"I'm very sorry, father," said poor Lucius. "I'd no idea you would stand on all that ceremony. I couldn't make out why you didn't turn up. I thought perhaps you had made up your mind that it would be better for us to take different lines." "Another ten pounds off," roared Mr. Binney, "you know what I said." "Oh, _damn_ it," said Lucius, losing patience. "I shan't have anything left at all soon. I'd better go down at once, and have done with it." "How dare you swear at me, sir?" cried Mr. Binney. "Well, isn't it enough to make a chap swear?" answered Lucius, almost crying. "I've had such a jolly time up here, and now I'm ashamed to show my face. And as if that wasn't enough you take money off me every time I open my mouth." Mr. Binney relented. He was fond of his son, and Lucius looked very unhappy. "I'll let you off this time," he said, "but don't let it occur again. Now, what I wanted to say was that I'm not getting on as I expected. Not a soul has called on me except some one who wanted a subscription for a missionary society. I was very pleased to give him a sovereign, of course, but I could hardly take his call as a friendly visit. I have picked up a few friends of my own year at hall and elsewhere, but that isn't what I want. I want to know the distinguished men. You know them. Why haven't you sent some of them to call on me?" "Look here, father," said Lucius. "It's no use going on like this. The people I know don't go in for all this 'calling' rot, and I'm not going to ask them to. If you _must_ know that particular lot, you'll meet some of them in my rooms occasionally, and if they take to you, well, you'll get to know some of them. But you must take your chance just like anybody else. It's no good pushing things." "Well, there's sense in that," said Mr. Binney. "You can have a little dinner in your rooms. I'll pay for it, and I daresay we shall be very good friends before the evening is out. I suppose you couldn't get Muttlebury up for it, could you? You said you knew him. I should like to meet Muttlebury." "No, I couldn't," said Lucius shortly. "Well, any blues will do. I should like to be able to tell Minshull I dined with a party of blues. He only knew one, and that very slightly--Widgeon, who put the hammer or something last year. He was at Peterhouse--Pothouse, I mean. By-the-bye, I suppose there's no harm in my looking up men of my own year, is there?" "I suppose not, not if you use your sense about it." "Now, what about the 'Pitt' Club? When is the election?" "I don't know. In about a fortnight I should think." "Is my name down for it?" "No." "And why not, pray?" "I've only been there once since I came up." "Put it down at once, then, and don't lose any more time about it. Minshull had never heard of the 'Pitt,' but I have learnt since I came up that all the best known people belong to it. And I should like to belong to the A.D.C. too."