rns in his room, went off to call on his co-trustee.

On his way down-stairs he met Rosalind and her escort about to take
their departure.

"Come along with us, do!" said Tom. "We're just going to trot Rosalind
over to her diggings, and then we can have a high old lark in the
paddock on our way back."

"The programme is not attractive, Thomas," said the tutor. "Good-bye
again, Miss Oliphant."

Captain Oliphant had already bidden his daughter a tender farewell, and
was enjoying a cigar in the library.

"Oh," said he, as the tutor entered, "you got my note, did you, sir?"

"I did, thanks."

"Well, sir?"

"That was the question I was about to ask you. Excuse my saying it, but
it was a very foolish note for a man in your position to write. Did
Mrs Ingleton--"

"Mrs Ingleton has decided, on my advice, to send her son to Oxford. I
have recently been there, and made inquiries."

"Indeed! I'll join you in your smoke, if you don't mind," and the tutor
drew a chair up to the table and filled his pipe.

Captain Oliphant was considerably disconcerted at this cool reception of
his piece of news; but, warned by previous experiences, he forbore to
bluster.

"I think the life will suit him. He is wasting his time here."

"If his health improves sufficiently," said the tutor, "there is a good
deal to be said in favour of the University."

"You think so, do you?" said his co-guardian drily. "You are an Oxford
man yourself, I understand."

"Yes; I was at --- College."

"So I heard from a friend of mine there, who remembered your name."

Mr Armstrong twitched his glass a little and puffed away.

"Yes," said the captain, encouraged by this slight symptom of
uneasiness; "I heard a good deal about you up there, as it happened."

"Kind of you to take so much interest in me. You ascertained, of
course, that I left Oxford in debt and without a degree?"

This was check again for the captain, who had counted upon this
discovery as an effective bombshell for his side.

"As regards Roger, however," proceeded the tutor, reaching across for
the captain's ash-tray, "I would advise Balliol in preference to--"

"We shall not need to trouble you for your advice."

"But I shall most certainly give it."

By this time Captain Oliphant's self-control was rapidly evaporating.
He was beginning to feel himself a little small, and that always annoyed
him.

"Look here, Mr Frank Armstrong," said he, leaning back in his chair