"Ah. Let me see." The professor opened a drawer and drew forth a little notebook which he consulted for a brief time. "Yes, you are correct. Your work is below the required standard."
"But what am I to do about it?" demanded Will.
"Yes, ah, yes. I fancy it will be necessary for you to spend a somewhat longer period of study in preparation."
"But how shall I study?"
"Yes. Yes. Ah, yes. Exactly so. So you refer to the method to be employed in the preparation for the classroom?"
"Yes, sir. That's it. I'm willing enough to work, but I don't know how."
"Well, I should say that the proper method would be to employ a tutor for a time. There are several very excellent young gentlemen who are accustomed to give their services to deserving youth—"
"I don't want them to give it. I'll pay for it!" interrupted Will.
"I was about to say that these young gentlemen give their services for a consideration—a proper consideration—of course."
The professor's thin lips seemed to be reluctant to permit the escape of a word, so firmly were they pressed together during the intervals between his slowly spoken words. His slight figure, "too thin to cast a shadow," in the vigorous terms of the young freshman, was irritating in the extreme, and if Will had followed his own inclinations he would at once have ended the interview.