lasting friendships he makes there: even those few distinguished persons
who have risen in the would without it, have openly regretted the want,
and have sent their children: and _that_ says volumes to me."

"Why, Edward, it is the hall-mark of a gentleman," said Julia eagerly.
Mrs. Dodd caught a flash of her daughter: "And my silver shall never be
without it," said she warmly. She added presently, in her usual placid
tone, "I beg your pardon, my dears, I ought to have said my gold." With
this she kissed Edward tenderly on the brow, and drew an embrace and a
little grunt of resignation from him. "Take the dear boy and show him our
purchases, love!" said Mrs. Dodd, with a little gentle accent of half
reproach, scarce perceptible to a male ear.

"Oh, yes," and Julia rose and tripped to the door. There she stood a
moment, half turned, with arching neck, colouring with innocent pleasure.
"Come, darling. Oh, you good-for- nothing thing."

The pair found a little room hard by, paved with china, crockery, glass,
baths, kettles, &c.

"There, sir. Look them in the face; and us, if you can."

"Well, you know, I had no idea you had been and bought a cart-load of
things for Oxford." His eye brightened; he whipped out a two-foot rule,
and began to calculate the cubic contents. "I'll turn to and make the
cases, Ju."


The ladies had their way; the cases were made and despatched; and one
morning the Bus came for Edward, and stopped at the gate of Albion Villa.