d by the bright eyes of fair
ladies, and I would ask that ye be the queens of the strife, and
reward the victorious company with your own fair hands."

The girls assented gladly and gaily. They had heard much of this
newly-introduced game, and were curious to witness it. The more
ancient sports of quintain, on land and water, morris dancing,
quarterstaff, archery, and such like, were all familiar enough. But
calcio was something of a novelty; and to be chosen as the queens
of the contest was no small pleasure, and their eyes beamed with
gratification and delight.

Arthur Cole was equally pleased at having won their consent, and
told them how that a fine pavilion would be erected in the meadow,
where they and their friends could survey the scene at ease,
protected alike from the heat of the sun, or from falling showers,
should any betide. It was plain that this spectacle was to be on a
decidedly magnificent scale. Arthur Cole was said to have expended
much money upon the rich dresses of the players; now he spoke of a
pavilion for the selected bystanders. It promised to be quite a
fresh excitement for the university.

Dalaber and Cole went away together slightly later, and Hugh
Fitzjames remained to supper with his kinsfolks.

"Anthony has taken a mighty liking for yonder fine gentleman of
late," remarked the youth. "They are ever together now. Well, he
might do worse for a friend. Master Cole is one of the richest
students in Oxford."

"That is not what attracts Anthony, though," spoke Freda. "I think
it has been this new game, into which Anthony has thrown himself
with such zest. Perhaps it is good for him to have other things
than his books to think of. A short while back he was ever poring
over the written page and burning the midnight oil. You said so
yourself, Hugh."

"Yes, verily; and I have no quarrel with him for it. I think he is
safer playing calcio with Cole than for ever studying the books he
gets from Clarke and his friends, as he has been doing of late."

"Safer?" questioned Freda quickly; "how safer, Hugh?"

"Oh, well, you must know what Anthony is like by this time. He can
never take aught quietly as other men. There are scores here in
Oxford--I am one of them myself--who believe in liberty to think
and read what we will, and to judge for ourselves between man and
man, even when Holy Church herself is in the question. God can be
ill served in the church as well as the monarch on his throne. We