Page:The plastic age, (IA plasticage00mark).pdf/229

This page needs to be proofread.
THE PLASTIC AGE
207

want to picture the trees the way they look now so fluffy with tiny new leaves, but I miss it a million miles. . . . But I can get it in music,” he added more brightly. “Grieg says it. Music is the most wonderful thing in the world. I wish I could be a ^reat violinist. I can’t, though. I’m not a genius, and I’m not strong enough. I can’t practise very long.”

They continued walking in silence for a few min¬ utes, and then Norry said: “I’m awfully happy fiere at college, and I did n’t expect to be, either. I knew that I was kinda different from other fellows, not so strong; and I don’t like ugly things or smutty stories or anything like that. I think women are lovely, and I hate to hear fellows tell dirty stories about them. I’m no fool, Hugh; I know about the things that happen, but I don’t want to hear about them. Things that are dirty and ugly make me feel sick.

“Well, I was afraid the fellows would razz me. But they don’t. They don’t at all. The fellows over at the Delta Sig house are wonderful to me. They don’t think I’m wet. They don’t razz me for not going on wild parties, though I know that some of the fellows are pretty gay themselves. They ask me to fiddle for them nearly every evening, and they sit and listen very, very quietly just as long as I ’ll play. I’m glad you told me to go Delta Sig.”