f the while to keep her own opinions
and predilections as much as possible out of sight.

Robert listened with interest and astonishment, the sense of a new-found
manhood waxing once more strong within him, as his mind admitted the
strange picture of himself occupying the place which had been his
father's; master of the house and the parish he had wandered over with
childish steps, clinging to the finger or the coat of the tall stooping
figure which occupied the dim background of his recollections. 'Poor
mother,' he said thoughtfully, when she paused, 'it would be hard upon
_you_ to go back to Murewell!'

'Oh, you mustn't think of me when the time comes,' said Mrs. Elsmere,
sighing. 'I shall be a tiresome old woman, and you will be a young man
wanting a wife. There, put it out of your head, Robert. I thought I had
better tell you, for, after all, the fact may concern your Oxford life.
But you've got a long time yet before you need begin to worry about it.'

The boy drew himself up to his full height, and tossed his tumbling
reddish hair back from his eyes. He was nearly six feet already, with a
long thin body and head, which amply justified his school nickname of
'the darning-needle.'

'Don't you trouble either, mother,' he said, with a tone of decision: 'I
don't feel as if I should ever take orders.'

Mrs. Elsmere was old enough to know what importance to attach to the
trenchancy of eighteen, but still the words were pleasant to her.

The next day Robert went up for examination, and after three days of
hard work, and phases of alternate hope and depression, in which mother
and son excited one another to no useful purpose, there came the anxious
crowding round the college gate in the November twilight, and the sudden
flight of dispersing messengers bearing the news over Oxford. The
scholarship had been won by a precocious Etonian with an extraordinary
talent for 'stems,' and all that appertained thereto. But the exhibition
fell to Robert, and mother and son were well content.

The boy was eager to come into residence at once, though he would
matriculate too late to keep the term. The college authorities were
willing, and on the Saturday following the announcement of his success
he was matriculated, saw the Provost, and was informed that rooms would
be found for him without delay. His mother and he gaily climbed
innumerable stairs to inspect the garrets of which he was soon to take
proud possession, sallying forth