wrists in his hands, and looked
down into her eyes, in which, if he saw a little pique at his
going, he saw other things which stirred in him strange feelings
of triumph and tenderness.

"Well, then you shall pay for it, anyhow," he said.--Why, need I
tell what followed?--There was a little struggle; a "Go along,
do, Mr. Brown;" and the next minute Tom minus his handkerchief,
was hurrying after his companions; and Patty was watching him
from the door, and setting her cap to rights. Then she turned and
went back into the bar, and started, and turned red, as she saw
Hardy there, still standing in the further corner, opposite her
aunt. He finished his glass of ale as she came in, and then
passed out wishing them "Good-night."

"Why aunt" she said, "I thought they were all gone. Who was that
sour-looking man?"

"He seems a nice quiet gentleman, my dear," said the old lady,
looking up. "I'm sure he's much better than those ones as make so
much racket in the bar. But where have you been, Patty?"

"Oh, to the commercial room, aunt. Won't you have a game at
cribbage?" and Patty took up the cards and set the board out, the
old lady looking at her doubtfully all the time through her
spectacles. She was beginning to wish that the college gentlemen
wouldn't come so much to the house, though they were very good
customers.

Tom, minus his handkerchief, hurried after his comrades, and
caught them up before they got to college. They were all there
but Hardy, whose absence vexed our hero for a moment; he had
hoped that Hardy, now that he was in the boat, would have shaken
off all his reserve towards the other men, and blamed him because
he had not done so at once. There could be no reason for it but
his own oddness he thought, for everyone was full of his praises
as they strolled on talking of the race. Miller praised his
style, and time, and pluck. "Didn't you feel how the boat sprung
when I called on you at the Cherwell?" he said to the Captain.
"Drysdale was always dead beat at the Gut, and just like a log in
the boat, pretty much like some of the rest of you."

"He's in such good training, too," said Diogenes; "I shall find
out how he diets himself."

"We've pretty well done with that, I should hope," said No.6.
"There are only two more nights, and nothing can touch us now."

"Don't be too sure of that," said Miller. "Mind now, all of you,
don't let us have any nonsense till the races are over and we are
all safe."