ay there was a cricket-
match. However, the examination was not till Tuesday, so there was half
a week yet.

Saturday, of course, was a half-holiday, and though I took another look
at some of my books, and noted one or two other little things that would
have to be got up, I determined that the grand "go in" at, and
"polishing off" of, these subjects should take place on Monday.

On Monday accordingly I set to work.

Glancing from my window--as I frequently did while I was at work--whom
should I see, with a fly-net over his shoulder, but Wilton, one of the
three fellows in against me for the scholarship! And not long after him
who should appear arm-in-arm in cricket costume, but Johnson and Walker,
the other two!

"Ho! ho!" said I to myself, "nice boys these to be going in for an
exam.! How can they expect to do anything if they dawdle away their
time in this way! I declare I quite feel as if I were taking an unfair
advantage of them to be grinding away up here!"

Had I realised that these three fellows had been working incessantly for
the last month, and were now taking a breath of fresh air in
anticipation of the ordeal of the following day, I should have been less
astonished at what I saw, and more inclined to work, at any rate this
day, like mad.

But I allowed my benevolent desire not to take an unfair advantage to
prevail, and was soon far up the stream with my fishing-rod.

So Monday passed. In the evening I had another turn at my books, but an
unsatisfactory one.

"What's the use of muddling my brain? I had better take it easy, and be
fresh for to-morrow," thought I, as I shut them up and pushed my chair
back from the table.

Next morning brought me a letter from my father:

"This will reach you on the eventful day. You know who will be thinking
of their boy every moment. We are happy to know your success is so
sure; but don't be _too_ confident till it's all well over. Then we
shall be ready to rejoice with you. I have already heard of rooms at
Cambridge for you; so you see mother and I are counting our chickens
before they are hatched! But I have no fears, after what you have told
me."

This letter made me unhappy; the sight of my books made me unhappy; the
sight of Wilton, Johnson, and Walker, fresh and composed, made me
unhappy; the sight of the doctor wishing me good morning made me
unhappy. I was, in fact, thoroughly uncomfortable. The list of those
one or two little matters that