That very evening he sat down and resolved to work. He had an
appetite for it once more. He worked till long after midnight, and
on the morrow kept his old hours. Moreover, he wrote a long letter
to Hawes, a good, frank letter, giving his father a full account of
the meetings with Daniel and Alexander, and telling all about the
pecuniary transactions:--"I hope you will not think I behaved very
foolishly. Indeed, it has given me pleasure to share with them. My
trouble is lest you should think I acted in complete disregard of
you; but, if I am glad to do a good turn, remember, dear father,
that it is to you I owe this habit of mind. And I shall not need
money. I feel it practically certain that I shall get my office, and
then it will go smoothly. The examination draws near, and I am
working like a Trojan!"

"I cannot carp at you," wrote Jerome Otway in reply, "but tighten
the purse-strings after this, and be not overmuch familiar with
Alexander the Little or Daniel the Purblind. Their ways are not
mine; let them not be yours!"

He had to run up to town for the trying-on of his new garments, and
this time the business gave him satisfaction. In future he would be
seeing much more society; he must have a decent regard for
appearances.

His spirits faltered not; they were in harmony with the June
weather. Never had he laboured to such purpose. Everything seemed
easy; he strode with giant strides into the field of knowledge.
Papers such as would be set him at the examination were matter for
his mirth, mere schoolboy tests. Now and then he rose from study