nature as to admit of a probability of their being realized." Having
uttered these very lugubrious words, and almost succeeded in throwing
a wet blanket over the party, he sat down.

"Now, you're not going to do anybody else, are you?" said Madden.

"Only Twisleton, and Gerard, and Hopgood," answered Bertram; "and
Fortescue looks as if he expected it. Perhaps, however, he'll let us
off till the day after to-morrow."

And then, with a round of milk punch, another cigar apiece, and a
little more chat, the party broke up.

Bertram and Harcourt remained together, and Bertram endeavoured to
induce Wilkinson to stay with them. He, however, wished to be alone,
and got home to his college by himself.

"You always overrated that man," said Harcourt.

"I think not; but time will show. After all, a good degree is not
everything in the world. Who in London cares about senior wranglers
and double-firsts? When all is done, I don't see the use of it."

"Nobody cares much about wranglers and double-firsts; but these are
the men, nevertheless, who get the best of what's going. Wood that
will swim in one water will swim in all waters."

"You'll find Wilkinson will swim yet."

"That is, he won't sink. I don't say he will. Nine-tenths of the men
in the world neither swim nor sink; they just go along with their
bows above the wave, but dreadfully water-logged, barely able to
carry the burdens thrown on them; but yet not absolutely sinking;
fighting a hard fight for little more than mere bread, and forgetting
all other desires in their great desire to get that. When such a man
does get bread, he can't be said to sink."

"Ah! Wilkinson will do more than that."

"Something more, or something less, as the case may be. But, believe
me, he is not the man to make other men fall before him. Industry
alone never does that, and certainly not that sort of industry
which breaks down once in every six months. But come, Mr. Parker's
champagne makes my head buzz: let us take a walk up the river;
Twisleton's idea of going to dinner requires far too much pluck for
me."

And so they walked out along the towing-path, discussing many things
of much importance to them.

"There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune."

In nine cases out of ten, this flood-tide comes _but_ once in life,
and then in early years. A man may have a second or a third chance
for decent maintenance, but hardly a secon