ished; and, rolling themselves up in counterpanes and blankets,
shawl fashion, they proceeded to pore over the books they had brought
up the night before.

"I don't mean to get up," growled Frank; "it's a great deal more
comfortable in bed. Clifton, bring me my candle here, and put it
on that chair--I shall make a studium of my couch."

"Dr. Wilkinson asked if we read with candles near the beds," said
Clifton. "He said he wouldn't have us read in bed unless it were
daylight, Digby."

"Well, we'll suppose he didn't," said Frank, "so come along."

"No, I won't," said Clifton, sitting down, near a chest of drawers,
on which was a candle, the joint property of himself, Reginald, and
Louis.

"You won't, won't you?" said Frank, coolly; "Reginald, my candle's
near you, I'll trouble you for it."

"You must take the consequences, then," said Reginald, "for I heard
the doctor say so."

"_I_ didn't," said Frank, snuffing his candle, and opening a book;
"Meredith, I'd advise you to follow my example."

"I followed it yesterday, and fell asleep in uncomfortable snoozes
till the bell rang," yawned Meredith. "Reading one word and dreaming
six may be entertaining, but it is certainly not instructive."

There was very little noise, and Louis lay for some time in deep
thought. At length he moved as if with the intention of getting up,
when Reginald started up and planted his beaming face over him so as
to prevent his rising:

"Awake at last, Louis?"

"Yes, I have been awake a long time."

"You've been very quiet."

"How happy you look!" said Louis; "I could almost fancy you had
something to tell."

"What will you give me for my news?"

"I am afraid I can offer nothing but thanks," replied Louis, smiling.

"What should you say if I were to tell you Casson was gone?"

"Casson _gone_!" exclaimed Louis, starting up in spite of his
brother's incubian overseership. "Where? When? How? Was he ill?
What was the matter?"

"He went home yesterday evening by the London coach. He was in
perfect bodily health. The matter was, that the magister wouldn't
keep him."

"What! _expelled_, Reginald?" said Louis, aghast.

"Expelled, Louis," Reginald replied, gravely; "don't look so
frightened; he deserved it."

"Oh, Reginald! it is so terrible! But how--why was it so sudden?"

"Ah, Beauty!" said Frank, "a few wonders have happened while
your ladyship has been sleeping there. What will you say to
Harris going, too?"

"Harris! n