coat-sleeve. "Don't mistake me, my dear Linyard. Don't fancy there
was the least unkindness in my allusion to your change of front.
What is growth but the shifting of the stand-point? Why should a man
be expected to look at life with the same eyes at twenty and at--our
age? It never occurred to me that you could feel the least delicacy
in admitting that you have come round a little--have fallen into
line, so to speak."

But the Professor had sprung up as if to give his lungs more room to
expand; and from them there issued a laugh which shook the editorial
rafters.

"Oh, Lord, oh Lord--is it really as good as that?" he gasped.

Harviss had glanced instinctively toward the electric bell on his
desk; it was evident that he was prepared for an emergency.

"My dear fellow--" he began in a soothing tone.

"Oh, let me have my laugh out, do," implored the Professor.
"I'll--I'll quiet down in a minute; you needn't ring for the young
man." He dropped into his chair again, and grasped its arms to
steady his shaking. "This is the best laugh I've had since college,"
he brought out between his paroxysms. And then, suddenly, he sat up
with a groan. "But if it's as good as that it's a failure!" he
exclaimed.

Harviss, stiffening a little, examined the tip of his cigar. "My
dear Linyard," he said at length, "I don't understand a word you're
saying."