rt of fellow to make his way in whatever line he
takes up, and though what he has learnt here may not be of much use to
him at the start, his having had a good education is sure to be of
advantage to him afterwards. A fellow who could hold his own in a tussle
such as we had with the Greenites last term can be trusted to make a
good fight in anything. At any rate it is of no use your worrying
yourself about him. You see, you will be going up in a year's time for
your examination for the line, and you will have to stick to it pretty
steadily if you are to get through at the first trial. It won't help
matters your worrying about him, and wherever he is and whatever he is
doing he is sure to keep his eye on the lists, and he will feel just as
much pleasure in seeing your name there as he would have done if he had
been here with you. So I should say, work steadily and play steadily.
You have a good chance of being in the college boat next term; that and
shooting will give you enough to do.

"It is no use sticking to it too hard. I was telling Skinner yesterday
he will regularly addle his brain if he keeps on grinding as he is doing
now. But it is of no use talking to Skinner; when his mind is set on a
thing he can think of nothing else. Last term it was football, now it is
reading. It must be an awful nuisance to be as energetic as he is. I
cannot see why he should not take life comfortably."

"He would say," Rupert laughed, "he cannot see why he should do things
by fits and starts as you do, Easton."

"Ah! but I do not do it on principle," Easton argued. "I am all for
taking it quietly, only sometimes one gets stirred up and has to throw
one's self into a thing. One does it, you know, but one feels it a
nuisance--an unfair wear and tear of the system."

"Your system does not seem to suffer seriously, Easton."

"No; but it might if one were called upon to do these things often. But
it is time for us to turn back, or we shall be late for tea."

CHAPTER V.

ENLISTED.

Edgar had found but little difficulty in getting out from the house. He
had timed himself so as to arrive at the station just before the train
left for Gloucester, and taking his ticket, had slipped into an empty
carriage. At Gloucester there was half an hour to wait before the
up-train came in. This time he got into a carriage with several other
people. He did not want to spend the night thinking, and as long as his
fellow-passengers talked he r