n there
would be a deep Yorkshire pie, or reservoir of potted game, as a
_piece, de resistance_, and three or four sorts of preserves; and
a large cool tankard of cider or ale-cup to finish up with, or
soda-water and maraschino for a change. Tea and coffee were there
indeed, but merely as a compliment to those respectable
beverages, for they were rarely touched by the breakfast eaters
of No. 3 staircase. Pleasant young gentlemen they were on No. 3
staircase; I mean the ground and first floor men who formed the
breakfast-club, for the garrets were nobodies. Three out of the
four were gentlemen-commoners, with allowances of 500L a year at
least each; and, as they treated their allowances as
pocket-money, and were all in their first year, ready money was
plenty and credit good, and they might have had potted
hippopotamus for breakfast if they had chosen to order it, which
they would most likely have done if they had thought of it.

Two out of the three were the sons of rich men who made their own
fortunes, and sent their sons to St. Ambrose's because it was
very desirable that the young gentlemen should make good
connexions. In fact, the fathers looked upon the University as a
good investment, and gloried much in hearing their sons talk
familiarly in the vacations of their dear friends Lord Harry This
and Sir George That.

Drysdale, the third of the set, was the heir of an old as well of
a rich family, and consequently, having his connexion ready made
to his hand, cared little enough with whom he associated,
provided they were pleasant fellows, and gave him good food and
wines. His whole idea at present was to enjoy himself as much as
possible; but he had good manly stuff in him at the bottom, and,
had he fallen into any but the fast set, would have made a fine
fellow, and done credit to himself and his college.

The fourth man at the breakfast-club, the Hon. Piers St. Cloud
was in his third year, and was a very well-dressed,
well-mannered, well-connected young man. His allowance was small
for the set he lived with, but he never wanted for anything. He
didn't entertain much, certainly, but when he did, everything was
in the best possible style. He was very exclusive, and knew no
man in college out of the fast set, and of these he addicted
himself chiefly to the society of the rich freshmen, for somehow
the men of his own standing seemed a little shy of him. But with
the freshmen he was always hand and glove, lived in