believe, half the men in Philippine's rooms yesterday, knew
anything of the bet. I really cannot tell you how annoyed I have
been about it.'

"I assured him that he might make himself quite easy, and then
remained standing, expecting him to go, and not knowing exactly
what to say further. But he begged me to go on with my breakfast,
and sat down, and then asked me to give him a cup of tea, as he
had not breakfasted. So in a few minutes we were sitting opposite
one another over tea and bread and butter, for he didn't ask for,
and I didn't offer, anything else. It was rather a trying meal,
for each of us was doing all he could to make out the other. I
only hope I was as pleasant as he was. After breakfast he went
and I thought the acquaintance was probably at an end; he had
done all that a gentleman need have done, and had well-nigh
healed a raw place in my mental skin.

"But I was mistaken. Without intruding himself on me, he managed
somehow or another to keep on building up the acquaintance little
by little. For some time I looked out very jealously for any
patronizing airs, and even after I was convinced, that he had
nothing of the sort in him, avoided him as much as I could,
though he was the most pleasant and best-informed man I knew.
However, we became intimate, and I saw a good deal of him in a
quiet way, at his own rooms. I wouldn't go to his parties, and
asked him not to come to me here, for my horror of being thought
a tuft-hunter had become almost a disease. He was not so old as
I, but he was just leaving the University, for he had come up
early, and lord's sons are allowed to go out in two years;--I
suppose because the authorities think they will do less harm here
in two than three years; but it is sometimes hard on poor men,
who have to earn their bread, to see such a privilege given to
those who want it least. When he left, he made me promise to go
and pay him a visit--which I did in the long vacation, at a
splendid place up in the North, and enjoyed myself more than I
care to own. His father, who is quite worthy of his son, and all
his family, were as kind as people could be.

"Well, amongst other folks I met there a young sprig of nobility
who was coming up here the next term. He had been brought up
abroad, and, I suppose, knew very few men of his own age in
England. He was not a bad style of boy, but rather too
demonstrative, and not strong-headed. He took to me wonderfully,
was delighted to hear th