ne gold that it
had been when he charged down on the Eldest Statesman on the
stepping-stones of the Ownashee; his blue eyes had lost none of their
candour; the touch of gilding on his upper lip was effective only at
short range, but, when taken in connection with a very white and even
set of teeth, and a beaming and ever-ready smile, it carried
considerable weight. His fair skin had not yet taken on its summer
scorch of carmine, and its soft and babyish pinkness softened the
salience of his short nose, and induced the critic to condone the want
of decision in his chin.

"Not a _handsome_ boy, exactly," people said, "but," and here
people would smile relentingly, "if he had been a girl, one would
certainly _quite_ have said 'pretty'--so attractive-looking, and
so--so clean!" which might seem to be the condemnation of faint
praise, but was, in reality, merely the tribute that Larry's
new-minted goldenness of aspect startled from the beholder.

He was no more than five foot nine in height, which was a trial that
at times he felt deeply, but there are practical advantages for a
young man who rides, in being able to do so at something considerably
under eleven stone. At boxing, rowing, and games, what he lost in
weight and reach, he made up for in speed and elasticity and
endurance. Finally, it may be said that his figure had the gift of
making old clothes like new, and new clothes look unaggressive, and
when to these attributes is added a faculty for wearing hunting kit
with accuracy and finish, it will be understood that Larry had early
achieved standing in his college.

The Cluhir picnic, that had so justifiably perturbed Miss Frederica,
debouched, like a mighty river, from its wagonettes and outside cars,
upon the lawns of Coppinger's Court, at about four of the clock, of a
beautiful, balmy May afternoon, and to Larry fell the task of deciding
upon its course of procedure. Clad in very white flannels and a
prismatic blazer, and looking, as his most tepid supporter would have
to allow, a picture of cleanliness, he advanced upon Mrs. Mangan's
wagonette, and proffered an arm, fortunately of steel, to facilitate
her descent. The five years that had elapsed since Larry was her
guest, had effected less change in her than in him. Save that the
bisonian fringe now held a grey hair or two in its dark depths, and
the curves, that had suggested a Chesterfield sofa to her young
friend, were now something more opulent than they h