sing a circular, and composing applications for
testimonials.

After the first start of surprise, and telling James he ought to go to
school himself, Mrs. Frost was easily persuaded to enter heartily into
the project; but she insisted on the first measure being to consult Mr.
Calcott. He was the head of the old sound and respectable party--the
chairman of everything, both in county and borough--and had the casting
vote among the eight trustees of King Edward's School, who, by old
custom, nominated each other from the landholders within the town. She
strongly deprecated attempting anything without first ascertaining his
views; and, as the young men had lashed themselves into great ardour,
the three walked off at once to lay the proposal before the Squire.

But Mr. Calcott was not at home. He had set off yesterday, with Miss
Calcott and Miss Caroline, for a tour in Wales, and would not return
for a week or ten days.

To the imaginations of Lord Fitzjocelyn and Mr. Frost, this was fatal
delay. Besides, he would be sure to linger!--He would not come home
for a month--nay, six weeks at least!--What candidates might not
start--what pledges might not be given in the meantime!

James, vehement and disappointed, went home to spend the evening on the
concoction of what his grandmother approved as 'a very proper letter,'
to be despatched to meet the Squire at the post-office at Caernarvon,
and resigned himself to grumble away the period of his absence,
secretly relieved at the postponement of the evil day of the canvass,
at which all the Pendragon blood was in a state of revolt.

But Louis, in his solitude at Ormersfield, had nothing to distract his
thoughts, or prevent him from lapsing into one of his most single-eyed
fits of impetuosity. He had come to regard James as the sole hope for
Northwold school, and Northwold school as the sole hope for James; and
had created an indefinite host of dangerous applicants, only to be
forestalled by the most vigorous measures. Evening, night, and morning,
did but increase the conviction, till he ordered his horse, and
galloped to the Terrace as though the speed of his charger would decide
the contest.

Eloquently and piteously did he protest against James's promise to take
no steps until the Squire's opinion should be known. He convinced his
cousin, talked over his aunt, and prevailed to have the letter
re-written, and sent off to the post with the applications for
testimonials.