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THE PLASTIC AGE
19

notes. “Oh, yes, from Merrytown High School, fully accredited. Are you taking an A.B. or a B.S.?”

“I—I don’t know.”

“You have to have one year of college Latin for a B.S. and at least two years of Greek besides for an A.B.”

“Oh!” Hugh was frightened and confused. He knew that his father was an A.B., but he had heard the high-school principal say that Greek was useless nowadays. Suddenly he remembered: the principal had advised him to take a B.S.; he had said that it was more practical.

“I guess I’d better take a B.S.,” he said softly.

“Very well.” Professor Kane, who hadn’t yet looked at Hugh, picked up a schedule card. “Any middle name?” he asked abruptly.

“Yes, sir—Meredith.”

Kane scribbled H. M. Carver at the top of the card and then proceeded to fill it in rapidly. He hastily explained the symbols that he was using, but he did not say anything about the courses. When he had completed the schedule, he copied it on another card, handed one to Hugh, and stuck the other into a filing-box.

“Anything else?” he asked, turning his blond, blank face toward Hugh for the first time.

Hugh stood up. There were a dozen questions that he wanted to ask. “No, sir,” he replied.