o
give vent to a low guttural laugh.

After this it was lucky for Julian that he had brought his mother and
sister with him, and that a moment after leaving Mr Admer he caught
sight of Hugh Lillyston. With a joyful expression of surprise, they
grasped each other's hands, and interchanged so friendly a greeting that
Julian in an instant had scattered to the winds the gloomy impression
which was beginning to creep over him.

"How long have you been here, Hugh?"

"I came yesterday."

"Have you seen your rooms yet?"

"No; I am just going to look for them."

"Well, come along; I know where they are."

"But stop," said Julian, "I must go to the Eagle first for my people.
They'll be expecting me."

"Really. So Mrs Home's here?" asked Lillyston.

"Yes, and my sister. If you've nothing to do, come and be introduced."

"How immensely jolly. I wish _my_ mother and sister had taken the
trouble to come with me, I know."

They went to the hotel, and Lillyston was able to gratify the curiosity
he had long felt to see his friend's relations.

"Whom do you think I've brought back with me, mother? guess," said
Julian, as he entered the room beaming with pleasure. "Here, Hugh, come
along. My mother--my sister--Mr Lillyston."

"What! is this the Mr Lillyston of whom we've heard so much?" asked
Mrs Home, with a cordial shake of the hand, while Violet looked up with
a quick glance of curiosity and pleasure.

"No other," said Hugh, laughing; "and really I feel as if I were an old
friend already."

"You are so, I assure you," said Mrs Home, "and I hope we shall often
meet now." Lillyston hoped the same, as he looked at Violet.

It was arranged that they should all four go at once to Julian's rooms,
and help in the grand operation of unpacking. The rooms were very
pleasant attics in the great court, looking out on the Fellows'
bowling-green, and the Iscam flowing beyond it. The furniture, most of
which Julian was going to take from the previous possessor, was neat and
comfortable, and when the book shelves began to glitter with his Harton
prizes and gift-books, Julian was delighted beyond measure with the
appearance of his new home.

For some hours the unpacking continued vigorously, only interrupted by
an excursion for lunch to the hotel, since Julian had as yet purchased
no plates and received no commons.

On their return they found an old lady in the room--

"A charred and wrinkled piece of womanhood;"