"It was indeed a grief to me to read that, Peter," she said, "and how you could send it me of your own accord passes my comprehension. Inattention to study I can overlook, and thoughtless levity of conduct I can pardon--but _drunkenness_! Oh, Peter, I never thought it would come to _that_." Mr. Binney had been getting very red during the passing of this exordium on his conduct. "Pooh, Martha!" he burst out at last. "How could I have known that you would take it seriously. You don't think all that rubbish is true, do you? It is all made up and put in for a lark. I sent it to you because--well, because I thought it would please you to see how popular and well-known I have become in Cambridge. If you don't like it, throw it in the fire." "But if it is not true, Peter," said Mrs. Higginbotham--"and I'm sure I'm very much relieved to hear that it is not--why do you allow such things to be put into a paper? It distinctly says you 'saw double,' and I have always understood that to be an unfailing sign of--of _tipsiness_. I call it disgraceful taking away a gentleman's character like that. Supposing it should come round to Dr. Toller's ears, or some others of the congregation? And you a deacon, too, and so much looked up to." "Dr. Toller!" echoed Mr. Binney with much scorn. "What do I care for Dr. Toller? _He's_ not a 'Varsity man; he doesn't understand these things." "He has got a University degree," said Mrs. Higginbotham. "Indeed, _two_ degrees. He is always put in the bills as Rev. Samuel Toller, B.A., D.D." "That's nothing," said Mr. Binney. "He wasn't at Oxford or Cambridge. The rest don't count." "Oh, don't they! I didn't know," said Mrs. Higginbotham. "But, at any rate, I shouldn't allow those things to be said of you, Peter, especially as they are not true. It might get about, and I shouldn't like that. Now, tell me about some of your speeches at the Young Men's Christian Association. I am so glad you----" "The Union, Martha! The Union!" shouted Mr. Binney, annoyed beyond bounds at Mrs. Higginbotham's consistent inability to grasp the true inwardness of University life. "Well, the Union then," said Mrs. Higginbotham. "It's the same thing, isn't it?" "No, it's _not_ the same thing," said Mr. Binney, and then he calmed down and gave Mrs. Higginbotham a full and true account of the building up of his forensic ambitions, and their sad and disastrous downfall. Mrs. Higginbotham was full of sympathy and womanly consolation. "Ah, Martha," said Mr. Binney at last, "what a treasure I have gained in your love! My barque will never suffer shipwreck so long as the haven of your true woman's breast is open to it." "I trust not," said Mrs. Higginbotham. "And now let us have tea up. I expect Annie will have toasted some muffins."