ked at his profile, defined against the window, and did
not repent. In a sort of impulse to do something for him, she took his
hat from his hand, and was going to dispose of it in the roof, when he
turned, smiling his thanks, but saying, "it was not worth while--this
carriage was a very transitory resting-place."

The stranger at that moment sprang to his feet, exclaiming, "Dick
himself!"

"Spencer, old fellow, is it you?" cried Dr. May, in a voice of equal
amazement and joy, holding out his hand, which was grasped and wrung
with a force that made Ethel shrink for the poor maimed arm.

"Ha! what is amiss with your arm?" was the immediate question. Three
technical words were spoken in a matter-of-fact way, as Dr. May replaced
his hand in his bosom, and then, with an eager smile, said, "Ethel,
here! You have heard of him!"

Ethel had indeed, and gave her hand cordially, surprised by the bow and
air of deferential politeness with which it was received, like a favour,
while Dr. Spencer asked her whether she had been staying in Oxford.

"Ay; and what for, do you think?" said Dr. May joyously.

"You don't say that was your son who held forth yesterday! I thought his
voice had a trick of yours--but then I thought you would have held by
old Cambridge."

"What could I do?" said Dr. May deprecatingly; "the boy would go and get
a Balliol scholarship--"

"Why! the lad is a genius! a poet--no mistake about it! but I scarcely
thought you could have one of such an age."

"Of his age! His brother is in Holy Orders--one of his sisters is
married. There's for you, Spencer!"

"Bless me, Dick! I thought myself a young man!"

"What! with hair of that colour?" said Dr. May, looking at his friend's
milk-white locks.

"Bleached by that frightful sickly season at Poonshedagore, when I
thought I was done for. But you! you--the boy of the whole lot! You
think me very disrespectful to your father," added he, turning to Ethel,
"but you see what old times are."

"I know," said Ethel, with a bright look.

"So you were in the theatre yesterday," continued Dr. May; "but there is
no seeing any one in such a throng. How long have you been in England?"

"A fortnight. I went at once to see my sister, at Malvern; there I fell
in with Rudden, the man I was with in New Guinea. He was going up to be
made an honorary doctor, and made me come with him."

"And where are you bound for?" as the train showed signs of a halt.

"For London. I mean