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a defeat that, to their minds, carried disgrace. Their Edward plucked! At first they were benumbed, and sat chilled, with red cheeks, bewildered between prese

and sawed away all doubt from their minds. The sum was this. Dodd’s general performance was mediocre, but passable; he was

ay, poor Dodd was anxious about it on account of his friends. And, by

ll go and tell him; I kn

oesn’t h

stamumrs were only just out as I came away.” And

g strides, and fairly collared him.

when he’s ploughed?

must; but why poison his triumphal cup? And his sisters, too, why spoil thei

ou refuse me; take care how you thwart me in this. He is the best-natured fellow in college. It doesn’t matter to you, and it does to him; and if you

wing cheek and eye, and imperious lip, and

u talk like that, there i

d promise me; up

, I promise. Now, how do y

ery with the severity of an inquisitor bringing back a garrulous prisoner to the

it cannot be rendered by any one Eng

ark now! here he comes.” And he went hastily to meet Edward Dodd: and by that means intercepted him on his way to the carriage. “Give me your han

ordially; though he rather wanted to get away to his mother and sister. “We

You and I? Wha

got to rub up is my Divinity and my Logic — especially my Logic. Will y

ited: wonderfully excited: within the race, eh? Now, just — you — wait — quiet

h. “No, not a minute. It is settled. Th

emotion that was quite unintelligible to Edward; but not to

hands to the fair occupants. They kissed him eagerly, with little tender sighs; and it cost t

and Kennet and he between them had let out the very thing he wanted to conceal, especially from Dodd’s relations. He gazed at them, and turned hot to the very forehead. T

t would be unkind to poison Edward’s day: and it is sweet woman’s nature to follow suit; so she and Julia put bright faces on, and Edward passed a right jocund afternoon with them. He was not allowed to surprise one of the looks they int

so that Julia could catch the address: “E

nscious of woman’s beneficent wiles. But her heart soon divined the mystery: it was to reach him the first thing in the morning, and spar

y the Destination, and glided out o

t, and went with it herself. The post-office was not quite so near as represented; but she was soon there, for she was eager till she had posted it. But she came back slowly and thoughtfully; here in the street, lighted only by the moon, and an occasional gaslight, there was no need for self-re

sed her in a low tone of supplication. “May I venture t

prised; and it wa

bmissively, and his face, as well as his u

ntre between a young gentleman and

on,” says a reade

tenderest in a

ed Va

grind Logic with Dodd of Exeter. Who would believe that this was a coincidence, a mere coincidence? They could not be expected to believe it; female vanity would not let them. He tingled, and was not far from hating the whole family; so bitter a thing is that which I have ventured to dub “The Tenderest Passion.” He itched to soothe his irritation by explaining to Edward. Dodd was a frank, good-hearted fellow; he would listen to facts, and convince the ladies in turn. Hardie learned where Dodd’s party lodged, and waited about the door to catch him alone: Dodd must be in college by twelve, and would leave Henley before ten. He waited till he was tired o

but did not betray it; she had been taught

n a modest composure a young coquette mi

ilent concern. The fair face she raised to him was wet with tears; so were her eyes, and even

h’s calamity clean out of his head. “Why, you are crying!

good enough to sympathise with us? We are mortified, sadly mortified, at dear Edward’s disgrace; and it has cost us a struggle not to disobey you, and poison his triumphal cup within sad looks. And mamma had to write to him, and console him against tomor

o heart so. You crying makes me feel guilty for letting it happen. It shall n

nough,” si

ecause brilliancy in your other papers is not allowed to count; that is how the most distinguished man of our day got ploughed for Smalls. I had a narrow escape, I know, for one. But, Miss Dodd, if you knew how far your brother’s performance on the river outweighs a mere sl

f like a sigh of relief — the final sigh,

eld of letters in their turn; and, in short, he was so earnest and plausible, that something like a smile hovered about his hearer’s lips, and she glanced askant at him with furtive gratitude from under her silky lashe

without the right to take such a freedom, was egotistical. I came here

nderstand y

I did for him, knowing who you were, and wishing to curry favour with you by all that

ady, smiling, “How foolish: why, o

ot; but how cou

ave declared ourselves: it would have been more generous, more — manly. But we cannot all be gentlemen, you know. It was so sweet to hear Edward praised b

have taken a tho

but after all, do not I know her? my mamma is all goodness and intelligence. And be assured, sir, she does you

m I have taken this unwarrantable

equire my opinion of your performances: in

was a touch of satire in t

ely on him a moment; she s

r read of anything more generous, more manly. And then so thoughtful, so considerate, so delicate! So instead of cr

ely whisper: a gurgle from the heart; and, as she concluded, her delicate hand came sweeping out with a heaven-taught gesture of large and sovereign cordiality, that made even the honest words and the divine tones more eloquent.

ke a startled stag; and she drew her hand away quickly and decidedly, though not roughly. He stammered a lowly apology — in the very middl

e felt young Hardie’s lips upon the palm of her hand plainly; they seemed to linger there still; it was like light but live velvet This, and the ardent look he had poured into her eyes, set the young creature quivering. Nobody had looked at her so before, and no young gentleman had imprinted living velvet on her hand. She was alarmed, ashamed, and uneasy. What right had he to l

her face: “Oh! oh! just look at this young lady! She has been letting a young gentleman ki

r Edward! she

looking so transparent, conscious, and all on fire with beauty and animation, that even Edward was startled, and, in a whisper, bade his mother observe what a pretty girl she was: “Beats all the country gi

alted and uneasy, by turns; and ended by excusing Mr. Hardie’s escapade, and throwing the blame on herself. She ought to have been more distant; gentlemen

“What must he

this obeying mamma? Mamma had said, “Go to bed:” not, “Go upstairs and meditate: upon young gentlemen.” She gave an expressiv

said he

n tones of honey said, “Puss! puss!

yet credited cats under beds, and thought t

the less to careful research, especially of cupboards. The door of one resiste

ell,” she thought, “there is moonlight enough to undress by.” She went to draw back one of the curtains; bu

treet full on him, and in that instan

indescribable inflexion; and hid h

de of the curtain, and made an aperture just big enough for one bright eye. Yes, there he was,

e direful threat,

she felt sure he did nothing of the kind habitually, for he had too high an opinion of himself; she had noted that trait in him at a very early stage. She satisfied herself, by cautious examination, that he did not know her room. He was making a temple of the whole lodging. “How

her back. At last, having looked, peered, and peeped, till her feet were cold, and

! Do rain! As hard as ever you can. With this benevolent aspiration, a li

, to which Earth, she conceived, had seen no parallel; and, above all, what he would do next. Her pulse galloped, and her sleep was broken; and she came down in the morning a little pale. Mrs. Dodd saw it at once, with the quick maternal eye; and mora

t home be as