tures. You know also what a mere
sham and pretence the rule had become. Well, we simply made a
reality of it, and in answer to all objectors said, 'Is it our
rule or not? If it is, we are bound to act on it. If you want to
alter it, there are the regular ways of doing so.' After a little
grumbling they let us have our way, and the consequence is, that
velvet is getting scarce at St. Ambrose."

"What a blessing! What other miracles have you been performing?"

"The best reform we have carried is throwing the kitchen and
cellar open to the undergraduates."

"W-h-e-w! That's just the sort of reform we should have
appreciated. Fancy Drysdale's lot with the key of the college
cellars, at about ten o'clock on a shiny night."

"You don't quite understand the reform. You remember, when you
were an undergraduate you couldn't give a dinner in college, and
you had to buy your wine anywhere?"

"Yes. And awful firewater we used to get. The governor supplied
me, like a wise man."

"Well, we have placed the college in the relation of benevolent
father. Every undergraduate now can give two dinners a term in
his own rooms, from the kitchen; or more, if he comes and asks,
and has any reason to give. We take care that they have a good
dinner at a reasonable rate, and the men are delighted with the
arrangement. I don't believe there are three men in the college
now who have hotel bills. And we let them have all their wine out
of the college cellars."

"That's what I call good common sense. Of course it must answer
in every way. And you find they all come to you?"

"Almost all. They can't get anything like the wine we give them
at the price, and they know it."

"Do you make them pay ready money?"

"The dinners and wine are charged in their battel bills; so they
have to pay once a term, just as they do for their orders at
commons."

"It must swell their battel bills awfully."

"Yes, but battel bills always come in at the beginning of term
when they are flush of money. Besides, they all know that battel
bills must be paid. In a small way it is the best thing that ever
was done for St. Ambrose's. You see it cuts so many ways. Keeps
men in the college, knocks off the most objectionable bills at
inns and pastry-cooks', keeps them from being poisoned, makes
them pay their bills regularly, shows them that we like them to
be able to live like gentlemen--"

"And lets you dons know what they are all about, and how much
they spend i