Titters answered the sally, not because of any humor in it, but because poor old Mr. Pryde had worn the remark to death. Karen felt a surge of sympathy for him. Mr. Pryde glanced at his watch. “Page twenty-two. Keep in time to the music. Now. Dum dum de dum.” A Sousa march, hoarse and brassy, roared from the machine. Karen began to type rapidly.

When the exercise was finished she took a quick glance behind her and was surprised to find Skip’s place vacant. He didn’t come in until the first period was almost over. He crowded close to Karen as the class poured out into the hall for the break. “Hiya.”

She looked at him shyly, pink color coming into her face. “How are you?”

“Really want to know?” He made it sound as if he kept a dangerous secret, teasing her.

“Oh, tell me.” They were in the hall now, strolling away from the others. She noted a certain real excitement in Skip’s manner. “You must have had a good reason to miss the rhythm exercise.”

He caught her elbow and took her through the door, out upon the terrace which overlooked the grounds. Lights bloomed across the campus lawns; a sprinkler sent a shower of silver over the dark shrubbery. “I feel like cutting class—period. Never coming back.” With his fist he chucked up her chin, put his mouth on hers, pressed hard. Finally she drew away, gasping. “What do you mean?”

“Ah, I’m disgusted, I’m not getting anywhere.” He took out a cigarette and snapped flame to it from a match, all with an elaborate air of anger.

“Oh no, Skip! You mustn’t get discouraged!”

He leaned on the railing, smoking moodily. Karen stood close, as if her nearness might soothe him. “Is anything the matter? More than usual?”

“Does it have to be more than usual? Isn’t the regular grind enough?”

“You’re bored, Skip? Is that it?”

“Aren’t you, babe?”

“No. Mrs. Havermann wants me to learn something to make a living at. She thought nursing, but I couldn’t stand that. I was sick a couple of years ago, I had to have my appendix out, and I saw how those nurses worked and what they had to do. I know I’d never be a success at it. I’m not patient enough, kind enough. Why, a woman in our ward used to——” She broke off suddenly.

Skip was interested. “Used to what?”

“Oh, it wasn’t a nice thing, the thing she did.”

“Well, what was it?” When Karen remained abashedly silent he said, “For Chrissakes, what do you think I am? A baby? The woman wet the bed, I bet.”