"Of course I can explain my work," she said in natural tones. "What I
can't explain is how I happened to be so stupid as to make a mistake in
writing my own name. I must have been a little nervous. Please excuse
me."
She went to the board, swept off the signature with one stroke, then
rewrote it plainly. "My name is Comstock," she said distinctly. She
returned to her seat and following the formula used by the others made
her first high school recitation.
As Elnora resumed her seat Professor Henley looked at her steadily.
"It puzzles me," he said deliberately, "how you can write as beautiful a
demonstration, and explain it as clearly as ever has been done in any
of my classes and still be so disturbed as to make a mistake in your own
name. Are you very sure you did that yourself, Miss Comstock?"
"It is impossible that any one else should have done it," answered
Elnora.
"I am very glad you think so," said the professor. "Being Freshmen, all
of you are strangers to me. I should dislike to begin the year with you
feeling there was one among you small enough to do a trick like that.
The next proposition, please."
When the hour had gone the class filed back to the study room and Elnora
followed in desperation, because she did not know where else to go. She
could not study as she had no books, and when the class again left the
room to go to another professor for the next recitation, she went also.
At least they could put her out if she did not belong there.
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