"Um, let's see. Your name's--what?"

"Carver, sir. Hugh Carver."

The adviser, Professor Kane, glanced at some 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.