"Very well, then. Just for once," said Betty, after a look at his face. "We'll go along the Backs." "I suppose you haven't heard about my father last night, have you?" asked Lucius, as they made their way across the bridge. "No. What about him?" asked Betty. "I really sometimes think he's going off his head," said Lucius despondently. "He was so pleased at his boat going head of the river that he gave a great feed. There was a terrific row. In the middle of it the old fool I have to go and hear preach at home turned up. Goodness knows what brought him. He came to see me this morning just after breakfast, and seems to think I must have been in it too, although he knew I wasn't there. He began a long solemn jaw, but I was so sick I shut him up. He's an awful old outsider, and he's got nothing to do with me, even if I had done something he didn't approve of, which I haven't." "But it doesn't matter what _he_ thinks, does it?" asked Betty with all the scorn of the rector's daughter against a member of a usurping caste. "I don't know," said Lucius dubiously. "His wife is a spiteful old woman. Of course it will get to her ears and then it will be all over the place. There's one good thing, I have been away from home such a lot, and have so many friends outside, that it won't matter so much to me as it might have done. But it will be awful for the poor old governor. I don't think he knows what he's laying up for himself." "Oh, I shouldn't bother my head about him if I were you," said Betty airily. "It's his own fault, and he's got himself to thank for it. It's you I'm thinking of." Then she blushed a little. Lucius blushed too. "You are so awfully kind," he began, "and----" "Yes. Thank you," interrupted Betty, hastily. "But I really shouldn't know what to do if it wasn't for you," persisted Lucius. "It's like----" "Yes, I know," interrupted Betty again. "But you haven't told me all about last night yet, have you?" "No," said Lucius, his face falling again. "The row reached such a pitch that the Proctors came in. My gyp told me that the governor was going to be hauled this morning, and I shouldn't wonder if he were sent down." "Well, that will be all the better for you, won't it?" inquired Betty, unmoved at the awful announcement. "I don't know. I haven't thought of that yet," Lucius admitted. "But I'm afraid it will kill the poor old governor. I shall go and see him when I get back. I'm awfully sorry for him, although he has been so tiresome. But don't let's talk any more about it. We're nearly there. I say, Betty----" "I think you'd better go back now," said Betty. "You've come quite far enough," and Lucius was not bold enough to disobey her. He found Mr. Binney just returned from his visit to his Tutor. "It's all over, Lucius. I'm sent down," he said hopelessly. Lucius was at a loss for words. The humour of the situation suddenly struck him, and he had hard work to prevent himself smiling.