CHAPTER X 

They were gone. Carl was full of the nauseating shame which a matter-of-fact man, who supposes that he is never pilloried, knows when a conscientious friend informs him that he has been observed, criticized; that his enthusiasms have been regarded as eccentricities; his affectionate approaches toward friendship as impertinence. 

There seemed to be hundreds of people in the room, nudging one another, waiting agape for him to do something idiotic; a well-advertised fool on parade. He stalked about, now shamefaced, now bursting out with a belligerent, "Aw, rats! I'll show 'em!" now plaintively beseeching, "I don't suppose I am helping Frazer, but it makes me so darn sore when nobody stands up for him--and he teaches stuff they need so much here. Gee! I'm coming to think this is a pretty rough-neck college. He's the first teacher I ever got anything out of--and----Oh, hang it! what 'd I have to get mixed up in all this for, when I was getting along so good? And if it isn't going to help him----" 

His right hand became conscious of Gertie's letter crumpled in his pocket. As turning the letter over and over gave him surprisingly small knowledge of its contents, he opened it: 

DEAR CARL,--You are just _silly_ to tease me about any bank clerk. I don't like him any more at all and he can go with Linda all he likes, much I care! 

We are enjoying good health, though it is getting quite cold now and we have the furnace running now and it feels pretty good to have it. We had _such_ a good time at Adelaide's party she wore such a pretty dress. She flirted terribly with Joe Jordan though of course you'll call me a cat for telling you because you like her so much better than me & all. 
So then what did he do?
he opened it