ace a sad one.

When the room was quite full, and enough wine had been drunk to
open the hearts of the guests, Diogenes rose on a signal from
Miller, and opened the budget. The financial statement was a
satisfactory one; the club was almost free of debt; and,
comparing their position with that of other colleges, Diogenes
advised that they might fairly burden themselves a little more,
and then, if they would stand a whip of ten shillings a man, they
might have a new boat, which he believed they all would agree had
become necessary. Miller supported the new boat in a pungent
little speech; and the Captain, when appealed to, nodded and said
he thought they must have one. So the small supplies and the
large addition to the club debt was voted unanimously, and the
Captain, Miller, and Blake, who had many notions as to the
flooring, lines, and keel of a racing boat, were appointed to
order and superintend the building.

Soon afterwards, coffee came in and cigars were lighted; a large
section of the party went off to play pool, others to stroll
about the streets, others to whist; a few, let us hope, to their
own rooms to read; but these latter were a sadly small minority
even in the quietest of St. Ambrose parties.

Tom, who was fascinated by the heroes at the head of the table,
sat steadily on, sidling up towards them as the intermediate
places became vacant, and at last attained the next chair but one
to the Captain, where for the time he sat in perfect bliss. Blake
and Miller were telling boating stories of the Henley and Thames
regattas, the latter of which had been lately started with great
_eclat_; and from these great yearly events, and the deeds of
prowess done thereat, the talk came gradually round to the next
races.

"Now, Captain," said Miller, suddenly, "have you thought yet what
new men we are to try in the crew this year?"

"No, 'pon my honor I haven't," said the Captain, "I'm reading,
and have no time to spare. Besides, after all, there's lots of
time to think about it. Here we're only half through Lent term,
and the races don't begin till the end of Easter term."

"It won't do," said Miller, "we must get the crew together this
term."

"Well, you and Smith put your heads together and manage it," said
the Captain. "I will go down any day, and as often as you like,
at two o'clock."

"Let's see," said Miller to Smith, "how many of the old crew have
we left?"

"Five, counting Blake," answered Diogenes