MORNING SERIAL

“I’LL drop in some night, Frank. Honest I will. I’m sorry to let you and Mrs. Jones down after promising to call.”

Frank grinned. “Cheer up, Ieuan. You sound as if you’ve got the weight of the whole world on your shoulders. Look up — look at the sun shining. It’s a grand day, a beautiful day.” He spread out his arms and breathed deeply. “Just the day for a lazy lie on the sands, or a nice quiet picnic in Dinas Wood.”

His words failed to raise even a smile from Ieuan. After they had walked past the pattern shop, he stopped.

“What’s on your mind, Ieuan?” he asked, frowning. “Are your studies getting you down? Overdoing it, I suppose? I warned you about that, remember? You should slow down a bit. Go out more, especially now that the fine weather is with us.”

“I took your advice, Frank. I have been out.”

“So it’s something else that’s biting you, eh? No — no trouble at home, is there?” Ieuan shook his head. He regarded Frank earnestly.

“I’ll tell you what it is, Frank. I — I’ve met a girl. And I’m very fond of her.”

“Good! That’s good! Well, I shouldn’t worry if I were you. It’s time you made company with someone. I bet she got you away from your books all right, and that’s just what you need for a while.”

“That’s just the trouble, Frank. I can’t think of anything else but her. My studies …I don’t seem to be attracted to them any more. And the exam — well, I’m not so enthusiastic.” Frank looked at him quizzically.

“How long have you known your — your girl?” he asked with a smile. “Only a few days.” “A few days! Ieuan, my boy, you’ve been bitten hard. Calf love’s what we call this stage in your development. Oh, come now, don’t look hurt. I didn’t mean to poke fun at you. Hell, I had it just as bad as you. When I first met Doris I was a kid of fifteen — that makes my sickness two years older than yours. As for your studies — you just can’t give them up now, Ieuan. Not after the effort you’ve made. Take things easy for a while, and you’ll settle back smoothly into the old routine.