a little now and then--a
great deal oftener than I like--I don't carry any false colors. I
can't quite conquer the feeling of shame (for shame it is, I am
afraid), but at any rate I don't try to hide my poverty any
longer, I haven't for these eighteen months. I have a grim sort
of pleasure in pushing it in everybody's face. (Tom assented with
a smile, remembering how excessively uncomfortable Hardy had made
him by this little peculiarity the first time he was in his
rooms.) The first thing which opened my eyes a little was the
conduct of the tradesmen. My bills all came in within a week of
the delivery of the furniture and clothes; some of them wouldn't
leave the things without payment. I was very angry and vexed, not
at the bills, for I had my savings, which were more than enough
to pay for everything. But I knew that these same tradesmen never
thought of asking for payment under a year, oftener two, from
other men. Well, it was a lesson. Credit for gentlemen-commoners,
ready-money dealings with servitors! I owe the Oxford tradesmen
much for that lesson. If they would only treat every man who
comes up as a servitor, it would save a deal of misery.

"My cure was completed by much higher folk, though. I can't go
through the whole treatment, but will give you a specimen or two
of the doses, giving precedence (as is the way here) to those
administered by the highest in rank. I got them from all sorts of
people, but none did me more good than the lords' pills. Amongst
other ways of getting on I took to sparring, which was then very
much in vogue. I am a good hand at it, and very fond of it, so
that it wasn't altogether flunkeyism, I'm glad to think. In my
second term two or three fighting men came down from London, and
gave a benefit at the Weirs. I was there, and set to with one of
them. We were well matched, and both of us did our very best; and
when we had had our turn we drew down the house, as they say.
Several young tufts and others of the faster men came up to me
afterwards and complimented me. They did the same by the
professional, but it didn't occur to me at the time that they put
us both in the same category.

"I am free to own that I was really pleased two days afterwards,
when a most elaborate flunkey brought a card to my door inscribed
'The Viscount Philippine, Ch. Ch., at home to-night, eight
o'clock--sparring.' Luckily, I made a light dinner, and went
sharp to time into Christ Church. The porter directe