received two beautifully
bound volumes of the Doctor's Sermons, as a parting present, he marched
down to the School-house, a hero-worshipper, who would have satisfied
the soul of Thomas Carlyle himself.

There he found the eleven at high jinks after supper, Jack Raggles
shouting comic songs, and performing feats of strength; and was greeted
by a chorus of mingled remonstrance at his desertion, and joy at his
reappearance. And falling in with the humour of the evening, was soon as
great a boy as all the rest; and at ten o'clock was chaired round the
quadrangle, on one of the hall benches, borne aloft by the eleven,
shouting on chorus, "For he's a jolly good fellow," while old Thomas, in
a melting mood, and the other School-house servants, stood looking on.

And the next morning after breakfast he squared up all the cricketing
accounts, went round to his tradesmen and other acquaintance, and said
his hearty good-byes, and by twelve o'clock was in the train, and away
for London, no longer a school-boy; and divided in his thoughts between
hero-worship, honest regrets over the long stage of his life which was
now slipping out of sight behind him, and hopes and resolves for the
next stage, upon which he was entering with all the confidence of a
young traveller.

FOOTNOTE:

[E] CLOUGH. _Ambarvalia._

CHAPTER IX.

FINIS.

"Strange friend, past, present, and to be;
Loved deeplier, darklier understood;
Behold, I dream a dream of good,
And mingle all the world with thee."
TENNYSON.

IN the summer of 1842, our hero stopped once again at the well-known
station: and, leaving his bag and fishing-rod with a porter, walked
slowly and sadly up towards the town. It was now July. He had rushed
away from Oxford the moment that term was over, for a fishing ramble in
Scotland with two college friends, and had been for three weeks living
on oatcake, mutton-hams, and whiskey, in the wildest parts of Skye.
They had descended one sultry evening on the little inn at Kyle Rhea
ferry, and while Tom and another of the party put their tackle together
and began exploring the stream for a sea-trout for supper, the third
strolled into the house to arrange for their entertainment. Presently he
came out in a loose blouse and slippers, a short pipe in his mouth, and
an old newspaper in his hand, and threw himself on the heathery scrub
which met the