"Why—yes,—the English professor—at college,—don't you remember?" faltered the girl. "Don't—don't you want to know about John?"
"No, I don't!" said the man. "There's nothing important about 'John' that 'John' won't have a chance to show for himself—in this immediate situation."
"Isn't it—isn't it—Hell?" quivered the girl.
"N—o—o," said her father. "I shouldn't consider it just Hell. But I admit it's something of a poser for a man in John's position. He's one of the faculty of course?"
"Yes," said the girl.
"And was at the faculty meeting—presumably when——"
"Yes," said the girl.
"Was your engagement—announced?" asked her father quite abruptly. "Generally known, I mean, among the girls?"
"No—not—exactly," said the girl.
"U—m—m," said her father. From his wordless stare at the wall 33 he glanced down a bit sharply at the wan little face before him. "Heard from him yet?" he demanded.