Tobias looked at him fixedly.
"I don't suppose you'd be knowing Ralph Endicott? The Endicotts will occupy the house next to the Nicholets."
"The Endicotts of Amperly?"
"Them's the ones. Ralph is the one I mean. Feller 'bout your age, mebbe."
"If it is the Ralph Endicott I know," said Degger, the expression of his face changing, "he and I were at Harvard together."
"You don't say!" Tobias's eyes twinkled. The reason for the familiar sound of the boarder's name was suddenly explained. This was the "Conny Degger" Ralph had spoken of, for whose society Lorna had once shown a penchant. "I cal'late you know Ralph pretty well, then?" insinuated the lightkeeper.
"Oh, I was never chummy with Ralph Endicott," Degger observed. "He and I were scarcely in the same set." Which was strictly true. Nobody could doubt it. Then he verged on rather thin ice: "You see, Ralph's kind are high-flyers." He dropped his voice a notch and glanced around to make sure that Miss Heppy was not within hearing. "Fellows like Ralph Endicott don't go to college altogether to study."
"I give it as my opinion," admitted Tobias, placidly smoking, "that some of 'em go mostly to learn about the breeds o' bulldogs—both pipes and canine. And they study how to play cards, and to dress as fancy as a nigger minstrel. I've seen some of that kind. But Ralph——"
"No. He did not run to those foibles, I believe. But there was a girl—well, you know how it is with some fellows, Skipper. Every pretty face attracts them, and there are plenty of girls of light ideas in every college town. Cambridge is no exception."
"Oh, sugar!" ejaculated the lightkeeper. "I wouldn't think it of Ralph."