ALL BUT LOST A Novel. BY G. A. HENTY, AUTHOR OF “THE MARCH TO MAGDALA,” ETC., ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL I. LONDON: TINSLEY BROTHERS, 18, CATHERINE ST., STRAND. 1869. [_The Right of Translation is reserved._] LONDON: BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I.— COLLEGE LIFE 1 II.— THE DUSTMAN’S FAMILY 22 III.— BROKEN DOWN 46 IV.— THE OWNERS OF WYVERN HALL 70 V.— A MODEST ANNIVERSARY 94 VI.— THE BINGHAMS 118 VII.— A STARTLING SUGGESTION 138 VIII.— A SHATTERED HOME 169 IX.— WHAT WILL IT LEAD TO? 195 X.— PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL 221 XI— AN EVENING AT THE HOLLS’ 244 XII.— THWARTED PLANS 264 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ALL BUT LOST. CHAPTER I. COLLEGE LIFE. It is near the end of the Lent term at Cambridge, a raw, damp day. The grey clouds are drifting thick and low, over the flat fen country, and a fine mist is falling steadily. But for once no one seems to mind the weather. It is two o’clock, and from all the colleges the men are pouring out in groups, on their way down to the river. Hardly a soul in the University remains behind. Even the reading men have closed their books for the afternoon, have given up their daily constitutional out beyond Trumpington, and are going down to see their college eights row. It is the last day of the races. Along the men tramp in little knots through the narrow winding streets—talking excitedly as they go, and making many bets as to the fortune of the day—and then, across the wet grass, down to the water side. Here those who are to row cross the floating bridge to the boat-houses, while the others walk slowly along the banks, to see the boats as they paddle by on their way down. Soon they come; John’s in its blazing scarlet, Trinity in dark blue, cherry-coloured Emanuel, chocolate Corpus, and violet Caius; Trinity Hall in its sober grey, Sidney in bright orange, and Queen’s in green.[1] These and many others sweep past, and the narrow river seems alive with the flashing oars. Footnote 1: Many of the colours have since been changed.