gently by that special providence that seems to look after the affairs
of fat people. His teeth were white and even, his eyes of the deepest
blue, and his nose--what there was of it--was almost hidden by cheeks
that were as red and shiny as the apples he always carried in his
pocket. He was very generous with those same apples--was
"Stuffy"--though one was tempted to think that he shared his fruit not
so much from choice but rather because he disliked the hard work that
was sure to follow a refusal of the pressing invitation to "go
halvers." The woman fancied that she could see again the look of
mingled fun and fear, generosity and greed, that went over her
schoolmate's face as he saw the half of his eatable possessions pass
into the keeping of his companions. And then, as he watched the
tempting morsels disappear, the expression on his face would seem to
show a battle royal between his stomach and his heart, in that he
rejoiced to see the happiness of his friends, even while he coveted
that which gave them pleasure. She wondered where was "Stuffy" now?
She felt sure that he must live in a big house, and drive to and from
his place of business in a fine carriage, with fine horses and a
coachman in livery, and dine and wine his friends as often as he chose
with never a fear that he would run short of good things for himself.
She was quite sure, too, that he would suffer with severe attacks of
gout at times and would have four or five half grown daughters and a
wife of great ambition. Does he, she wondered, does he ever--in the
whirl and rush of business or in the excitement and pleasure of his
social life--does he ever go back to those other days? Does the grown
up "Stuffy" remember how once he traded marbles for candy or bought
sweet cakes with toys?

And then, there was the boy with the freckled face and tangled hair,
whose nose seemed always trying to peep into his own mischief lighted