I went to a very different college and"-- he hesitated--"a little bigger one." "I suppose there are bigger colleges," Sylvia remarked, with the slightest accent on the adjective.
The young man laughed.
"That's the right spirit! Madison needs no praise from me; it speaks for itself.

Is this the nearest way to the station ?" It had been on Sylvia's tongue to ask him the name of his college, but he had perhaps read this inquiry in her eyes, and as though suddenly roused by the remembrance of the secrecy that had been imposed upon him, he moved on.
"Yes, I understand," he called over his shoulder.

"Thank you, very much." He whistled softly to himself as he continued on his way, still glancing about alertly.
The manner of the old professor in receiving the letter and the calmness with which he had given his reply minimized the importance of the transaction in the mind of the messenger.

He was thinking of Sylvia and smiling still at her implication that while there were larger colleges than Madison there was none better.

He turned to look again at the college buildings closely clasped by their strip of woodland.