nce that no great harm,
perhaps some good, had been done in the passage of arms between
her relatives.

"You made it all up," she said, smiling, "before we found you."

"Only just, though. He begged my pardon just at last, almost in a
whisper, when you were quite close to us."

"And you granted it?"

"Yes, of course; but I don't know that I shall not recall it."

"I was sure you would be falling out before long, you got on so
fast. But he isn't quite so easy to turn round your finger as you
thought, Mary."

"Oh, I don't know that," said Mary, laughing; "you saw how humble
he looked at last, and what good order he was in."

"Well, dear, it's time to think whether we shall go out again."

"Let me see; there's the last ball. What do you say?"

"Why, I'm afraid poor papa is too tired to take us, and I don't
know with whom we could go. We ought to begin packing, too I
think."

"Very well. Let us have tea quietly at home."

"I will write a note to Tom to tell him. He has done his best for
us, poor fellow, and we ought to consider him a little."

"Oh yes, and ask him and his friend Mr. Hardy to tea, as it is
the last night."

"If you wish it, I shall be very glad; they will amuse papa."

"Certainly, and then he will see that I bear him no malice. And
now I will go and just do my hair."

"Very well; and we will pack after they leave. How strange home
will seem after all this gayety."

"Yes, we seem to have been here a month."

"I do hope we shall find all quiet at Englebourn. I am always
afraid of some trouble there."

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE END OF THE FRESHMAN'S YEAR

On the morning after Commemoration, Oxford was in a bustle of
departure. The play had been played, the long vacation had begun,
and visitors and members seemed equally anxious to be off. At the
gates of the colleges, groups of men in travelling-dresses waited
for the coaches, omnibuses, dog-carts and all manner of vehicles,
which were to carry them to the Great Western railway station at
Steventon, or elsewhere, to all points of the compass. Porters
passed in and out with portmanteaus, gun-cases, and baggage of
all kinds, which they piled outside the gates, or carried off to
"The Mitre" or "The Angel," under the vigorous and not too
courteous orders of the owners. College servants flitted round
the groups to take instructions, and, if so might be, to extract
the balances of extortionate bills out of their departing
masters. Dog-fanci