ation has been neglected. I'm not blaming those respons

sters who taught you e

n June, and Berry, who was in the act of drinking, c

"My prizes are among my m

keep them?"

eave them to the Wallace Collection. The shoes I wore at the first

'll suggest that we go up for the day on Frid

All the same, there's no reason why we shoul

" said Jonah, "it will

w the place well. Berry had been at Magdalen, Jonah at New College, and I had fleeted four fat years carelessly as a member of "The House." But, while my sister had spent

early innocence may be too much for me. Yes," he added, "I shouldn't be at al

es me, it was for a crime committed almost under the shad

a cigar before

It was not my fault that the animal which I employed exceeded its in

o consolidate the

d Street entrance in a hansom cab. It was then induced to take up a position commanding the wicket-door. The juxtaposition of two hurdles, held in place by my subordinates, frustrated any attempt at untimely evacuation. At a given

as very cruel

s during an unfortunate altercation with the cabman, who demanded an unreasonably exorbitant sum for the conveyance of the pig, that I was accosted by a proctor for being gownless. The cab was still redolent of it

Room, where the Master and Fellows were still discussing classical criticism and some '34 port. Attracted by the shaft of light and the mellow atmosphere of good cheer and hilarity which streamed into the comparative gloom of the quadrangle, the pig made a bee-line for the doorway, and a moment later the exclusive circle wa

apologized t

a letter which I shall alw

i

her in a somewhat similar enterprise. Till the other evening I had always believed that the havoc provoke

ery fai

.

Jill, "he was

instructions 'within one week to abolish the existing number by which this house is distinguished, and to mark or affix

aid Daphne, "

,' they have realized with a shock that the numbers of the houses in this street have not been changed for over half a century. Thirstily they

we do n

iterate the existing number, and I shall be sum

onfusion, and think of all our notepaper and cards. Al

of the street. Many people feel that The Quadrant should be renamed

a fact?" said Jonah. "Or

" said Berry. "This is the sort of thing we

we re

gebra in '64 and has never recovered. Let us be thankful it wasn't geography. Otherwise we should be required to name this house 'Sea View' or 'Clov

aid Jill, passing on th

agraph must appear in The Times. What could be more appropriate than an epitaph? Ply me with wine, child. The sage is in labour with a song." Jill filled his glass and he drank. "Another instan

rm's length, regarded it as a painter

tale I m

live at t

hope to go

to live at

d lived at

simply pri

ant to dra

lse will rhym

mester too!" said Jonah. "And

sor. I think you'll find the prophecy in Henry the Fifth. 'And wholesome berries th

certain that her recent waywardness had been forgiven, and by and by so bravely that all the sweet o' the year rose up out of the snowy orchards, dewy and

le, melting the leagues to miles with such swift deadliness as made you

een Jill and myself, when there fell upon my reluctant ears that heavy sigh which only an expiring tire can

it?" sai

od, and I pulled in to the side of the road with a grunt. "If i

ething untoward has befallen the automobile. Shoul

r fails to recognize the obvious, you have correctl

"I always let them lie. I did ga

nt was that some hostile body of a sharp nature had penetrated a

the while you effect the necessary repairs. I shall therefore compose myself

k. In the second place, clumsy fool though you are, Jonah can change the wheel quicker if you help him." With

aside the rug and rising from her

latter, "to consort wit

aned down an

good. I expect it'll make you hot, so take your coa

erry reg

d, "did it take yo

ed back at the car. Something was squatting on the tarmac close to the petrol tank. The fact th

way. Here jacketed elms made up a stately colonnade, ready to nod their gay green crests at each stray zephyr's touch, and throwing broad equidistant bars of shadow across the fresh turf and the still moist ribbon of metalling beyond. Tw

ne in which he gave us "Good day" was blithe and

said I, as he reache

it come easy, sir,

ays done this

e gauze from his brow and

year come Michaelmas I've kep' the O

," said I amazedly. "And y

me that. I'll be ninety-one in the month

d I. "Tell me, you mus

tched the 'Tantivy' go by, an' Muster Cracknell drivin'. Always nodded to father, 'e did, an' passed the time o' day. An' father, 'e'd wave 'is 'ammer, an' call me an' tell me 'is

wonderful?"

had joined us, agreed

fellow

road, m'm. As it was in the beginnin', so ever it shall be. Soon I'll pass, but the road'll go on, an

led his white forelock with the antique courtesy of

's ever done tha

her head

so. It was ve

ll him?" said Jill

d my ey

e so. Or

a softly. "He's a Ge

he title never became a hi

ed in, Jill and I sitting behind for a change. Wit

t very hot?

