is, of course, is private," continued the stranger. "These men join
on the understanding that if anything comes out they deny all
connection with us. But they have the thing at heart. I have here a
very kind letter from Gladstone--"

He felt in his pockets.

"I seem to have left it at home. However, its purport was that he
hoped we would not admit Lord Salisbury an honorary member."

"Why not?"

"Well, the Society has power to take from its numbers, so far as
ordinary members are concerned, but it is considered discourteous to
reduce the honorary list."

"Then why have honorary members?" asked Andrew in a burst of enthusiasm.

"It is a necessary precaution. They subscribe largely too. Indeed,
the association is now established on a sound commercial basis. We are
paying six per cent."

"None of these American preachers who come over to this country are
honorary members?" asked Andrew, anxiously.

"No; one of them made overtures to us, but we would not listen to him.
Why?"

"Oh, nothing," said Andrew.

"To do the honorary list justice," said his companion, "it gave us one
fine fellow in our honorary president. He is dead now."

Andrew looked up.

"No, we had nothing to do with it. It was Thomas Carlyle."

Andrew raised his hat.

"Though he was over eighty years of age," continued the stranger.
"Carlyle would hardly rest content with merely giving us his
countenance. He wanted to be a working member. It was he who
mentioned Froude's name to us."

"For honorary membership?"

"Not at all. Froude would hardly have completed the 'Reminiscences'
had it not been that we could never make up our minds between him and
Freeman."

Youth is subject to sudden fits of despondency. Its hopes go up and
down like a bucket in a draw-well.

"They'll never let me join," cried Andrew, sorrowfully.

His companion pressed his hand.

"Three black balls exclude," he said, "but you have the president on
your side. With my introduction you will be admitted a probationer,
and after that everything depends on yourself."

"I thought you must be the president from the first," said Andrew,
reverently.

He had not felt so humble since the first day he went to the University
and walked past and repast it, frightened to go in.

"How long," he asked, "does the period of probation last?"

"Three months. Then you send in a thesis, and if it is considered
satisfactory you become a member."

"And if it isn't?"