This seemed to satisfy the anxious parent, and I guided the conversation into less dangerous channels. Before the various families split up we made arrangements for a round of sight seeing on the following day, which was to finish with the James’ Ball. On the morrow all my time was taken up with an old friend of the family who had come down for the day, and I had to undergo all the sufferings of a hired guide round Oxford who doesn’t know his subject well. I contrived however to send her off soon after tea, and gained comparative rest by a couple of hours’ bridge in Farmborough’s rooms. We all dined with Mr. Accrington at the Hyde, and started about 9.0 for the ball, gathering the famille Blitherington as we passed their hotel. After introducing as many people as possible to all the girls, I completely lost track of the party till about supper-time, being mostly engaged with my No. 1. girl from Somerville who is a very cheery little body but suffers from worker’s conscience, a most distressing weakness which prevents me seeing very much of her except at occasional dances. A ball at Oxford is a wonderfully pretty sight, and well calculated to impress anybody seeing one for the first time. All the men and the girls are young and fresh, and there is a complete absence of the doddering old men and young women of fifty who give a sad tone to big dances in London and elsewhere. The handsome quads of James’ were most artistically lighted with myriads of fairy lights and Chinese lanterns, and the beautiful old-world gardens twinkled, though not too brightly, with wonderful devices in red and yellow. Supper was laid in the fine hall of the College and I secured two seats for Muriel and myself under a famous Archbishop who has been dead for over three hundred years, and beside Blithers and Mrs. Lomond, who were very much alive. ‘Martha,’ said Blitherington, as I sat down, ‘try some of this fizz, it’s quite innocuous.’ ‘What is it,’ I said, ‘Robinson pere et fils?’ ‘O no,’ he replied, ‘it’s one of the non-poisonous varieties this time.’ However, Blitherington was apparently at fault, for I heard a warning voice behind me saying, ‘I wouldn’t try none o’ that, if I was you, sir,’ and I turned to see our old scout Webster who had apparently been imported for the evening, ‘There’s somethin’ hin the Buttery as might suit you, sir,’ he added. ‘There’s honly heighteen bottles been hordered an them for the Committee, but I dessay as ’ow I can get yer two.’ I clearly saw that this meant a Christmas-box to Webster, but readily assented as one always does on such occasions, and the two bottles were speedily forthcoming. After supper I had a peaceful waltz with Miss Accrington; and subsequently conducted Miss MacNeill to a dark staircase in the second Quad.