Lady Connie

llege with Meyrick. After hall, the quadrangle was filled with strolling men, hatless and smoking, discussin

was heard from the open windo

rm, "what a noise that fellow Radowitz makes! Why should we have to listen to him? H

a light-hearted, easy-going youth, a "fresher" in his first summer term, devo

imperiously to a neighbouring group of men,--"bloods"--always ready to follow him in a "r

stood round Falloden laughing and chaffing, till finally three of them disappeared at hi

himself under Radowitz's windows, and sum

! stop th

and quite unaware of the shout from below, pounded and tormented the pian

thrice!" said Fall

the order. Three strong right arms below discharged thr

as a sound of breaking glass. Then Radowitz, furious, appeared at hi

ou doing, y

dowitz!" shouted Fal

y done so, when Falloden launched another bottle, which went smash through the window and broke it. The g

about the don

okout!" sa

age he leaned far out and flung half a broken bottle at the group below. Al

en coolly. "Might really have done some mischief.

ut he was ready for them. The oak was sported, and they could hear him dragging some he

aggers." The lookout in the quadrangle turned to walk quietly towards the porter's lodge. The Senior Tutor--a sp

f disgusted. "But I am certain I heard Falloden's voice. What a puppy

for the cheeping of the swallows flitting across it, and the whistling of a lad in the porte

ervals, and rejoined each other in

k at his side--"and we will repay. But now, to our tents! Ta, ta!" And dismissing them all, including Meyri

ly mattered was that Constance Bledlow was in Oxford, and that when his schools were over, he would have nothing to do but to stay on two or three weeks and force the running with her. He felt himself immeasurably older than his companions with whom he had just been rioting. His mind was set upon a man's interests and aims--ma

there were manoeuvres going on in Blenheim Park, and the minds of both dons and undergraduates were dr

ing really good,

loden in the end picked out precisely the beautif

ried her," he said peremptorily to Fox. "I shall try her myself to-morro

had wired to his mother the day before, telling her to write to Constance Bledlow and Mrs. Hooper by the evening's post, suggesting that, on Thursday before the Eights, Lad

note with a crest and

urn

my aunt and cousins seem to have made an engagement for me. No doubt I s

very

ance B

verything that had been prescribed to him; and he felt injured. He wa

ights. I have spent much time to-day in trying to find you a horse, as we agreed. The mare I told you of is really a beauty. I am go

s sin

AS FAL

k is owed. I was distinctly given to understand tha

er refusal, as he was by all forms of confl

highest physical spirits, a splendid figure in his white flannels, with the dark blue cap and sash of the Harrow Eleven--(he had quarrelled with the captain of the Varsity Eleven very early in

ught to have kept away. And yet he would be very glad to see her--and Nelly. He was fond of his home people, and they of him.

into the railway station, he perceived beckoning to

Lady Laura and Nelly, but Trix, a child of eleven, and Roger, the Winch

he children were quite aware they were

uggy, we know! But we

en me notice!" said her reproachful s

nd his mother, "fat, fair and

be good. And they get into mischief in London, directly my back's turned.

y schools are coming on in a fortn

wanted to bring Nelly up for two or three weeks. We cou

ther, do you want me to get a

optimism, hanging on his arm. "And now give us some tea, for

ade another engagement for her.

a looked

. But of course I wrote. I always do what

t Didcot," reported Roger, in triumph, show

urveying them. "And now I suppo

outed both the children joy

sat on the box with folded arms and a sombre countenance. Why on earth had his mother brought the children? It was revolting to have to app

hich they climbed, each member of the family--except the guide--talking at the top of their voices. On the third floor, Falloden paused and

" said Falloden gloomily, as he sh

uth full of cake, at his elder brother, who was already beginning to take out his watch, to bi

n disgust at Trix's desire for chocolates after a Gargantuan meal, and declared that they would all be late for the Eights, if any more gorging was allowe

te, Trix pinched

Duggy,

, you lit

heek against his coat-sleeve. "That's what you're thinking. You

he believed that Douglas was simply the handsomest and cleverest fellow in the world. When he scolded it was better than other p

elderly fathers and mothers from a distance, and young fathers and mothers from the rising tutorial homes of Oxford--made their merry way. Falloden looked in all directions for the Hooper party. A new anxiety and eagerness were stirring in him which he resented, which he tried to put down. He did not wish, he did not intend, if he could help it, to be too much in love with anyb

eded in making his peace. Yet all through the days of her wrath he had been quite certain that he would in the end appease her; which meant a triumphant confidence on his part that to a degree she did not herself admit or understand, he had captured her. Her resolute refusal to correspond with him, even after they had made it up and he was on the point of returning to Oxford, had piqued him indeed. But he was aware that she was du

he had verified. But during their conversation at the Vice-Chancellor's party he had become aware of something hard and resistant in her--in her whole attitude towards him--which had considerably astonished

cried Trix, leaping and sidling

ators. Innumerable punts were crossing and recrossing the river--the towing-path opposite was alive with men. Everything danced and glittered, the white reflections in the river, the sun upon the oars, the row of extravagantly green poplars on the further bank. How strong and

rick. And who's that girl with him? She's bowing to you, too.

