LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

"YOU MAY BE ASSURED OF HER CONSENT "A DOG!" SCREAMED THE PRINCIPAL

"ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THIS UNIVERSITY, SIR ?"

...

WILTON OF CUTHBERT'S.

CHAPTER I.

A LARK ACROSS COUNTRY.

T was the afternoon of a May day in the year 1843. Just on the outskirts of the classic village of Cumnor, on the road leading to Eynsham, two young men were riding toTheir age, dress, and general appearance would have left no doubt in the mind of any one who encountered them, that they were undergraduates from

gether.

The

the University of Oxford, some four miles distant. taller of them, who was addressed by his companion as Wilton, or occasionally as Gerald, had a bright, intelligent face, and every word and gesture showed the gentleman. But his appearance, though prepossessing, was not equal to that of his fellow-student-an unusually handsome man, with dark-brown curling hair, and a frank, open smile, the influence of which few could have resisted.

B

He was dressed with that careless ease which belongs only to the man of birth and breeding, being beyond the reach of the tailor's art, and he sat his horse with the grace of a perfect cavalier. They had ridden evidently at a sharp pace from Oxford, and seemed anxious to reach some place as speedily as possible. Yet when they approached the top of the descent, which lies at a short distance beyond the village, they drew rein, and looked, with some indecision, about them.

There are few lovelier views in the midland counties than that which is to be seen from the summit of the steep hill, known in those parts by the sobriquet of "Tumble-Down Dick." On the right, rise the wooded slopes of Wytham, running eastward to Botley. In the far west, the Berkshire Downs are clearly visible on a fine day, like a soft cloud on the verge of the horizon. In front, facing the north, appears a wide and fertile plain, with Eynsham and South Leigh in the foreground, and running far back to the distant uplands of Gloucestershire. The Isis is not visible from this point, though its course may be traced by the rows of willows and other trees which fringe its banks.

The young men looked about them in evident perplexity, mingled, in the instance of the second named of the two, with some annoyance, rarely seen on his goodhumoured face. "It is tiresome of these fellows," he said, presently, "to have gone off in this way without us. Ashburnham knew quite well that I, at all events, intended to join the party, and he might have had the civility to wait ten minutes."

"His Majesty is not much given to waiting," returned

Wilton. "He always puts me in mind of the famous story of Louis XIV., when he addressed his courtiers with 'I have very nearly been obliged to wait.'"

"Ashburnham is not Louis XIV., Wilton," said the

other.

"No," rejoined Wilton, "nor is Austin Wardleigh one of his courtiers. I don't think you are very well suited for that sort of thing, Austin; and to do Ashburnham justice, I think he could hardly look for it. But you ought to remember that it is my cousin, Tom Pilkington, who is the most, if not the only one, to blame. He promised to call for me; and, I suppose, forgot it."

"Yes," said Wardleigh, "or else took it for granted that we knew the ground where the course had been marked out-forgetting, or possibly not knowing, that it had been kept a profound secret, except from some halfdozen fellows."

66 Well, we mustn't blame him," observed Wilton. "He is a good fellow, and I have no doubt has had plenty to think of to-day. I hope he may win, with all my heart."

"So do I," said Wardleigh; "and I think he will, too. He is at least as good a rider as Sheringham, let fellows say what they will; and Chance has more last than Tearaway, though not so much speed for the first mile of the course. Yes, for Tom's sake, as well as for Cradock's, who is my particular friend, I hope Chance may win."

"And if there were no other reason, we should both like to see that snob Bristowe sold, who has betted awfully on Tearaway."

"Bristowe, Dick Bristowe," repeated Wardleigh. "Ay,

we don't like him overmuch, do we, Gerald? But you must remember that, anyhow, he hasn't done anything to complain of for a long time now."

"I don't fancy that he has had the chance of doing anything," said Wilton. "I know you will never believe harm of any one, Austin. You wouldn't believe that a fellow had picked your pocket, unless you caught him with his hand in it. Well, it's the best side of the two to be wrong on. But if you stand up for Bristowe, along with you. Just remember his conduct to old John Osborne."

I really can't go

"That was bad enough, certainly," said Wardleigh. "But Osborne has forgiven him that, I'll be bound."

"Forgiven him, yes," said Wilton. "He is not the fellow to bear malice. But he thinks no good of him, notwithstanding; and he is not often out in his judgment.”

"No," assented Wardleigh. "He is one of those fellows whom their mothers expect to become Chancellor, or Archbishop, or that sort of thing."

"Their mothers think that of ninety-nine out of a hundred," said Wilton, with a smile.

"Ay," said Wardleigh; "but John is the hundredth fellow, or perhaps, I should say, the thousandth, who makes the prediction good. I never saw a fellow to equal him. You remember that day at Harchester, Gerald, when there was that row with the snobs ?"

"I should think I did. Osborne wouldn't take any part in the shindy, until he saw Paul Hanson set upon by the bargees, and in danger of being half killed. Then he fought like a dragon, and got Paul off."

"Yes," assented Wardleigh; "and he got caught by