I was looking vacantly at the departing train when I heard a familiar voice close behind me: "How did you know that I was coming out today?" and turning I saw a classmate of mine, George Curtis, to whom I had extended a standing invitation to visit me in my summer retirement. I was glad to see him, though he came rather unexpectedly.

George was a very fine fellow, but just the reverse of Jack. He was one of your real good, conscientious young men, rather diffident, and particularly sensitive over a habit of stuttering, which whenever he was at all embarrassed be came very noticeable.

We jumped into the carriage and drove towards the expectant company of ladies. I had said nothing about them, and so when he alighted at the piazza and beheld that extended array of femininity, his soul sank within him and the gift of articulate speech was gone.

I saw the smile of expectation that illumined their faces, and consequently in order to undeceive them I placed particular emphasis on his name as I introduced him, but it was evident that in their impatience for the entertainment to begin they had not heeded the name.

"We're very glad you've come. We've heard cousin Will speak of you so often, we feel quite well acquainted with you," ventured Anna, the usual spokeswoman for the nine.

"I-I-I-I-I," gasped poor George, while his eyes grew bloodshot, and his hands writhed in and out of his coat-pockets. This developed the smile into a merry rippling laugh. This helped the matter but little, but George made a second attempt.

"I beg-beg-beg - ex-ex-ex - I g-g-guess - Here there was a universal burst of merriment.

George was aroused, and with his indignation came a partial return of coherence.

"I am greatly off-off-fended. I am much in-in-in-in - " but he had to give this up, and as the greatness of his affliction came home to him, unspeakable distress overspread his face and he exclaimed, "I wish-sh-sh I were d-d-dead!"

This was greeted by a perfect shriek of laughter. The girls rolled from side to side and clung to their chairs. "Just see that expression!" cried Lu. "Oh, this is too utterly overpowering! You did n't half prepare us, Will. Oh dear me!" and she held her sides together and gasped.

With tears springing to his eyes George fled from the house. I started after him but could not overtake him. I returned and stood for a moment looking at those hysterical girls, and then for about half an hour I practised for the Boylston prize. I talked about idiots, and dolts, and imbeciles, and called people daft and beetle-headed, and expressed my gratitude that I had not been created either a woman or a wooden goat, and - well, George dropped his handkerchief in his haste to see the outside of the gate, but he never came back after it.