What thousands of men of the world there are to-day who remember with something like a shudder still the inquisition of Prof .-- --, whose works on Greek are text-books in many a college; or the ferocity of Prof .-- --, to whom calculus was grander than Homer! But the woes of freshmen are passing things.
What Grant Harlson did in college need not be told at any length.

He but plucked the fruit within his reach, not over-wisely in some instances, yet with some industry.

He had, at least, the intelligence to feel that it is better to know all of some things than a little of all things, and so surpassed, in such branches as were his by gift and inclination, and but barely passed in those which went against the mental grain.
It may be the professor of English literature had something to do with this.

Between Grant and him there grew up a friendship somewhat unusual under all the circumstances.

One day the professor was overtaken by the student upon a by-way of the campus, and asked some questions regarding certain changed hours of certain recitations, and, having answered, detained the questioner carelessly in general conversation.