“Are you chosen?” asked the university man eagerly.
“No, and I don’t think I shall be. Mr. Cunningham evidently regarded me as too old. He is himself a young man. I don’t think he is over twenty-three or twenty-four.”
The college man brightened up. This seemed favorable to his chances. As he argued, Cunningham would naturally prefer a person somewhere near his own age.
At a signal, from the servant he entered the presence of Walter Cunningham, his face flushing with nervous embarrassment.
Soon he, too, came out, and there was but one applicant left—Bernard—to greet him. He, too, had been of opinion that the college man would be accepted.
“Am I to congratulate you?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” answered the university man.
“Mr. Cunningham was very kind and friendly. He has reserved his decision, and tells me that if I am selected I will hear from him in two days.”
“Follow me, young man,” said the servant, signaling to Bernard.
Bernard found himself almost immediately in the presence of Walter Cunningham. The advertiser was a pleasant looking young man, whose appearance attracted Bernard. He looked rather surprised at Bernard’s youth.