ene at the Public house in the
Corn-market, and the unsatisfactory prospect in that matter, with
Blake plucked and Drysdale no longer a member of the University,
and utterly careless as to his liabilities, came across him, and
made him silent and absent.

He answered at hazard to his companion's remarks for the next
minute or two, until after some particularly inappropriate reply,
she turned her head and looked at him for a moment with steady
wide open eyes, which brought him to himself, or rather drove him
into himself, in no time.

"I really beg your pardon," he said; "I was very rude, I fear. It
is so strange to me to be walking here with ladies. What were you
saying?"

"Nothing of any consequence--I really forget. But it is a very
strange thing for you to walk with ladies here?"

"Strange! I should think it was! I have never seen a lady that I
knew up here, till you came."

"Indeed! but there must be plenty of ladies living in Oxford?"

"I don't believe there are. At least, we never see them,"

"Then you ought to be on your best behavior when we do come. I
shall expect you now to listen to everything I say, and to answer
my silliest questions."

"Oh, you ought not to be so hard on us."

"You mean that you find it hard to answer silly questions? How
wise you must all grow, living up here together!"

"Perhaps. But the wisdom doesn't come down to the first-year men;
and so--"

"Well, why do you stop?"

"Because I was going to say something you might not like."

"Then I insist on hearing it. Now, I shall not let you off. You
were saying that wisdom does not come so low as first-year men;
and so--what?"

"And so--and so, they are not wise."

"Yes, of course; but that was not what you were going to say; and
so--"

"And so they are generally agreeable, for wise people are always
dull; and so--ladies ought to avoid the dons."

"And not avoid first-year men?"

"Exactly so."

"Because they are foolish, and therefore fit company for ladies.
Now, really--"

"No, no; because they are foolish, and, therefore, they ought to
be made wise; and ladies are wiser than dons."

"And therefore, duller, for all wise people, you said, were
dull."

"Not all wise people; only people who are wise by cramming,--as
dons; but ladies are wise by inspiration."

"And first-year men, are they foolish by inspiration and
agreeable by cramming, or agreeable by inspiration and foolish by
cramming?"

"They are agreeabl