I wore the kind of shoes I did. He said he had a battle to wage
with me because I tried to be a law to myself, and he wanted to
know why I wasn't like other girls. And I told him I had a crow
to pick with HIM because he had the kind of brain that would be
content to let a Jap beat him in his own school, in his own
language and in his own country; so we made an engagement to
fight to a finish, and it ended by his becoming the only boy
friend I have and the nicest boy friend a girl ever had, I am
very sure. That's why I'm here."

Linda lifted her eyes and Judge Whiting looked into them till he
saw the same gold lights in their depths that Peter Morrison had
seen. He came around the table and placed a big leather chair
for Linda. Then he went back and resumed his own.

"Of course," said the Judge in his most engaging manner. "I
gather from what Donald has told me that you have a reason for
being here, and I want you to understand that I am intensely
interested in anything you have to say to me. Now tell me why
you came."

"I came," said Linda, "because I started something and am afraid
of the possible result. I think very likely if, in retaliation
for what Donald said to me about my hair and my shoes, I had not
twitted him about the use he was making of his brain and done
everything in my power to drive him into competition with Oka
Sayye in the hope that a white man would graduate with the
highest honors, he would not have gone into this competition,
which I am now certain has antagonized Oka Sayye."