"I'm so glad Corny is in your house," said Miss Potterman with a smile in the irresistible eyes. "You will watch over him, won't you, Mr. Bedelle?"
"You see he's my only brother and we didn't want him to go to boarding school--not just yet. That is, mother and I. Dad insisted on it. I don't think he's always, well--quite appreciated Cornelius."
"I understand," said Skippy, averting his look. Even in the intoxication of her presence he could appreciate Dad.
"You see, Corny's different from other boys, Mr. Bedelle. He's more like a grown-up person. He has a wonderful mind and such an unusual personality. I don't want him to lose it all and be just like every other boy. And some boys, I'm afraid, won't understand him just at first. You will look after him, protect him, won't you?"
"I'd promise _you_ anything," said Skippy recklessly, which is the privilege of sixteen in the presence of twenty-five.
Miss Potterman smiled without surprise and laid her hand gently a moment on his arm in the deadliest of feminine gestures.
"Corny's told me how kind you have been already."
"Indeed he has. Really he's quite fond of you already."
"I say, Sis," said Nuisance at this moment, "hasn't Skippy got a whang-dinger of a room?"
And he approached with the layer cake and the éclairs.
"What a wonderful spread," said Miss Potterman, "but really you have been too extravagant!"
Something in Skippy's sudden look decided Hippo to keep the secret, but he revenged himself on the cake in a way that made his sister exclaim:
"'S all right. I'll buy another," said Hippo, who then winked brazenly at Skippy.
"I'll murder him, I will," said Skippy wrathfully to himself. "I'd strip the hide off him, if it--if it weren't for--" Then he raised his eyes and beheld the reason why, smiling at him with perfect faith.
"I'm afraid we've spoiled Corny just a little," she said hesitating.
"Is--is there much of that dreadful hazing?"
"Well, sometimes," said Skippy, who always placed the proper value on his services.
"Oh dear, I've heard such dreadful things have happened," said Miss Potterman, thoroughly alarmed.
"Don't worry, Miss Potterman," said Skippy with the manner of a Grand Duke. "Fellows do get rough sometimes, but I'll look after him."