body has been in action. I always think

break stones," said I,

t in the

nce of drink. At the present moment I am more interested

must stoop

ng in the way. And my nether limbs were superfluous. To

bend backwards till you face it again. Then it's simplic

er-in-la

way no one could assault me from behind. Those detailed to stab me in

ur later we slid o

that same abiding peace, the handiwork of labouring centuries, that immemorial youth, which drai

as but t

hem, her spires and towers were glancing, vivid against the blue: the unexpected green, that sprawled ragged upon scaly parapets, thrust boldly out between the reverend mansions and smothered up the songs of architects, trem

wended its scarlet way past kneeling citizens. Cavaliers ruffled it in the chequered walks, prelates and sages loaded the patient air with discourse, and phantom tuck of drum ushered a praise-God soldiery to emptied bursaries. With measured tread statesmen and scho

which we visited St. John's and Magdalen, we put the

and could be inspected more conveniently without the car, which claimed the

re succeeded-so far as Jill and Agatha were concerned-in investing his sojourn at Magdalen with an ill-merited dignity; and Daphne, Jonah and I were quite justifiably

I suppose. Lewis." He mentioned the name of the minor coll

hesitated before replying in a ton

emory's not as good as y

ttle mice," he added archly, "and you were always such a gay dog." To our indesc

ould permit. "I suppose you were. One of the mice, I think you said. You kn

tn't to tell tales out of school, ought I, old bean?" Again the forefinger was employed, and its owner looked round e

ld times, observed that the undergraduates of to-day were of a very different class to "me and you," and added that England was in such a rotte

. Then, administering to me a kick, which she afterwards expl

for the day, Mr. Lewis.

nedly whenever a remark justified an expression of mirth. Jill and Agatha were on the edge of hysteria, and Berry sat sunk in a condition of profound gloom,

his self-confidence was sublime, and, when Daphne finally bowed and remarked with a dazzling smile that no doubt he

as out of

could go to the Loganberrys' ball on Tuesday, and Jonah and

e's a topp

se," said Jonah. "Let's c

it, I thought of what I've been trying to remember ever since yesterday morning. We've got three hundredw

said Berry. "You wic

mayn't be able to help, but it's worth trying. If you want to do wit

erry. "I'm to have the felicity of hob

re," said I. "He rem

he guest of a club of which he was not a member, but which was, nevertheless, an institution of the college which he adorned. After dinner it was custo

I. "He's getti

d the idea of secreting Chinese figs in every pair of his boots and shoes

o him for five minutes, and we'll-we'll wait

t that you were not taking any risks. Of cour

ould spare the diamond, but at least he's

won't catch him out on dress. Ah me," he added with a

boyhood's intimacy, of joys and troubles shared, of visits to the tuck-shop.... If th

at's often the way. Before the afternoon's out, he'll be

ars. Let's pay the bill, will you?" He rose to his feet. "And now I'm going to remember more t

three," s

Mary's and The Radcliffe. Or was it

at gives you one minute forty seconds a ton, or five

"Isn't it wonderful? Don't forget to let me know w

who was watching him with the air of a terri

the rest of us were strolling across the cob

e for a bit and suck soda-mints. When the process of digestion is completed, we can see the

, but, as has been frequentl

ards The High, to see if Berry was in sight, when the latter swung roun

cal hat which was too small for him. The ludicrous effect created by th

to" a battalion of the enemy. Our retreat, however, was not exactly precipitate, and we endeavoured to invest it with a semblance of hypocrisy not usually thought necessary in warfar

ting information of a startling character concerning the east front of Brasenose to his sister and cousin, began to hustle them towards the entrance. To Berry's repeated nominal exhortations we paid not the slightest attention. Coal or

breath, we leaned cautiously upon the balustrade, if possible from our eminence to o

e others into B.N.C.," I panted.

d Agatha. "If he could only

d into peals

ch from the stalls than assi

is more like

another proverb, 'It's an ill wind,' etc. If I hadn't been hard up for a refuge, I should never have th

the magnificent pro

uddenly, "but somehow it doesn't. It's so terribl

ratulate you. You are articulate where wise men have

ho

and O

o terri

ok my

kind look and handsome ways, and your temples ar

. You're ge

o glasses of ginger beer, my hand is like a spade-I mean a rock.

