Tibbitts dancing furiously with a lady in silken attire, and striving in vain to do the high, grotesque dancing of the Parisian. The music ceases and Tibbitts leads his partner to a table. In his excitement he does not at once notice that at the table exactly in front of him is seated the Professor, who, inasmuch as he was holding an interesting conversation with a lady who spoke English somewhat, did not notice Tibbitts till their eyes met. [Sidenote: TIBBITTS AND THE PROFESSOR.] Tibbitts is a young man of great presence of mind. He was equal to this emergency. The Professor regarded him a moment, and said:-- "Lemuel!" Lemuel stared at him and replied:-- "Are you addressing me, sir?" "Certainly I am." "You are mistaken in the person, sir. I do not know you. My name is not Lemuel, it is Smith. Smith, of Hartford, Connecticut. May I ask your name, and why you address me, a perfect stranger? Do I resemble any friend of yours? Am I like any grandson you have? If so, could you, for the sake of the resemblance, lend me a hundred francs?" "Lemuel, this is trifling. What are you doing here?" It suddenly occurred to Lemuel that he had the Professor in as close a corner as the Professor had him, and he replied:-- "Professor, what are _you_ doing here?" "Lemuel, I was fearful that you would break your promise to me, and I came here to be sure that _you_ were not here." "Professor, I was fearful that _you_ might accidentally stray hither after the meeting of the Social Science sharps was over, and I came here to see that no harm came to you." "Lemuel, we are, I perceive, both innocent of any harmful intention, but as our action might be misconstrued at home, it would be as well if no mention is made of this unfortunate matter." Lemuel coughed slightly and appeared wrapped in thought a moment. Finally he spoke:-- "I do not know but that I am permitting my good nature to get the better of my duty, but I will not make mention of your escapade. But I wish it distinctly understood that this must not be repeated, and that you go home at once. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. It is no place for you. You, a teacher, an instructor of youth, a man of sixty, one whose duty it is to form the morals of American youth, one to whose care is entrusted inexperienced youth, to be seen in such a place and in such a company. It is too much, and would not sound well in the West. For shame. As I said, it must not be repeated. Go. I now see why you were so willing that I should go to the Opera, and why you exacted of me a promise that I should not come here. You intended to come here by yourself, and did not want me to be a witness to your shame. But go! I forgive you! I forgive you." The Professor went, and as soon as he was safely away, Lemuel took the seat he had vacated, and was presently engaged in a very pleasant conversation with the lady who spoke English somewhat.