and burst out laughing. Ernest sighed.

"I think I should like it very well--to reply simply to your
question."

"Indeed!"

"Yes."

"What do you admire so much in me?"

"I love more than I admire, Charles."

"Do you?" And the boy's head drooped.

"Yes," said Mowbray; "you possess a childlike ingenuousness and
simplicity which is exceedingly refreshing to me after intense study.
I would call your conversation at times prattle, but for the fear of
offending you."

"Oh, you will not."

"Prattle is very engaging, you know," said Mowbray, "and I often feel
as if my weary head would be at rest upon your friendly shoulder."

"Why don't you rest it there then?"

Mowbray smiled.

"You may answer that question better than myself," he said: "for some
strange reason, you always avoid me when I approach you."

"Avoid you!"

"Yes, Charles."

"Why, my dear follow," said Hoffland, with a free-and-easy air, "come
as near as you choose; here, let us lock arms! Does that look like
avoiding you?"

Mowbray smiled.

"It is very different here in the street," he said; "but let us
dismiss this idle subject. It is an odd way of throwing away time to
debate whether you would make a good wife."

"I don't think it is," said Hoffland, and he laughed. "If I would make
a good wife, I would make a good husband; and as I have natural doubts
upon the latter point, I wish to have them solved. But I weary
you--let us part. _Good-bye_," added Hoffland, with a strange
expression of face and tone of voice; "here is my lodging, and you go
on to the college."

"No, I think I will go up and sit down a moment."

Hoffland stood still.

"It is strange, but true, that I have never paid you visit," continued
Mowbray, "and now I will go and see your quarters."

"Really, my dear Ernest--the fact is--I assure you on my honor--there
is nothing to attract----"

Mowbray smiled.

"Never mind," he said, "I will go up, if from nothing else, from
simple curiosity."

The singular young man looked exceedingly vexed at this, and did not
move.

Mowbray was about to pass with a smile up the steps leading to the
door, when an acquaintance came by and stopped a moment to speak to
him. Mowbray seemed interested in what he said, and half turned from
Hoffland.

No sooner had he done so than the boy placed one cautious foot upon
the stone step, looked quickly around, saw that he was unobserved; and
entering the house with a bound, ran lightly up