Julian felt his heart full of friendliness for the gentle boy whose total inexperience made him seem younger than he really was. He glanced round the rooms; they were richly furnished, but full of memorials of home, that gave them a melancholy aspect. Over the fireplace was a water-colour likeness of his lady-mother in her widow's weeds, and on the opposite side of the room another picture of a beautiful young child--De Vayne's only brother, who had died in infancy. The handsomely-bound books on the shelves had been transferred from their well-known places in the library of Uther Hall, and the regal antlers which were fastened over the door had once graced the dining-room. Thousands would have envied Lord De Vayne's position; but he had caught the shadow of his mother's sadness, his relations were few, at Saint Werner's as yet he had found none to lean upon, and he felt unhappy and alone. "I was so ashamed, Julian," he said, "so utterly and unspeakably ashamed to hear the rudeness of these men as we came out of hall. I'm afraid you must have felt deeply hurt." "Yes, for the moment; but I'm sorry that I took even a moment's notice of it. Why should one be ruffled because others are unfeeling and impertinent; it is their misfortune, not ours." "But why did you come up as a sizar, Julian? Surely with Lonstead Abbey as your inheritance--" "No," said Julian with a smile; "I am lord of my leisure, and no land beside." "Really! I had always looked on you as a future neighbour and helper." He was too delicate to make any inquiries on the subject, but while a bright airy vision rose for an instant before Julian's fancy, and then died away, his friend said, with ingenuous embarrassment: "You know, Home, I am very rich. In truth, I have far more money than I know what to do with. It only troubles me. I wish--" "Oh, dear no!" said Julian hastily; "I got the Newry scholarship, you know, at Harton, and I really need no assistance whatever." "I hope I haven't offended you; how unlucky I am," said De Vayne blushing. "Not a whit, De Vayne; I know your kind heart." "Well, do let me see something of you. Won't you come a walk sometimes, or let me come in of an evening when you're taking tea, and not at work?" "Do," said Julian, and they agreed to meet at his rooms on the following Sunday evening.