Towards the end Freddy expressed a violent antipathy to the colour of the Turkish gentleman who served us with coffee, and was only quieted by the strains of the ‘Girl from Kays’ from the orchestra. Dinner over, we were going downstairs, when Freddy, who appeared unable to find the bannisters, grasped the hand of an ancient and enamelled dowager who was laboriously ascending, and, greeting her effusively, enquired ‘if her mother knew she was out.’ Leaving the venerable relic speechless and perspiring, we saved ourselves from rough treatment at the hands of the attendants by bolting hatless into Piccadilly Circus, and here we saw the last of Timmins. He leant into our cab, and after explaining pathetically that he had no money to pay his washing bill and that he had pawned his mother’s photograph, propped himself wearily against the railings and took no further interest in the proceedings. Our arrival at Paddington a few minutes after nine was marked by wild cheers on Freddy’s part and the disbursement of my last eighteenpence. A short interview with the station-master resulted in the exchange of my card for two third singles to Oxford, and a final shilling’s worth at the expense of Blandford, who was returning from the funeral of an imaginary aunt, filled up the time till the train left. After a few minutes’ travelling Freddy remarked that he would feel more comfortable in the rack, and proceeded to climb up there. A little later we covered him with a seat cushion as he felt cold, and all slept peacefully till Didcot. When we reached the draughty junction Blandford and I left Freddy, who appeared to be asleep, in search of lip-salve; but we had barely reached the refreshment room when loud crashes, followed by curious oaths and several heavy bumps, brought us back to find Freddy struggling with an inspector and two porters, while a lamp and the window of the third class waiting-room were much the worse for wear. We conveyed him to our carriage--N.B. I gave the inspector my card--and except for throwing out a seat cushion at Culham, he relapsed into comparative inaction. The cab in which we reached 129 St. Aldate’s was paid for by Mrs. Corker, and Blandford stayed to see Freddy to bed. When I arrived at our digs the door was opened by Mrs. MacNab, whose cat seemed to have been imbibing with unusual freedom; and I found the Pilot, who had just returned from a bridge party, anxiously measuring the decanter with a pipe-cleaner. It just occurred to me, as I was going up to bed, that I had given my card to the hay-cart proprietor, to the station-master at Paddington, and the inspector at Didcot, all of whom would have to be satisfied in the morning, while I had to repay Timmins two pounds odd, and liberally fee the Oxford porter whom Freddy had struck somewhere amidships. Freddy said it would be very cheap; well, perhaps it was. II. A QUIET EVENING.