you this afternoon. Until
half-time you were drugged or somethin', and there was I prayin' to my
Druids all I was worth to put back into you. And, my word, they did it
I Talk about that second half--never saw anythin' like it! Have a drink,
old man!"

"No, thanks. Yes, I didn't seem to get on to it at all at first."

"Well, you're fixed for Queen's Club--just heard--got your Blue all
right. You and Whymper ought to do fine things between you, although
stickin' two individualists together on the same wing like that ain't
exactly my idea, and they don't as a rule settle the team as early
as this"--Lawrence put a large hand on Olva's knee. "Goin' home for
Christmas?" he said.

"I expect so."

"Well, yer see--I've got a sort of idea. I wish this vac, you'd come
an' stay with us for a bit. Good old sorts, my people. Governor quite
a brainy man--and you could talk, you two. There'll be lots of people
tumblin' about the place--lots goin' on, and the governor'll like to
have a sensible feller once in a way . . . and I'd like it too," he
ended at the bottom of his gruff voice.

"Well, you see;" Olva explained, "it depends a bit on my own father.
He's all alone up there at our place, and I like to be with him as much
as possible." Olva looked through the window at the snow, grey against
the sky, white against the college walls. "I don't quite know where I
shall be--I think you must let me write to you."

"Oh! _that's_ all right," said Lawrence. "I want you to come along some
time. You'd like the governor--and if you don't mind listening to an ass
like me--well, I'd take it as an honour if you'd talk to me a bit."

As Olva looked Lawrence in the eyes he knew that it would be well with
him if, in his journey through the world, he met again so good a soul.
Cardillac joined them and they all talked for a little. Then Olva said
good-night.

He turned for a moment at the door and looked back. Some one at the
other end of the room was singing "Egypt" to a cracked piano. A babel
of laughter, of chatter, every now and again men tumbled against one
another, like cubs in a cave, and rolled upon the floor. Lawrence,
his feet planted wide apart, was standing in the middle of an admiring
circle, explaining something very slowly.

"If the old scrum-half," he was saying, "only stood back enough---"

What a splendid lot they were! What a life it was! So much joy in the
heart of so much beauty! . . . Cambridge!

As he crossed the wh