Such were the informal rules of conduct which Brooke Hamilton had carved for himself with the blade of experience.
“We have five of these at the college, Miss Susanna.” Ronny finally broke the spell which had fallen. “The first, third, fourth, seventh and ninth. ‘Remember the stranger within thy gates,’ is over the doorway of Hamilton Hall. The ninth one is in the library and the third, fourth and seventh are in the chapel.”
“I knew some of them were there. The first he had placed over the door of Hamilton Hall. The others were to be presented to the college as the students earned them.”
“Earned them?” queried Muriel impulsively. “I don’t understand——” She broke off, coloring at her own temerity. Her companions were also looking slightly mystified.
“His idea was this. He wished to reward any particularly noteworthy act on the part of a student, of which he chanced to hear, by an honor. The recipient was to receive a citation in chapel and one of his favorite maxims, decoratively framed, was to be hung in one of the campus buildings. A record of the citation was to be established in an honor book kept in a special niche in the chapel. This was one of his later ideas. He did not live to carry it out. I don’t know how they managed to get hold of four of his sayings. They have no right to them.”
Acridity again dominated Miss Susanna’s tones. She appeared to resent deeply the fact that the college authorities held any information whatsoever regarding her famous kinsman.
“Maybe a person who knew your great uncle remembered these four maxims of his and they were thus handed down,” suggested Lucy, always interested in a mystery.
“I wish we had them all; everyone of them!” Marjorie gave an audible sigh of regret. “I can’t help saying it, Miss Susanna. It is the way I feel about these true, wonderful sayings of Mr. Brooke Hamilton.”
“You may say it without offending me, my dear. I understand you and your affection for Hamilton College. He would have liked you to say it. He never held a grudge. I have held one many years. I shall continue to hold it.” Miss Susanna crested her stubborn head. “It is a supreme pleasure to me to know that I have thwarted the college board in some respects. I shall continue to thwart them.”