eming parted.' I made him my confidant, and he used to laugh, in his
good humoured way, at my enthusiastic description of Mary. He threatened
to fall in love with her, himself, and to win her heart from me, and I
dared him to do so, if he could; and even, in my joyous triumph, invited
him home with me in vacation, that he might see the lovely conquest I
had made. Well, home we went together, and his welcome was all that I or
he could wish. Mary, my sweet, confiding Mary, was so kind and gentle,
that I loved her only the more, because she loved my friend so much. I
never dreamed of jealousy, Alfred Bernard, or I might have seen
beforehand the wiles of the insidious tempter. How often have I looked
with transport on their graceful forms, as they stood to watch the
golden sunset, from that sweet old porch, over which the roses clambered
so thickly.

"But why do I thus delay. The story is at last a brief one. It wanted
but two days of our return to Oxford, and we were all spending the day
together at old farmer Howard's. Mary seemed strangely sad that evening,
and whenever I spoke to her, her eyes filled with tears, and she
trembled violently. Fool that I was, I attributed her tears and her
agitation to her regret at parting from her lover. Little did I suspect
the terrible storm which awaited me. Well, we parted, as lovers part,
with sighs and tears, but with me, and alas! with me alone in hope.
Edward himself looked moody and low-spirited, and I recollect that to
cheer him up, I rallied him on being in love with Mary. Never will I
forget his look, now that the riddle is solved, as he replied, fixing
his clear, intense blue eyes upon me, 'Arthur, the wisest philosophy is,
not to trust your all in one venture. He who embarks his hopes and
happiness in the heart of one woman, may make shipwreck of them all.'

"'And so you, Mr. Philosopher,' I replied, gaily, 'would live and die an
old bachelor. Now, for mine own part, with little Mary's love, I promise
you that my baccalaureate degree at Oxford will be the only one to which
I will aspire.'

"He smiled, but said nothing, and we parted for the night.

"Early the next morning, even before the sun had risen, I went to his
room to wake him--for on that day we were to have a last hunt. We had
been laying up a stock of health, by such manly exercises for the coming
session. Intimate as I was with him, I did not hesitate to enter his
room without announcing myself. To my surprise