r word for it,

a burst of melody. At the present moment I

a, with a smile that promised la

I regar

rey skirt of some soft stuff, grey silk stockings and small grey shoes-these with a hat of croc

ing in the brown eyes, that were cast down and over the parapet, keeping a careful watch for any indication of Berry's activity, a tell-tale quiver of the sensitive nostrils, an e

Agatha, nodding down at the gatewa

There is anot

r little playmates." He advanced beaming. "Don't be shy any longer. And what a storied retreat you have selected!" He indicated the building with a sweep of his arm. "You know, originally this was a helter-skelter lig

myself to

isn't he? Scratch the buffoo

rned to

oted to research. I am, as it were, a crystal fou

heartily, while Agatha, overcome with emotion, hurriedly turned away a

the main points of the city, accompanying his gesticulations with a series of inaudible remarks, which, to judge from their reception, concerned Mr. Lewis

low. With a notorious winebibb

through Agatha's and had begun to d

the game was up, and made no attempt to fly. It was almost piteous. An apprehension of certain embarrassment to come extinguished the instant impulse

up she add

l to you to tak

ice. Some absent-minded priest is now scandalizing his parishioners by parading in a pearl-grey

eversed, and Berry uncovered and fell upon his knees. Surprised by th

citedly. "Then we shan't get the King's

phne, "to behave yoursel

king the tomb of Anne of Cloves. On finding it, I must sco

s," said Jonah. "But do

his wideawake a

been transformed for such an offence. Only yesterday I was comp

ruck the half-hou

push off if you're going to come with us looking like that. For Heaven's sake, go

threw her weight into the

ve let him come out like that," she added, with a repr

with every manifestation of delight, and, seizing my brother-in-law by the arm, haled him gleefully in the direction of The Hig

them till they had t

College?" said

o we'd better go stra

ploring my old rooms in Peckwa

cannot be viewed in a day, and we found much to delight our senses south of the High Street. Finally, a languorous journey by punt from the Barg

y awaited by the hall-porter, who inquired anxiously regarding my brother-in-law, a

ent come in, all of a state, with this 'at in 'is 'and. Seems he took it away absent-minded like, instead of 'is own, sir. Though 'ow 'e

shed to learn that Berry's fantastic exp

man get his own

Ere it was i

divine had any idea of the abuse to wh

d Jonah, taking the Homburg. "When he comes, t

think 'e was 'opin' to ave seen your gentleman and told 'im 'ow sorry 'e was, but

llowing after Jonah. "After

ng," said I. "But

id Daphne, "I

body's to get a mention, I'm inclin

ing for tea, I rea

i

ing, if momentary, aberration unhappily responsible for m

ill accept, first, my fervid assurance that it was not of industry, but of case that I of

m,

edient

J. Bild

had f

stand half of

s the real thing, my dear-a human document. You see, Oxford is

ys," said Agatha, "and neve

hat and to write letters that wo

ived with

hased, and then handed the latter to the waiter. In silence he read Mr. Bildew'

" said Daphne. "W

der. I should have pleaded guilty to manslaughter, committed under extreme provocation. T

said I. "Have yo

and push off. As I happened to have six pounds ten shillings upon me, the transaction will not be recorded." With a depreciatory hand he waved aside the involuntary buzz of grateful admiration. "I am not long for this world. I am, as it

orities was more than we could forego. The butler was admitted to our confidence, and instructed to stifle any attempt to allay curiosity, by interpretation of the carman, that might originate in the servants' hall, an

ah fidgeted with a refractory pipe. Daphne glanced from the clock to her novel and the novel to the clock at intervals of fifteen se

was asleep.... When I made my report we reminded one another that Mr. L

phne left the room

mpt to disguise my uneasiness, and joined

ter Jonah and

telephone to Mr. Lewis forthwith. Almost immediately it was found that nobody knew the man's number, initials, or

telling, and every one's temper began mo

the fourth time, "that it was

band. "That's why

said h

y si

se of ventriloquism. Then you can ask yourself questions and give yoursel

anelagh, and inquired whether any one wanted a round of g

d my sister that she was going to call upon some one in Rege

and, when that hour arrived, slow-treading but coalless, it was only my promise to take her

oor behind us, a neighb

down on the opposite side would have recalled them pellmell to our disappointment. It was obvious that a considerable quantity of coal had been recently delivered to a more fortunate ménage. Idly I

een as good as his word, my brother-in-law's recoll