melancholy comes from their not having
asked you to pull in the boat."

"Perhaps it does. Don't you call it degrading to be pulling in
the torpid in one's old age?"

"Mortified vanity, man! They have a capital boat. I wonder how we
should have liked to have been turned out for some bachelor just
because he had pulled a good oar in his day?"

"Not at all. I don't blame the young ones, and I hope to do my
duty in the torpid. By the way, they are an uncommonly nice set
of youngsters. Much better behaved in every way than we were,
unless it is that they put on their best manners before me."

"No, I don't think they do. The fact is they are really fine
young fellows."

"So I think. And I'll tell you what, Jack; since we are sitting
and talking our minds to one another at last, like old times,
somebody has made the most wonderful change in this college. I
rather think it is seeing what St. Ambrose's is now, and thinking
what it was in my time, and what an uncommon member of society I
should have turned out if I had had the luck to have been here
now instead of then, that makes me down in the mouth--more even
than having to pull in the torpid instead of the racing boat."

"You do think it is improved, then?"

"Think! Why it is a different place altogether; and, as you are
the only new tutor, it must have been your doing. Now I want to
know your secret."

"I've no secret, except taking a real interest in all that the
men do, and living with them as much as I can. You may fancy it
isn't much of a trial to me to steer the boat down or run on the
bank and coach the crew."

"Ah! I remember you were beginning that before I left, in your
first year. I knew that would answer."

"Yes. The fact is, I find that just what I like best is the very
best thing for the men. With very few exceptions they are all
glad to be stirred up, and meet me nearly halfway in reading, and
three-quarters in everything else. I believe they would make me
captain to-morrow."

"And why don't you let them?"

"No; there's a time for everything. I go in in the scratch fours
for the pewters, and--more by token--my crew won them two years
running. Look at my trophies," and he pointed to two pewter pots,
engraved with the college arms, which stood on his side-board.

"Well, I dare say you're right. But what does the president say?"

"Oh, he is a convert. Didn't you see him on the bank when you
torpids made your bump the other night?"

"No, you d