"As you please," said Dunbar, with an offended air, rising as he spoke. "I rather think I shall lose nothing. Good morning!" "Good morning," returned Hudson, bowing with cold politeness. And thus the two young men parted. They met for a brief season, but to sunder their friendship for ever. CHAPTER VI. GENEROUS SELF-DEVOTION. THE day on which Lloyd Hudson was to pass his examination was one of considerable interest and anxiety at home. Old Mr. Hudson, equable in temper as he was, found it impossible to fix his mind upon business, or to give it anything beyond the most formal attention. The mother and sisters spent most of the time sitting in each other's rooms, and talking of Lloyd. The girls—Martha and Ella—were sanguine about the result; but Mrs. Hudson had her fears. The usual dinner hour did not bring the young student. "I thought it would have been all over before this," said Mr. Hudson, as they gathered around the table. "But the work of examination is, doubtless, slow. There is a large class this year." "If he should be rejected," remarked the mother. "We won't think that possible," said Martha. "I am sure Lloyd is well prepared. No one could study harder than he has studied." "But to think of five or six learned professors examining a young student." "That is one side of the case," said Mr. Hudson, "and the other is, that they will examine him on the very points they have taught him. They will ask him no questions, the answers to which they have not before given him over and over again in their lectures, and which he has not seen in books. I think we may safely believe that Lloyd is fully prepared for the trial, and will pass through it with credit to himself and honor to the school." Just then the door was thrown open, and Lloyd walked in with a face whose brightness told the story of his success. "All right, I see," said the father, while his heart bounded as lightly as a boy's. "Yes, all right, father," returned Lloyd. "The professors did me the honor to say that I passed the best examination of any who preceded me." The mother and sisters could not restrain their joy, but starting from the table, expressed the gladness they felt by warmly embracing the son and brother. "And now, my son," said old Mr. Hudson, as they were all together that evening, "having passed successfully through your long day of preparation for future usefulness in the world, the question as to the next step comes up. What are your thoughts in respect to the future? Have you turned your eyes in that direction?" "I have thought a good deal of the future," replied the young man, "but without arriving at any definite conclusion. Of course I wish to consult you on the subject. Up to this time I have been entirely dependent upon you for everything. This must now cease, and I must, hereafter, depend upon my own exertions, which, at first, will meet with but poor returns. The first thing to determine will be, where to locate myself."