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world of necessity； cold and grey and slushy； and necessity alone made me
rise from my bed。 My experience of the night before might have taught me
that happiness lies in the trick of transforming necessity； but it did
not。 The vision had faded；temporarily； at least； and such was the
distraction of the succeeding days that the subject of the theme passed
from my mind。。。。
One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home。 I was writing a
letter when he came in； and did not notice him； yet I was vaguely aware
of his standing over me。 When at last I looked up I gathered from his
expression that something serious had happened； so mournful was his face；
and yet so utterly ludicrous。
〃Say； Hugh； I'm in the deuce of a mess；〃 he announced。
〃What's the matter？〃 I inquired。
He sank down on the table with a groan。
〃It's Alonzo；〃 he said。
Then I remembered the theme。
〃Whatwhat's he done？〃 I demanded。
〃He says I must become a writer。 Think of it； me a writer！ He says I'm
a young Shakespeare； that I've been lazy and hid my light under a bushel！
He says he knows now what I can do； and if I don't keep up the quality；
he'll know the reason why； and write a personal letter to my father。 Oh；
hell！〃
In spite of his evident anguish； I was seized with a convulsive laughter。
Tom stood staring at me moodily。
〃You think it's funny；don't you？ I guess it is； but what's going to
become of me？ That's what I want to know。 I've been in trouble before；
but never in any like this。 And who got me into it？ You！〃
Here was gratitude！
〃You've got to go on writing 'em； now。〃 His voice became desperately
pleading。 〃Say； Hugh； old man； you can temper 'em downtemper 'em down
gradually。 And by the end of the year； let's say； they'll be about
normal again。〃
He seemed actually shivering。
〃The end of the year！〃 I cried； the predicament striking me for the first
time in its fulness。 〃Say； you've got a crust！〃
〃You'll do it； if I have to hold a gun over you；〃 he announced grimly。
Mingled with my anxiety； which was real； was an exultation that would not
down。 Nevertheless； the idea of developing Tom into a Shakespeare；Tom；
who had not the slightest desire to be one I was appalling； besides
having in it an element of useless self…sacrifice from which I recoiled。
On the other hand； if Alonzo should discover that I had written his
theme； there were penalties I did not care to dwell upon 。。。。 With such
a cloud hanging over me I passed a restless night。
As luck would have it the very next evening in the level light under the
elms of the Square I beheld sauntering towards me a dapper figure which I
recognized as that of Mr。 Cheyne himself。 As I saluted him he gave me an
amused and most disconcerting glance； and when I was congratulating
myself that he had passed me he stopped。
〃Fine weather for March； Paret；〃 he observed。
〃Yes； sir；〃 I agreed in a strange voice。
〃By the way；〃 he remarked； contemplating the bare branches above our
heads； 〃that was an excellent theme your roommate handed in。 I had no
idea that he possessed suchsuch genius。 Did you； by any chance； happen
to read it？〃
〃Yes； sir；I read it。〃
〃Weren't you surprised？〃 inquired Mr。 Cheyne。
〃Well； yes； sirthat isI mean to say he talks just like that；
sometimesthat is； when it's anything he cares about。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Mr。 Cheyne。 〃That's interesting； most interesting。 In
all my experience； I do not remember a case in which a gift has been
developed so rapidly。 I don't want to give the impressionah that there
is no room for improvement； but the thing was very well done； for an
undergraduate。 I must confess I never should have suspected it in
Peters； and it's most interesting what you say about his cleverness in
conversation。〃 He twirled the head of his stick； apparently lost in
reflection。 〃I may be wrong；〃 he went on presently； 〃I have an idea it
is you〃 I must literally have jumped away from him。 He paused a
moment； without apparently noticing my panic； 〃that it is you who have
influenced Peters。〃
〃Sir？〃
〃I am wrong； then。 Or is this merely commendable modesty on your part？〃
〃Oh； no； sir。〃
〃Then my hypothesis falls to the ground。 I had greatly hoped；〃 he added
meaningly； 〃that you might be able to throw some light on this mystery。
I was dumb。
〃Paret；〃 he asked； 〃have you time to come over to my rooms for a few
minutes this evening？〃
〃Certainly； sir。〃
He gave me his number in Brattle Street。。。。
Like one running in a nightmare and making no progress I made my way
home； only to learn from Hallam；who lived on the same floor；that Tom
had inconsiderately gone to Boston for the evening； with four other weary
spirits in search of relaxation！ Avoiding our club table； I took what
little nourishment I could at a modest restaurant； and restlessly paced
the moonlit streets until eight o'clock； when I found myself in front of
one of those low…gabled colonial houses which； on less soul…shaking
occasions； had exercised a great charm on my imagination。 My hand hung
for an instant over the bell。。。。 I must have rung it violently； for
there appeared almost immediately an old lady in a lace cap； who greeted
me with gentle courtesy； and knocked at a little door with glistening
panels。 The latch was lifted by Mr。 Cheyne himself。
〃Come in； Paret；〃 he said； in a tone that was unexpectedly hospitable。
I have rarely seen a more inviting room。 A wood fire burned brightly on
the brass andirons； flinging its glare on the big； white beam that
crossed the ceiling； and reddening the square panes of the windows in
their panelled recesses。 Between these were rows of books；attractive
books in chased bindings； red and blue； books that appealed to be taken
down and read。 There was a table covered with reviews and magazines in
neat piles； and a lamp so shaded as to throw its light only on the white
blotter of the pad。 Two easy chairs； covered with flowered chintz； were
ranged before the fire； in one of which I sank； much bewildered； upon
being urged to do so。
I utterly failed to recognize 〃Alonzo〃 in this new atmosphere。 And he
had； moreover； dropped the subtly sarcastic manner I was wont to
associate with him。
〃Jolly old house； isn't it？〃 he observed； as though I had casually
dropped in on him for a chat； and he stood； with his hands behind him
stretched to the blaze； looking down at me。 〃It was built by a certain
Colonel Draper； who fought at Louisburg； and afterwards fled to England
at the time of the Revolution。 He couldn't stand the patriots； I'm not
so sure that I blame him； either。 Are you interested in colonial things；
Mr。 Paret？〃
I said I was。 If the question had concerned Aztec relics my answer would
undoubtedly have been the same。 And I watched him； dazedly； while he
took down a silver porringer from the shallow mantel shelf。
〃It's not a Revere；〃 he said； in a slightly apologetic tone as though to
forestall a comment； 〃but it's rather good； I think。 I picked it up at a
sale in Dorchester。 But I have never been able to identify the coat of
arms。〃
He showed me a ladle； with the names of 〃Patience and William Simp