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o East to college； had tried to mitigate the rigors of Battle Field's primitive simplicity by herself fitting up his quarters。 And she made them the show…rooms of the college。
〃Now let's see what can be done for you；〃 said Pierson； with the superiority of a whole year's experience where Scarborough was a beginner。 〃I'll put you in the Sigma Alpha fraternity for one thing。 It's the best here。〃
〃I don't know anything about fraternities；〃 Scarborough said。 〃What are they for？〃
〃Oh； everybody that is anybody belongs to a fraternity。 There are about a dozen of them here； and among them they get all the men with any claim to recognition。 Just now； we lean rather toward taking in the fellows who've been well brought up。〃
〃Does everybody belong to a fraternity？〃
〃Lord； no！ Two…thirds don't belong。 The fellows outside are called ‘barbs'that is； barbarians； we on the inside are Greeks。 Though； I must say； very few of us are Athenians and most of us are the rankest Macedonians。 But the worst Greeks are better than the best barbs。 They're the rummest lot of scrubs you ever sawstupid drudges who live round in all sorts of holes and don't amount to anything。 The brush of the backwoods。〃
〃Oh； yesmmI see。〃 Scarborough was looking uncomfortable。
〃The Sigma Alphas'll take you in next Saturday；〃 said Pierson。 〃They do as I say； between ourselves。〃
〃I'm ever so much obliged； but〃 Scarborough was red and began to stammer。 〃You seeIit〃
〃What's the matter？ Expense？ Don't let that bother you。 The cost's nothing at all； and the membership is absolutely necessary to your position。〃
〃Yesa matter of expense。〃 Scarborough was in control of himself now。 〃But not precisely the kind of expense you mean。 NoI can't join I'd rather not explain。 I'm ever so much obliged； but really I can't。〃
〃As you please。〃 Pierson was offended。 〃But I warn you； you've got to belong to one or the other of these fraternities or you'll be cut off from everything。 And you oughtn't to miss the chance to join the best。〃
〃I see I've offended you。〃 Scarborough spoke regretfully。 〃Please don't think I'm not appreciating your kindness。 ButI've made a sort of agreement with myself never to join anything that isn't organized for a general purpose and that won't admit anybody who has that purpose； too。〃
Pierson thought on this for a moment。 〃Pardon me for saying so； but that's nonsense。 You can't afford to stand alone。 It'll make everything harder for youmany things impossible。 You've got to yield to the prejudices of people in these matters。 Why； even the barbs have no use for each other and look up to us。 When we have an election in the Literary Society I can control more barb votes than any one else in college。 And the reason iswell； you can imagine。〃 （Mr。 Pierson was only twenty years old when he made that speech。）
〃It doesn't disturb me to think of myself as alone。〃 The strong lines in Scarborough's face were in evidence。 〃But it would disturb me if I were propped up and weren't sure I could stand alone。 I'm afraid to lean on any one or anythingmy prop might give way。 And I don't want any friends or any associates who value me for any other reason than what I myself am。 I purpose never to ‘belong' to anything or anybody。〃
Pierson laughed。 〃Do as you please；〃 he said。 〃I'd like to myself if it wasn't such an awful lot of trouble！〃
〃Not in the end；〃 replied Scarborough。
〃Oh； bother the end。 To…day's good enough for me。〃
〃You'd better not let Miss Shrewsbury hear you say that；〃 said Scarborough； his eyes mocking。
Pierson grew serious at once。 〃Splendid girl； isn't she？〃 She happened to be the first he had known at all well who hadn't agreed with him in everything he said； hadn't shown the greatest anxiety to please him and hadn't practically thrown herself at his head。 His combination of riches； good looks； an easy…going disposition and cleverness had so agitated those who had interested him theretofore that they had overreached themselves。 Besides； his mother had been subtly watchful。
〃Indeed； yes；〃 assented Scarborough； heartily but not with enthusiasmhe always thought of Olivia as Pauline's cousin。
The four had arranged to go together to Indian Rock on the following Sunday。 When the day came Olivia was not well； Pierson went to a poker game at his fraternity house； Pauline and Scarborough walked alone。 As she went through the woods beside him she was thinking so intensely that she could not talk。 But he was not disturbed by her silencewas it not enough to be near her； alone with her； free to look at her； so graceful and beautiful； so tasteful in dress； in every outward way what he thought a woman ought to be？ Presently she roused herself and began a remark that was obviously mere politeness。
