CHAPTER VII.
CLIFFORD ACQUITS HIMSELF WITH HONOR.
Clifford had been keenly stung by the manner in which Philip Wentworth had saluted him.
“Say—here! you window-washer!” rang continually in his ears, as he went about his work. He felt very sure that the young man knew his name as well as he knew his, for they had met every day in the class-room. However, whether he knew him or not, there was no excuse for his assuming the supercilious manner and tone that he had in addressing him. These feelings continued to rankle in his heart for some time, and then Clifford pulled himself up sharply.
“How foolish I am!” he thought. “The fact that I am poor, and have to wash windows to eke out my small resources will neither make nor mar my life. What I myself am and what use I make of my opportunities will alone count in the race between me and my classmates. At the same time, I am not going to put myself in a way to be browbeaten by any man living. I can find work enough to do for people who are civil, and I have no intention of being tyrannized over by cads.”
And he carried out his determination to the letter, always bearing himself in a gentlemanly manner, and so for the most part winning the respect of those with whom he came in contact.
The weeks sped by, and nothing of special interest occurred during the winter. Clifford moved on in the even tenor of his way, working with a will until spring came, summer opened, and with it the all-important examinations.
They were over at last, and, to his great joy, he passed with honors, and won the—scholarship.
He was a proud and happy fellow, and, on class-day, while he was dressing for the exercises, he brought forth the cameo ring which Mollie Heatherford had given him a little less than a year previous, and viewed it tenderly.
“I do not even know her name,” he murmured regretfully, “but to me she was, and still is, the loveliest girl that I have ever seen, and this beautiful ring will always be a precious talisman to me—something to incite me always to work for the best and highest results. I wonder if I might venture to wear it to-day as a reward for my year’s work?”
He slipped it upon the little finger of his left hand, and held it off to note the effect, a thoughtful look on his fine face.