The Charm School
book, so that it was very easy to say, when he met her again, though not strictly true, that he had fallen in love with her at first sight at his senior dance. Anyhow, it was always said between them, and believed—by Susie at least. David, however, could have testified, if he had been disloyally inclined, which he wasn't, that many photographs had preceded the magnificent full length of Susie which now occupied the place of honor on Bevans's desk. He was so subject to enthusiasms that a fair share of them were bound to be feminine.
Mrs. Rolles suddenly decided to be drastic.
"Good-by, Mr. Bevans," she said. "And now that we are really parting, let me give you a bit of advice. Do learn to make an exit. So few young men can. Don't stand about first on one foot and then on the other long after you have made up your mind to go."
Bevans was not, of course, superior to the almost sacred terror that Mrs. Rolles inspired in young men, particularly when she talked like this, but it was immensely to the credit of his courage that after the wave of panic had passed he stood his ground. He smiled now very sweetly at her. "But you see," he said, "I haven't made up my mind to go—not until I see Susie."
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