would strive, with a
godlike energy, to fail in no duty, and to leave no effort unfulfilled.
If he viewed his coming life too much in its poetical aspect, at least
his glowing aspirations and golden dreams were tempered with a deep
humility and a childlike faith.

After fuming a little at the icy reception which his tutor had given
him, he walked up and down the court, thinking of his position, and his
intentions--of the past, the present, and the future--until proud tears
glistened in his eyes. It was clear to him that now he would have to
stand alone amid life's trials, and alone face life's temptations. And
he was ready for the struggle. With God's help he would not miss the
meaning of his life, but take the tide of opportunity while it was at
the flood.

Before rejoining his mother, he determined to call on one of the junior
fellows, the only one with whom he had any acquaintance, the Reverend N
Admer. He only knew him from a casual introduction; but Mr Admer had
asked him to call, on his arrival at Saint Werner's, and Julian hoped
both to get some information from him to dissipate the painful feeling
of strangeness and novelty, and also partially to do away with the
effect of Mr Grayson's coldness.

Although it was now past ten in the morning, he found Mr Admer only
just beginning breakfast, and looking tired and lazy. He was received
with a patronising and supercilious tone, and the Fellow not only went
on with his breakfast, but occasionally glanced at a newspaper while he
talked. Not that Mr Admer at all meant to be unkind or rude, but he
hated enthusiasm in every shape; he did not believe in it, and it
wearied him--hence freshmen during their first few days were his
profound abhorrence.

After a few commonplace remarks, Julian ventured on a question or two as
to the purchases which he would immediately require, the hours of
lecture and hall, and the thousand-and-one trifles of which a newcomer
is necessarily ignorant. Mr Admer seemed to think this a great bore,
and answered languidly enough, advising Julian not to be "more fresh"
than he could help. It requires very small self-denial to make a person
at home by supplying him with a little information; but small as the
effort would have been, it was greater than the Reverend N Admer could
afford to make, and his answers were so little encouraging that Julian,
making ample allowance for the ennuye condition of the young Fellow,
relapsed into silence