in that same room, draw the champagne corks, and let
some Lethe (the said champagne, if you please) wash out all that has
passed over us in the last few years, and my word on it, three out of
four of us are but boys still; and though much shaving, pearl powder,
and carmine, might fail to make of any of the party a heroine of any
more delicate class than Meg Merrilies, I have no doubt we could all
of us once more smoke a pipe in character at "The Three Pigeons."

Merrily the evening passed off, and merrily the little hours came on,
and song and laugh rather grew gayer than slackened. The strings of the
stays had long ago been cut, and the tresses, which were in the way of
the cigars, were thrown back in dishevelled elegance. The landlord found
his stuffing somewhat warm, and had laid aside half his fleshy
encumbrance. Every one was at his ease, and a most uproarious chorus had
just been sung by the whole strength of the company, when we heard the
ominous sound of a quiet double-rap at the outer door.

"Who's there?" said one of the most self-possessed of the company.

"I wish to speak to Mr Challoner," was the quiet reply.

The owner of the rooms was luckily in no more _outre_ costume than that
of Sir Charles Marlow; and having thrown off his wig, and buttoned his
coat over a deep-flapped waistcoat, looked tolerably like himself as he
proceeded to answer the summons. I confess I rather hoped than otherwise
that the gentleman, whoever he was, would walk in, when, if he intended
to astonish us, he was very likely to find the tables turned. However,
even college dons recognise the principle that every man's house is his
castle, and never violate the sanctity of even an undergraduate's rooms.
The object of this present visit, however, was rather friendly than
otherwise. One of the fellows, deservedly popular, had been with the
dean, and had left him in a state of some excitement from the increasing
merriment which came somewhat too audibly across the quadrangle from our
party. He had called, therefore, to advise Challoner either to keep his
friends quiet, or to get rid of them, if he wished to keep out of the
dean's jurisdiction. As it was towards three in the morning, we thought
it prudent to take this advice as it was meant, and in a few minutes
began to wend our respective ways homewards. Leicester and myself, whose
rooms lay in the same direction, were steering along, very soberly,
under a bright moonlight, when someth