His wishes were fulfilled, and he was put No. 6 in what was supposed to be the better of the two boats. This, of course, insured his rowing in his College Torpid next term, and in his College Eight in the summer term, and it might have led to a seat in “the ’Varsity.” As a matter of fact, it did not; but Frank was well content with the honour of merely rowing in the “Trials,” and more especially as the Eight in which he was rowing won the race in November. Towards the close of term he was made a Freemason, and very proud he was to tell his father, himself a Mason of some distinction, the various gossip of his lodge, “The Apollo,” which claims among its members some of England’s best-known brethren. One other little distinction Frank had to relate on going down for the Christmas vacation, and that was the flattering notice, in the _Undergraduate’s Journal_, of a poem of his which had appeared in the University magazine, _College Rhymes_;[10] and it may safely be asserted that no one in Porchester was prouder of the poet than the vicar’s daughter, who saw herself reflected in the mirror of his verse. The Christmas vacation passed. Lent Term came, and with it the Torpids. Paul’s made five bumps, and Frank duly posted copies of the _Undergraduate’s Journal_, which recorded the fact, to the vicarage and to his home. But with this proud event he abandoned for the present most of his amusements, confined himself to the practice for the Eights which were coming off in May, and to his work for Moderations, which was fixed for about the same date. The college lectures not being sufficient, he found himself obliged to “put on a coach”--_i.e._ employ a private tutor--during the summer term; but when he got his “testamur” in June, just a week before Commemoration, he and his father both felt that the ten guineas[11] had been profitably expended. CHAPTER VII. A READING PARTY. Moderations being thus thrown behind, the next step was the choice of subjects in which to take a degree. For the Second Public or Final Examination for the degree of B.A. there is yet further scope of subject allowed. Here, again, a student has the option of taking a Pass or an Honour Degree; and here also both Passmen and Classmen alike have to pass an examination in the Rudiments of Faith and Religion, the subjects of which are:-- (1) The Books of the Old and New Testament. (2) The Holy Gospels and Acts of the Apostles in the original Greek. (3) The Thirty-nine Articles. But any candidate may for himself, or his parents or guardians for him, object on religious grounds to this examination, and in this case he is allowed to offer some books or subjects appointed for this purpose by the Board of Studies. The subjects for the Pass Degree are arranged in three groups, as follows, the books specified being those which may now be offered till further notice:-- GROUP A.