The college itself becomes a character the early hope of its founders that it would be a premier seat of learning as much despoiled by the war as are the lives of those who love and labor within it.

The college itself becomes a character, the early hope of its founders that it would be a premier seat of learning as much despoiled by the war as are the lives of those who love and labor within it.

They were younger than 24 when they dated, they grew up in the same place and broke up for some external reason — their parents didn't approve, or someone moved away or shipped off to war.