"I should rather think not! Mother, do you want me to get a decent
degree, or do you not?"

"But of course you're sure to," said Lady Laura with provoking optimism,
hanging on his arm. "And now give us some tea, for we're all ravenous!
And what about that girl, Lady Constance?"

"She can't come. Her aunt has made another engagement for her. You'll
meet her at the boats."

Lady Laura looked relieved.

"Well then, we can go straight to our tea. But of course I wrote. I
always do what you tell me, Duggy. Come along, children!"

"Trix and I got a packet of Banbury cakes at Didcot," reported Roger, in
triumph, showing a greasy paper. "But we've eat 'em all."

"Little pigs!" said Falloden, surveying them. "And now I suppose you're
going to gorge again?"

"We shall disgrace you!" shouted both the children joyously--"we knew we
should!"

But Falloden hunted them all into a capacious fly, and they drove off to
Marmion, where a room had been borrowed for the tea-party. Falloden sat
on the box with folded arms and a sombre countenance. Why on earth had
his mother brought the children? It was revolting to have to appear on
the barge with such a troop. And all his time would be taken up with
looking after them--time which he wanted for quite other things.