"No. It is very easy—it would be for you," he said with a touch of unconscious gallantry of which he was ashamed the next moment, for the girl was looking away again. "Do you want to go to the university?"
"Yes, sir, I do."
"Why?"
"O, because—I want to know all I can."
"Why? What do you want to do?"
"You won't tell on me, will you?" She blushed red as a carnation now. Strange mixture of child and woman, thought Thatcher.
"Why, certainly not."
They stood over by the blackboard; the other girls were pointing and snickering, but she did not mind them.
"I guess I won't tell," she stammered; "you'd laugh at me like everybody else—I know you would."
He caught her arm and turned her face toward his; her eyes were full of tears.