CHAPTER VIII.

NEW FORCES AT WORK.

"You will be kind enough, sir, to write upon the blackboard two
couplets:

"'What do you _think_
I'll shave you for nothing and _give you a drink_.'

"And

"'_What_ do you think
I'll shave you for _nothing_ and give you a drink.'

"You will observe that, while the wording is the same, the inflection
is different. Please punctuate them properly, and express the idea I
intend to convey."

This from a professor, keen-eyed and unassuming in demeanor, to a big,
long-limbed young fellow, facing, with misgivings despite himself, a
portion of the test of whether or not he were qualified for admission
as a freshman into one of our great modern universities. He had not
been under much apprehension until the moment for the beginning of the
trial. There was now to be met the first issue in the new field. He
plunged into his task.

Then the professor:

"Well, yes, you have caught my idea. How write upon the board: 'This