a place (it _is_
a good deal of trouble), but you can win it if you like. That's all I
have to say, Noble. Good-morning!"

This unlooked-for speech fell like balm on Edgar's wounded
self-respect, and made him hold his head higher for a week; and,
naturally, while his head occupied this elevated position, he was
obliged to live up to it. He also felt obliged to make an effort,
rather reluctantly, to maintain some decent standing in the classes of
Professor Hope, even if he shirked in all the rest.

And now life, on the whole, save for one carking care that perched on
his shoulder by day and sat on his eyelids at night, was very pleasant;
though he could not flatter himself that he was absolutely a free agent.

After all ordinary engagements of concerts, theatres, lectures, or what
not, he entered the house undisturbed, and noiselessly sought his
couch. But one night, when he ventured to stay out till after
midnight, just as he was stealing in softly, Mrs. Oliver's gentle voice
came from the head of the stairs, saying, "Good-night, Edgar, the lamp
is lighted in your room!"

Edgar closed his door and sat down disconsolately on the bed, cane in
hand, hat on the back of his head. The fire had burned, to a few
glowing coals; his slippers lay on the hearth, and his Christmas "easy
jacket" hung over the back of his great armchair; his books lay open
under the student-lamp, and there were two vases of fresh flowers in
the room: that was Polly's doing.

"Mrs. Oliver was awake and listening for me; worrying about me,
probably; I dare say she thought I 'd been waylaid by bandits," he
muttered discontentedly. "I might as well live in the Young Women's
Christian Association! I can't get mad with an angel, but I did n't
intend being one myself! Good gracious! why don't they hire me a nurse
and buy me a perambulator!"

But all the rest was perfect; and his chief chums envied him after they
had spent an evening with the Olivers. Polly and he had ceased to
quarrel, and were on good, frank, friendly terms. "She is no end of
fun," he would have told you; "has no nonsensical young-lady airs about
her, is always ready for sport, sings all kinds of songs from grave to
gay, knows a good joke when you tell one, and keeps a fellow up to the
mark as well as a maiden aunt."

All this was delightful to everybody concerned. Meanwhile the
household affairs were as troublesome as they could well be. Mrs.
Oliver developed more ser