head to row himself
across the lake; and indeed I half suspect the exertion was too much for
him. He has been coughing again, and the pain in his side has returned."

"He's a wretched creature--I mean as regards health and strength. Of
course he always must have been so: but the lives these fellows lead in
London would breach the constitution of a really strong man."

"Not Loyd, however; he never kept late hours, nor had habits of
dissipation."

"I don't suppose he ever told you that he had," said he, laughing. "I
conclude that he has never shown you his diary of town life."

"But do you tell me, seriously, that he is a man of dissipated habits?"

"Not more so than eight out of every ten, perhaps, in his class of life.
The student is everywhere more given to the excitements of vice than the
sportsman. It is the compensation for the wearisome monotony of brain
labour, and they give themselves up to excesses from which the healthier
nature of a man with country tastes would revolt at once. But what have
I to do with his habits? I am not his guardian nor his confessor."

"But they have a very serious interest for _me_."

"Then you must look for another counsellor. I am not so immaculate
that I can arraign others; and, if I were, I fancy I might find some
pleasanter occupation."

"But if I tell you a secret, a great secret--"

"I'd not listen to a secret I detest secrets, just as I'd hate to have
the charge of another man's money. So, I warn you, tell me nothing that
you don't want to hear talked of at dinner, and before the servants."

"Yes; but this is a case in which I really need your advice."

"You can't have it at the price you propose. Not to add, that I have a
stronger sentiment to sway me in this case, which you will understand
at once, when I you tell that he is a man of whom I would like to speak
with great reserve, for the simple reason that I don't like him."

"Don't like him! You don't like him!"

"It does seem very incredible to you; but I must repeat it, I don't like
him."

"But will you tell me why? What are the grounds of your dislike?"

"Is it not this very moment I have explained to you that my personal
feeling towards him inspires a degree of deference which forbids me to
discuss his character? He may be the best fellow in Europe, the bravest,
the boldest, the frankest, the fairest All I have to say is, that if I
had a sister, and he proposed to marry her I'd rather see her a corpse
th