o easy to forget
as most;" and he went on to explain Hardy's plans, to which Blake
listened eagerly.

"Capital!" he said, when Tom had finished. "In whose rooms did
you say they are?"

"In Hardy's, and he works at them every night with Grey."

"That's the queer big servitor, his particular pal," put in
Drysdale; "there's no accounting for tastes."

"You don't know him," retorted Tom; "and the less you say about
him the better."

"I know he wears highlows and short flannels, and-"

"Would you mind asking Hardy to let me come to his lectures?"
interrupted Blake, averting the strong language which was rising
to Tom's lips. "I think they seem just the things I want. I
shouldn't like to offer to pay him, unless you think-"

"I'm quite sure," interrupted Tom, "that he won't take anything.
I will ask him to-morrow whether he will let you come, and he is
such a kind good fellow that I'm almost sure he will."

"I should like to know your pal, too, Brown," said Drysdale; "you
must introduce me, with Blake."

"No, I'll be hanged if I do," said Tom.

"Then I shall introduce myself," said Drysdale; "see if I don't
sit next him, now, at your wine on Thursday."

Here Drysdale's scout entered with two notes, and wished to know
if Mr. Drysdale would require anything more. Nothing but hot
water; he could put the kettle on, Drysdale said, and go; and
while the scout was fulfilling his orders, he got up carelessly,
whistling, and walking to the fire, read the notes by the light
of one of the candles which were burning on the mantle-piece.
Blake was watching him eagerly, and Tom saw this, and made some
awkward efforts to go on talking about the advantages of Hardy's
plan for learning history. But he was talking to deaf ears, and
soon came to a stand still. He saw Drysdale crumple up the notes
in his hand and shove them into his pocket. After standing for a
few seconds in the same position, with his back to them, he
turned around with a careless air, and sauntered to the table
where they were sitting.

"Let's see, what were we saying?" he began. "Oh, about your
eccentric pal, Brown."

"You've answers from both?" interrupted Blake. Drysdale nodded,
and was beginning to speak again to Tom when Blake got up and
said, with white lips, "I _must_ see them."

"No, never mind, what does it matter?"

"Matter! by heaven, I must and will see them now."

Tom saw at once that he had better go, and so took up his cap,
wished them g