whom you call the Blush Rose?” “Well, yes,” said Tom: “it’s about a photograph.” “Let us see this photograph,” said the Professor. “Explain!” “Why, it’s a surprise for Ned, don’t you see?” said Tom. “It’s the proof picture of me in the last theatricals. See, there I am as Marton, the Pride of the Market.” “What a mistake nature made about your sex, Tom!” said the Professor. “You dear little peasant girl, put yourself away directly; and now take my advice: show it to Ned; it will make him ashamed of his folly, and will prevent any further angry words between you. It is hard to quarrel, and so you will think some day, though now you find it so easy. There, put it away; for I hear Ned’s footsteps on the stairs! Come in, Ned! Why! what has happened?” For Ned, standing in the open door-way, his perverse moodiness all gone, wore an expression the Professor had never seen before. “Happened!” said Ned. “Something to live for, something to die for. We know now that we have a country. Haven’t you heard the news?” “Dear me!” said the Professor, “that’s what I came to tell you; but your quarrel drove it out of my head.” “How could anything else come into your head?” said Ned. “Tell me what it is,” asked Tom, impatiently. “The President has called the people to arms, to aid him in saving the country,” said Ned, fairly glowing as he spoke. “Yes,” said the Professor, “is it not grand to think that we are aroused at last?” “Well,” said Ned, “I have still more to tell you. I have enlisted.” There was a pause of a few moments; then the Professor grasped Ned’s hand, and said simply:―― “My noble boy!” “What do you say, Tom?” asked Ned. “I’m going with you, old fellow,” said Tom; and he threw his arm over Ned’s shoulder, and smiled at the Professor. IV. NED’S NOTE-BOOK.