eyrick, mother, on that barge in front. You know you're dining with him to-night in C

ovingly. "And who is that man beside her, with the ext

ghed, but no

ted creature--half a Pole. His music is an infernal nuis

it, Duggy? Are

ere nearing belonged to Christ Church, and they we

urch barge? Ewen Hooper was a Llandaff man, and Llandaff, a small and insignifican

best barge in the best position. Falloden remembered how at the Vice-Chancellor's party Sorell had hovered about Constance, assuming a kind of mild guardianship; until he himself had carried her off. Why? What on earth had she to do with Sorell? Well, he must find out. Meanwhile, she clearly did not intend to take any further notice of his n

that you--and Lady Lau

nvitations she took such infinite trouble to get. For she was possessed of two daughters, tall and handsome girls, who were an obsession to her, an irritation to other people, and a cause of blushing to themselves. Her instinct for all men of family or title to be found among the underg

Come on to our barge, you will see so much better, and

diately ahead, belonging to one of the more importan

ccepted, and with t

advise my mother to take advantage of your kind offer. But you

lady stooped, laid an affectionate hand on Roger's shoul

stily re

ating the usual thrill and sudden rip

hey're

d be seen by the party on the Christ Church barge, amid which a certain large white hat with waving feathers shone conspicuous. The two girls between whom he stood, who had never found him in the least accessible before, were proud to be seen with him, and delighted to try t

he Manson and Falloden parties appeared to be on the most intimate terms. Mrs. Manson, doing the honours of the college boat, flattering Lady Laura,

l in white on the neighbouring deck,

know who

Lady Constance Bledlow." Mrs

w her parents intimately

briefly e

ust call upon her at once. But

r the barge rail,

he children, laying violent hands on Fallode

in front of its own barge, and Magdalen went head of the river. A delirious twenty minutes followed. Bump crashed on bump. The river in all its visible length flashed with the rising and falling oars--the white b

corted by Sorell and Lord Meyrick, lifted a pair of eyes to a tall fellow in immaculate flannels and a Harrow cap. She had been aware of his neig

what I have been d

ost grateful. Whe

t to-morrow afternoo

of you." The tone was

d not help looking up. She met an expression

the races well?"

Mr. Sorell expla

ew him

aid, laughing. "I have

entioned him

catalogue one's acq

e more than an

so fond of him. He went with us to Sicily

se a paragon,"

ed mockingly at

was--that he was delightful! So learned--and simple--and modest--the dearest per

pile

e were more than an acquaintan

them!" said Fal

into her s

lly can't alter them. Wh

is own group and hers. Mrs. Manson and Lady Laura were far ahead in the wide, moving crowd that filled the new-made

e we get to Merton Street. And this only pays the very smalles

oured b

hastily. "And I found the H

friends--suppose we take the old path u

graduates, and found herself walking almost in solitude in the shadow of one of the oldest wall

? I was saying that when one friend disappoints ano

He employed them now, and the old thrill of something that was at once delight and

ll use such tragic expressions for the most

omise me--if the mare turns out well--you

emed to envelope her, to beat down the resistance which, as so

e May sun and wind?--gave her that heightening, that tou

framed her brow; the slender gold chains which rose and fell on her gently roun

ree till Monday, at least. And wh

and all. I undertake he shall give satisfac

field and tree, of the May clouds, and the grey college walls--you

felt her-

'll

ride in Lathom Woods as an

l have it. I m

hed a br

have been

ay through those woods with

moment, then she

vertake m

y mother--and--you have still to in

eyes. The process of

ing. They were to dine at the Randolph, and go to a college concert. Falloden washed his hands of them, and shut himself up for five or six hours' grind, broken only by a very hasty

nstance was forgotten, and he lost himself in the splendour shed by the original and creative thought of a great man, climbing, under his guidance, as the night wore on, from point to point, and height to height, amid the Oxford silence, broken only by the ch

e "Religious Aspects of Greek Drama," and finally amused himself with running through an ingenious "Me

he May dawn, and think of her, and only of her. With all the activity of his quickened mental state, he threw himself into the future--their rides together--their meetings, few an

of society to which sooner or later she was bound? No, she was to be wooed and married now. The Falloden custom was to marry early--and a good custom too. His father would approve, and money from the estate would of course be forthcoming. Constance wa

en he would be twenty-four--two y

sunrise, and rustled round his lightly-darkened room. One mi