He interrupted her。 〃Don't mind me。 Go on with your thinkingunless it's something you can say。〃
She gave him a quizzical； baffling smile。 〃How it would startle you if I did！〃 she said。 〃ButI shan't。 And〃she frowned impatiently〃there's no use in thinking about it。 It's all in the future。〃
〃And one can't control the future。〃
〃Yes； indeedone can；〃 she protested。
〃I wish you'd tell me how。 Are you sure you don't mean you could so arrange matters that the future would control you？ Anybody can SURRENDER to the future and give it hostages。 But that's not controlling； is it？〃
〃Certainly it isif you give the hostages in exchange for what you want。〃 And she looked triumphant。
〃But how do you know what you'll want in the future？ The most I can say is that I know a few things I shan't want。〃
〃I shouldn't like to be of that disposition；〃 she said。
〃But I'm afraid you are； whether you like it or not。〃 Scarborough was half…serious； half in jest。
〃Are you the same person you were a month ago？〃
Pauline glanced away。 〃What do you mean？〃 she asked。
〃I mean in thoughtin feeling。〃
〃Yesand no；〃 she replied presently； when she had recovered from the shock of his chance knock at the very door of her secret。 〃My coming here has made a sort of revolution in me already。 I believe I've a moremore grown…up way of looking at things。 And I've been getting into the habit of thinkingandand actingfor myself。〃
〃That's a dangerous habit to formin a hurry；〃 said Scarborough。 〃One oughtn't to try to swim a wide river just after he's had his first lesson in swimming。〃
Pauline； for no apparent reason； flushed crimson and gave him a nervous lookit almost seemed a look of fright。
〃But；〃 he went on； 〃we were talking of the change in you。 If you've changed so much in； thirty days； or； say； in sixty…seven daysyou've been here that long； I believethink of your whole life。 The broader your mind and your life become； the less certain you'll be what sort of person to…morrow will find you。 It seems to meI know that； for myself； I'm determined to keep the future clear。 I'll never tie myself to the past。〃
〃But there are some things one MUST anchor fast to。〃 Pauline was looking as if Scarborough were trying to turn her adrift in an open boat on a lonely sea。 〃There arefriends。 You wouldn't desert your friends； would you？〃
〃I couldn't help it if they insisted on deserting me。 I'd keep them if their way was mine。 If it wasn'tthey'd give me up。〃
〃But if you wereweremarried？〃
Scarborough became intensely self…conscious。
〃WellI don't knowthat is〃 He paused； went on： 〃I shouldn't marry until I was sureher way and mine were the same。〃
〃The right sort of woman makes her husband's way hers；〃 said she。
〃Does she？ I don't know much about women。 But it has always seemed to me that the kind of woman I'd admire would be one who had her own ideals and ideas of lifeand thatifif she liked me； it would be because we suited each other。 You wouldn't want to belike those princesses that are brought up without any beliefs of any sort so that they can accept the beliefs of the kingdom of the man they happen to marry？〃
Pauline laughed。 〃I couldn't； even if I wished；〃 she said。
〃I should say not！〃 he echoed； as if the idea in connection with such an indelibly distinct young woman were preposterous。
〃But you have such a queer way of expressing yourself。 At first I thought you were talking of upsetting everything。〃
〃I？ Mercy； no。 I've no idea of upsetting anything。 I'm only hoping I can help straighten a few things that have been tumbled over or turned upside down。〃
Gradually； as they walked and talked； her own affairsDumont's and hersretreated to the background and she gave Scarborough her whole attention。 Even in those dayshe was then twenty…threehis personality usually dominated whomever he was with。 It was not his size or appearance of strength； it was not any compulsion of manner； it was not even what he said or the way he said it。 All of theseand his voice contributed； but the real secret of his power was that subtile magnetic something which we try to fixand failwhen we say 〃charm。〃
He attracted Pauline chiefly because he had a way of noting the little thingsmatters of dress； the flowers； colors in the sky or the landscape； the uncommon； especially the amusing； details of personalityand of connecting these trifles in unexpected ways with the lar