CHAPTER n.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 209, 12 July 1878, Page 7

CHAPTER 11.

Winning boat-races was all ver}' fine ; but a hundred such victories could not compensate Mr Kennet's female hearers for one such defeat as he had announced, a defeat that, to their minds, carried disgrace. Their Edward plucked ! At first they were benumbed, and sat chilled, with red cheeks, bewildered between present triumph and mortification at hand. Then the colour ebbed out; of tlieir faces, aud they encouraged each other feebly in whispers, ' Mig-ht it not be a mistake ? ' But unconscious Kennet robbed them of this timid hope. He was now in his element, knew all about it, rushed into details, and sawed, away all doubt from their minds. The sum was this. Dodd's general performance was mediocre, but passable ; he was plucked for his Logic. Hardie said he was very sorry for it. 1 What does it matter ? ' answered Kennet ; *heis a boating-man.' 1 Well, and I am a boating-man. Why you told me yourself, the other day, poor Dodd was anxious about it on account of his friends. And, by-the-by, that reminds me they say he has got two pretty sisters here.'' Says Kennet, briskly, ' I'll go and tell him ; I know him just to speak to/ ' What, doesn't he know 1 ' * How can he know ? ' said Kennet, jealously; * the testamurs were only just out as I came away.' And with this he started on his congenial errand. Hardie took two or three of his long strides, and fairly collared him. « You will do nothing of the kind.' ' What, not tell a man when he's ploughed 1 That is a good joke.' 1 iN'o. There's time enough. Tell him after chapel to-morrow, or in chapel if you must 5 but why poison his triumphal cup 1 And his "sisters, too, why spoil their pleasure 1 Hang it all, not a word about 'ploughing' to auy living soul to-day.' To his surprise, Kennet's face expressed no sympathy, nor even bare assent. At this Hardie lost patience, and hurst out impetuously, ** Take care how you refuse me ; take care how you thwart me in this. He is the ; bestnatured fellow in college, Tt doesn't matter to you, and it does to him . and if you do, -then take my name off the list of your acquaintances, for I'll never { speak a word to you again in this world ; no, not on my death-bed, by Heaven ! ! The threat was extravagant ; but Youth's glowing cheek, and eye, and imperious lip, and simple generosity, made it almost beautiful. Kennet whinod, ** Oh, if you talk like that, there is an end to fair argument.' ' End it then, and promise me ; upon your honour !' 4 Why not ? What bosh ! There, I promise. Now, how do you construe j The incongruous dog (* I thank thee, TafF, fbr teaching me that word ') put this query with the severity of an inquisitor bringing back a garrulous prisoner to the point. Hardie replied gaily, ' Any way you like, now you are a good fellow again.' 'Come, that is evasive. My tutor says it cannot be rendered by any one English word ; no more can . . .' ' Why, what on earth can he know about English 1 ... is a proper Cormorant: . . . is a Skinflint ; and your tutor is a Duffer. Hush ! Keep dark now 1 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 hand, Dodd/ he cried ; 'you have saved the university. You must be stroke of the eight-oar atter me. Let me see more of you than I have, old fellow.' * With all my heart,' replied Edward, calmly, but taking the offered hand cordially ; though he rather wanted to get awaj to his mother and sister. ' We will pull together, and read together into the •bargain,' continued Hardie. ' Read together ? You and 1 1 What do you mean V * Well, you see I am pretty well un in the higher books ; what I have got to rub up is' my Divinity and my Logic ; especially ray Logic. Will you grind Logic with me ? Ssy " Yes," for I know you will keep your word.' "It is too good an offer to refuse, Hardie ; but now I look at you, you* are excited : wonderfully excited : with the race, eh? Now, just — you — wait —quietly — till next week, and then, if you are so soft as to ask me in cool blood ' ' Wait a week V cried the impetuous youth. * JNo, not a minute. It is settled. There, we cram Logic together next term.'

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And he shook Edward's hand again with glistening eyes and an emotion that was quite unintelligible to Edward; but not to the quick, sensitive spirits, who sat but fifteen yards off. 1 You really must excuse me just now,' said Edward, and ran to the carriage, and put out both hands to the fair occupants. They kissed him e.-gerly, with little tender sighs; and it cost them no slight effort not to cry publicly over " the beloved/ " rhe victorious," " the ploughed." Young Hardie stood petrified.. What? These ladies Dodd's sisters 1 Why, one of them had called the other mamma. Good Heavens, all his talk in their hearing had been of Dodd; 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 lorehead. Then, not knowing what to do or say, and being after all but a clever boy, not a cool ' never unready ' man of the world, he slipped away, blushing. Kennet followed, goggling. Left to herself, Mrs Dodd would have broken the bad news to Edward at orice, and taken the line of consoling him under her own vexation : it would not have been the first time she had played that card. But young Mr Hardio had said it 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 interchanged to relieve their secret mortification. But, after dinner, as the time drew near for him to go back to Oxford, Mrs Dodd became silent, and a little distraite ; and at last drew her chair away to a small table, and wrote tt letter. In directing it she turned it purposely so that Julia should catch the address : ' Edward Dodd, Esq., Exeter College, Oxford.' Julia was naturally startled at first, and her eye roved almost comically to and fro the letter and its Destination seated calm and unconscious of woman's beneficent wiles. But her heart soon divined the mystery ; it was to reach him the first thing in the morning, and spare him the pain of writing the news to them ; and, doubtless, so worded as not to leave him a day in doubt of their forgiveness and sympathy. Julia took the missive unobserved by the destination, and glided out of the room to get iz quietly posted. The servant girl was waiting on the second -floor lodgers, and told her so, with a significant addition, viz., that the post was in this street, and only a few doors off. Julia was surprised at her coolness, but took the hint with perfect good temper, and put on her shawl* and bonnet, and went with it herself. Tha post-office was not quite so near as represented ; but she was soon there, for she was eager till she had posted itj 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-restraint and soon her mortification betrayed itself in her speaking countenance. And to think that her mother, on whom she doted, should have to write to her son, there present, and post the letter ! This made her eyes fill, and before she reached the door of the lodging, they were brimming over. As she put her foot on the step, a timid voice addressed her in a low tone of supplication. *■ May ' I venture to speak one word to you, Miss Dodd? — one single word V She looked up surprised ; and it was young Mr Hardie. His tall figure was bending towards her submissively, and his face, as well as his utterance, betrayed considerable agitation, And what led to so unusual a rencontre between a young gentleman and lady who had never been introduced 1 ( The tender passion/ says the reader of many novels.' Why, yes ; the tenderest in all oup nature : Wounded Vanity. (To be Continued.) A free and easy actor passed three festive days at the seat of the Marquis and Marchioness of -, without any invitation, convinced that, my lord and my lady not being on speaking terms, each would suppose— as proved to be the case — the other had asked I him. ! A story is related by a Chicago paper of a newly-born infant who the other day created a profound sensation in the nursery by asking, immediately after it, had been placed in its bassinette, to be supplied with a couple of. cigars, a brandy-smash, and the latest edition of the New York Herald, its request being couched in such strong language tbat the milk in its bottle was turned sour and its nurse was sent into " one-horse convulsions-" ... ---•■ A Scotch clergyman who was a hard labourer on his glebe, and, when occupied in cultivating it, dressed in a very slovenly manner, was one day engaged in a potato-field, when he was surprised by the very rapid approach of his patron in an open carriage, with some ladies whom he. was to meet at dinner in the evening. .; Unable; to escape in time, he drew his borinet'Over his face, extended his Cartas: covered jwith his tattered jacket, "and^paskd ; himself off as a pota'to-bogie.ly •*